Inside look at 100-year-old Umbrella House during Sustainable Homes Tour
You live in an older home that you want to make energy efficient. Where do you start? And what works and what might disappoint in practice? On November 2 and 9 a number of owners of houses that have been made energy efficient open their doors. Then you can ask questions and get informed on the spot. One such house is Guido Wilmes' 100-year-old Umbrella House. His tip: "Sign up for the National Sustainable Homes Route. That's an online platform where homeowners share their choices and experiences. There is always someone among them who can help you make good progress." You can sign up via: duurzamehuizenroute.nl/aanmelden.
Even with a limited budget, a lot can
For Guido, making his 1916 Umbrella House more sustainable has become a sport. "When we took possession of the property, it was anything but energy efficient. It was not insulated. All the windows were single-pane glass. And there were gas stoves everywhere. We want to do as much as we can ourselves to pass the world on to our children as best we can. But because there is so much to do and we only have a limited budget, I also want to make the most of our investments. That requires extra searching. I therefore buy a lot of second-hand.
For example, Marketplace is full of used solar panels. The insulation material we used came from a leftover lot. And the floors are also second-hand and picked up for free. This route may take more time, but it makes sustainability cheaper and more fun for us. By reusing existing products and materials, we reduce our ecological footprint at the same time. And that is exactly what we find incredibly important."
Maximum efficiency
Guido is happy to open the doors of his home to anyone looking for tips and inspiration. "Last year we took the property off the gas grid. It is heated and cooled by a heat pump. This investment cost me a lot of preparation, but the result is turning out well. I want to share that knowledge. That is also the reason why I participate in the Sustainable Homes Route. I learn from other homeowners and others learn from me. Because not all sustainable measures live up to their expectations everywhere.
In our house with ceilings over 3.5 meters high, for example, infrared heating does not work. Then again, I am very pleased with the sedum roofs we installed. A green roof holds water, so less water ends up in the sewer during heavy showers. It keeps the house cool in the summer and allows the solar panels to produce more. And there are great subsidies for it that everyone in Heerlen can take advantage of. I say, come see our house and take advantage of it."
Also participate
Have you also made your home more sustainable and want to share your experiences with others? Or are you just looking for information about insulating or natural gas-freeing a home? About heat pumps, the use of natural materials in construction, water collection and more? On the National Sustainable Homes Route website throughout the year, homeowners share their experiences about the steps they have taken.
