Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainable Living

The use of natural gas releases greenhouse gases such as CO₂. These gases are largely responsible for climate change. To combat climate change, the Netherlands aims to stop using natural gas by 2050. Instead, we want to transition to sustainable energy sources. New residential areas will no longer be fitted with natural gas pipes, but we will need to make adjustments to existing buildings to achieve this.

The transition from natural gas to another sustainable heat source in Voorschoten won’t happen overnight. Nor is the same solution feasible for every neighbourhood in Voorschoten. That is why the municipality is drawing up a broad outline of a plan this year: the heating transition vision. It outlines the most logical option for each neighbourhood to make the switch and the timeframe within which a neighbourhood could make the transition. We are also assessing, on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, whether an interim solution is a good idea, such as home insulation, energy conservation, or switching to a hybrid heat pump, which uses significantly less natural gas. By the end of 2021, all municipalities in the Netherlands were required to have a heat transition vision in place. In our municipality, the vision was adopted by the municipal council on December 16, 2021. We have now developed a general vision extending to 2050. In the coming years, we will continue to work on neighborhood implementation plans for each neighbourhood .

Approximately 95% of Dutch households use natural gas to heat their homes, for cooking, or for hot water. On average, Dutch households consume about 1,400 m³ of natural gas annually. The largest portion of natural gas, about 80%, is used to heat the home. The rest is used for cooking, showering, and hot water.

In practical terms, this transition means that in the future, you will no longer use natural gas for your boiler, stove, or water heater. This will require modifications to existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. We will determine exactly what those modifications will entail on a case-by- neighbourhood , or home. We will make these decisions in consultation with residents, business owners, and other organizations. If you own a home or rent a home or commercial building and use natural gas, this means there will come a time when changes will be made to your home or property. This will happen by 2050. Of course, we will keep you informed about this as best as we can.

Alternatives to natural gas are still under active development. We expect these developments to progress so rapidly that various new alternatives will be added in the coming years. We are currently researching which alternatives are possible and desirable in Voorschoten. The initial findings are outlined in the heat transition vision.

Phasing out natural gas and switching to a sustainable energy source involves costs. It is not yet known how high these costs will be; that depends on the choices we ultimately make for each neighbourhood . However, the Climate Agreement states that all residents, businesses, and other organizations must be able to participate, and therefore the solutions must also be affordable. We are looking for solutions that are “housing-cost-neutral”: this means that a household’s monthly expenses for energy, mortgage, or rent will not increase.

The national government is examining various options to make phasing out natural gas affordable for everyone. One of the possibilities is pre-financing the necessary investments, for example through the National Heat Fund or building-bound financing.

The municipality considers it important that residents, entrepreneurs, and other organizations are involved in the transition from natural gas to sustainable heat, especially since a portion of the measures often needs to be implemented within residents' homes. Therefore, it was wonderful that more than 600 residents contributed their ideas when creating the heat vision. Now and in the coming years, as we roll out initiatives per neighborhood—such as insulation projects—we very much want to do this together with the people involved.

The potential green gas production in the region, as well as nationally and internationally, is far below current natural gas demand. In the Climate Agreement, the green gas sector stated its ambition to produce 70 PJ of green gas in the Netherlands by 2030. This is approximately 6% of the current natural gas demand. It remains unknown whether this target will be achieved, but green gas will in any case remain a scarce product. The availability of green gas after that time is still uncertain.

Nuclear energy is an option for large-scale, CO₂-neutral electricity generation. It is not directly linked to the heat supply of buildings. Due to its national importance, the management and oversight of nuclear energy is handled by the central government rather than local or regional authorities. Therefore, nuclear energy can play a role, but this is not something for the local level.

This will vary by " neighbourhood ." If the municipality designates a " neighbourhood " that qualifies for a collective solution, you will receive an offer. You may decline this offer if you have an alternative solution that is at least as good as or better than the collective solution.

