Alderman Erika Spil: “In just a few weeks, the energy subsidy has already been a huge success, with more than 800 applications.”

More than 800 residents of Voorschoten have already taken advantage of the €70 subsidy to purchase energy-saving products. “The promotion only has a few weeks left, so that went by very quickly,” said Erika Spil, a delighted sustainability Alderman . With that money, residents can purchase energy-saving products for free, such as draft stoppers, LED lighting, or a water-saving showerhead. It’s going so well, in fact, that homeowners need to hurry to take advantage of the program, as the bottom of the budget is already coming into view. There’s still plenty left for renters, though: this program is primarily intended for them.

Homeowners can also opt for a thermal scan and/or energy consultation at their home from an energy coach. “Twenty-three residents have already taken advantage of this offer. The energy coaches are residents of Voorschoten who have completed special training for this purpose. This is how residents help one another,” says Alderman Spil.

If you opt for the subsidy for energy-saving products, there are several options: you can buy items yourself—“preferably locally, of course,” says Alderman Spil—but you can also easily order a box of items online or choose what you want from a store. “I’m really pleased that the entire campaign is already yielding such good results. With energy prices on the rise, it’s definitely worth taking advantage of the subsidy.”

The municipality received funding for this initiative from the Foundation for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency ( Rijksoverheid ) through a special program called RREW. The Sustainable Building Help Desk (Duurzaam Bouwloket) administers the program on behalf of the municipality of Voorschoten. Visit www.duurzaambouwloket.nl/rrew-voorschoten to apply for the grant and learn more about it.