Strict noise standards have recently been introduced for heat pumps. The sound from a heat pump is produced by its outdoor unit, and the standards have been established for this component. There are also good options available to mitigate this noise, for example by shielding or enclosing the outdoor unit, or by placing it in a location where it is barely audible. If there is sufficient space, the outdoor unit can be replaced by a so-called ground loop system. This solution is more expensive than an outdoor unit, but it produces less noise and has a higher efficiency.

The reliability of a heat pump is comparable to that of a central heating boiler. A heat pump is a proven technology that has been used in homes for over 15 years. The reliability of a district heating network is comparable to that of the current electricity or natural gas grid. The companies that install district heating networks and supply the heat are reputable organizations with extensive experience. They are required to provide guarantees regarding the supply of heat to homes. This is regulated by the government through the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markt (ACM) at supervision .

You can seek advice from the Regionaal Energieloket or, if you own a monumental building, from De Groene Grachten.

All newly built homes are free of natural gas. They are no longer connected to the natural gas network.

Businesses such as schools, offices, and shops must also transition to natural gas-free heating by 2050. They are also part of the neighborhood-oriented approach within the heat transition vision.

This is done based on various principles. Consider, for example, social costs or costs for the end-user, but also factors such as the available space underground or the scheduled replacement moments for gas pipes or sewage systems. Finally, the willingness of the property owners is also required.       

Energy-saving measures are always a good idea. Consider options such as insulation, double or triple glazing, ventilation with heat recovery, and low-temperature heating.

The heating transition vision states that, starting this year—2022—we want to focus primarily on insulation. That’s because it immediately saves energy and reduces_{CO2 emissions}. An interim solution, such as heating via a hybrid heat pump, is also a good idea. Ultimately, we will make a permanent switch to natural gas-free heating. Now that the heating vision is in place, the municipality will work with residents to draw up implementation plans. We’ll be getting to work in all kinds of neighborhoods over the coming years. In doing so, some neighbourhood will be further along than others. That depends on a variety of factors: the type of homes, whether people are willing to make the switch, whether that switch is feasible, and so on. New housing developments will be built without natural gas connections. Homeowners can also choose to heat their homes entirely sustainably on their own.

The efficiency of heat supply is the sum of the efficiencies of the heat source, auxiliary heating, the heat network, and the heat connection. The method by which the heat source produces heat is the most determining factor here. Some factories have excess heat (waste heat), and geothermal energy also provides readily available heat. Extracting this heat requires very little energy compared to how much it yields. This is even more efficient than an electric heat pump. In the case of a power plant or biomass plant, producing heat does require energy. The efficiency here is 150% and 80%, respectively. Auxiliary heating provides 20% of the heat and is usually a gas boiler with an efficiency of 90-100%. During the transport from the source to the home, approximately 20% of the heat is currently lost. In the future, this loss will decrease, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency expects a decrease of over 40% by 2050.

The annual efficiency (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance, SCOP) of an electric heat pump ranges from 200% to 500% to 600%. This depends, among other things, on the type of heat pump (ground-source heat pump, outdoor air heat pump, or ventilation heat pump) and the home's insulation. This means that a heat pump converts 1 kWh of electricity into 2 to 5 to 6 kWh of heat. This is much higher than the efficiency of a gas boiler, which is approximately 100%. Electric heat pumps are therefore a very efficient technology.

Solar water heaters are a sustainable technology. They are primarily used for hot water. For the heat transition vision, we only look at technologies that can also be used for space heating. A newer technology is PVT panels. These panels produce hot water and electricity. Combined with a heat pump, such a PVT panel can heat the home. Homeowners in neighbourhoods that are transitioning to fully electric heating can also consider this for their property. Naturally, this is a free choice for the homeowner, and the attractiveness varies depending on the situation.

The goal of the heating transition is to eventually heat your home_{in a carbon-neutral way}. If your neighbourhood is designated for a community-based solution, you will receive an offer. As a homeowner, you have the final say on whether to accept this offer. You may decline it if you have an alternative solution that is at least equivalent to or better than the community-based solution.

We do not have answers to everything yet, and we need to be honest about that. The heat transition vision outlines broadly what we plan to do in Voorschoten. However, the entire transition to sustainable heat will take until 2050. In the meantime, there will undoubtedly be new developments. Do you have questions that you cannot find the answer to yet? Let us know, and we will see how best to answer them. We can then also add your question to these frequently asked questions. Email duurzaam@voorschoten.nl.

The most important thing is to ensure that you already need less gas for heating by insulating your home. As a homeowner, you can take measures such as roof, floor, and cavity wall insulation, HR+++ glass, and solar panels. As a tenant, you can take smaller measures such as installing draft excluders or applying radiator foil. Ask your landlord or housing corporation about the plans and possibilities for larger measures. If you have the option to choose how you cook, opt for induction.

Insulation is the first step in making your home more sustainable. It significantly reduces your energy consumption. With good insulation, very little heat is lost, and you need less energy to heat your home. The indoor temperature remains consistent. In winter, a well-insulated house stays comfortably warm, and in summer, it stays cool. In addition to saving energy, insulation ensures a pleasant and comfortable home. For low-temperature heating, such as with a heat pump or ATES (aquifer thermal energy storage), insulation is essential. Without good insulation, this type of heating will not be able to properly warm the house.

To help you make your home more sustainable, the municipality of Voorschoten collaborates with the Regional Energy Desk.  

Want to make your home or building more sustainable? There are various subsidies and loans you can make use of, intended for private homeowners as well as Owners' Associations (VvEs), entrepreneurs, and associations. Read our subsidy page to find out which schemes you are eligible for.

In early 2015, all five million homeowners in the Netherlands ( Rijksoverheid ) received a provisional energy label. This label is based on factors such as the year of construction and is intended as an incentive to consider ways to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. If you sell or rent out your home, you must have the provisional label converted to a final one. To do so, an energy advisor will visit your home. For more information about energy labels, visit “How do I, as a homeowner, obtain an energy label for my home?” | Rijksoverheid.nl. If you do not have a final label when selling or renting out your home, you risk a fine of up to 405 euros. Curious about your (provisional) energy label? Visitwww.energielabel.nl(external link).

Currently, there is no heat network in Voorschoten. However, the municipality is investigating, in cooperation with six other municipalities in the region, whether the construction of a heat network is feasible. The ongoing study concerns the construction of a heat network between Rijswijk and Leiden, as part of Warmtelinq. The realization of a heat network requires thorough research and a careful procedure, and therefore this study takes time. For this reason, the construction of a heat network will very likely not take place before 2025.

Warmtelinq is a regional pipeline system through which heat is transported via water. If Warmtelinq is extended to Voorschoten, it will not be ready yet. To bring the heat to homes in Voorschoten, a local distribution network must be established to deliver the heat to the houses. Additionally, a station must be built to transfer the heat from the regional pipeline to the local pipeline. This construction also takes time.

In the heat transition vision (TVW) of Voorschoten, all neighbourhoods in the municipality have been examined to determine logical alternatives to natural gas heating. An analysis was conducted at the neighbourhood level. This means that the situation specific to a single home may differ from the conclusion for the neighbourhood in which someone lives. More information can be found at What you as a resident can do yourself? | Voorschoten.  

Suppose you live in a neighbourhood where a heat network is a logical alternative to natural gas. This means that:

• If the feasibility study for a heat network yields a positive result, there is a possibility that this heat network will also be installed in that neighbourhood.
• Installation in that case is very unlikely to take place before 2025.
• However, if there are plans for a heat network, this does not happen without careful consideration. This means:
  • consultation and participation with the residents of Voorschoten and of the neighbourhood where the network would be located
  • careful spatial integration
  • if a heat network is established, connecting to it remains an individual choice for the home owner. The new Heat Act (Collective Heat Supply Act, scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2024) is likely to state that a home owner must have an equivalent alternative.

Not just large heat networks

In addition to a large heat network, smaller heat networks are also conceivable in the future. For example, take a look at an innovative project in Nagele: a heat network for 8 homes and a school. However, we currently have no concrete plans for this in Voorschoten.