Energy justice for all audiences

Together with various partners, from the Parkstad municipalities to housing corporations, Heerlen wants to turn energy poverty into 'energy justice': a situation in which everyone has an affordable energy bill, a livable living room temperature, and a sustainable ecological footprint. The Heerlen Sustainability Offensive is therefore focusing on different parts of the housing stock. For example, there will be new subsidies for private homeowners and support for private tenants, a neighbourhood-oriented approach will link the sustainability of both housing corporation homes and private homes, and we will facilitate and subsidise neighbourhood-oriented collective purchasing actions for sustainable home adaptations.

Alderman Casper Gelderblom: "In Heerlen, sustainability and solidarity go hand in hand. This Sustainability Offensive is the next step in that approach, and we are moving from energy saving to structural sustainability. Thanks in part to the national subsidies we have collected in recent years, we are now going to insulate and renovate hundreds of homes. Starting where the need is greatest!" 

Starting area Vrieheide

The offensive starts with two starting areas, namely the Heerlen neighbourhoods where energy poverty is highest: Vrieheide and Molenberg. This year, the first dozens of homes in these neighbourhoods will be made more sustainable. In Vrieheide, the first sustainably renovated homes will even be completed in September. The lessons we learn in these neighbourhoods will serve as a basis for the further roll-out of the offensive elsewhere in the city in the coming years.

A lot of preliminary work has already been done in Vrieheide, in close cooperation between the municipality, housing corporations, residents and the National Program Heerlen-Noord. After the summer holidays, the sustainable renovation of five residential blocks will start here. This marks the start of the sustainability of several hundred homes in the Vrieheide-de Stack district. Both private individuals and residents of housing corporations participate in this neighbourhood-oriented approach.          

Casper Gelderblom, alderman for Environment and Housing, explains: "There are few neighbourhoods in the Netherlands with such high energy bills as the one in Vrieheide. About 60% of the homes still have an original façade with single glazing, the roof insulation is often inadequate, and so energy costs are skyrocketing. By working together with the housing associations, we can make the homes more sustainable block by block and structurally help reduce people's energy bills. In addition, we ensure that everyone can participate, even if you have 0 euros in the account."

Unburdening sustainability package

The start-up phase consists of five blocks. Specifically, the first to start with two blocks of a total of 12 homes located in the Vrieheidepark and on the Parkweg. Both Weller tenants and private individuals live here. 

A package of measures has been developed for the residents so that a home makes three energy label jumps (e.g. from G to D) and ideally even gets to at least label B. The package includes:

• Replacement of the entire roof per block with a high insulation value; 
• New plastic curtain wall with HR++ glass with tubular profiles;
• Asbestos removal in the chimneys;
• New plastered frame around the front of the building blocks;
• Insulation above the façades and under the overhang of the front;
• Replacement of end walls with an insulation package and new windows.

The sustainability drive is largely financed by the municipality of Heerlen with resources obtained from the Public Housing Fund and other subsidies. A team of professionals is available to support residents, including a technical advisor and energy coaches from the WoonWijzerWinkel Limburg.

A lot of work has already been done

Weller and Wonen Limburg have already done a lot of work in Vrieheide. In collaboration with the municipality, the corporations have jointly purchased 58 homes, 95% of which have had their kitchen, toilet and bathroom replaced and new central heating boilers installed. In the test block at the Vrieheidepark, the entire roof has already been replaced. The experiences of the residents are positive: the heat on the first floor is 7°C higher than before the roof renovation, while (extreme) heat remains outside during the summer period. Weller has completely renovated seven vacant homes, so that these homes can be rented out from 1 October. Some of these have been given such a quality boost that they are for mid-market rentals. This contributes to a healthier composition of target groups in the neighbourhood.

In the model home at Unescoplantsoen 7, residents can already see the first results of the sustainability measures. This house has been given a different layout on the ground floor, has been completely renovated and made more sustainable and will serve as an information center for the neighborhood. Residents' meetings will also take place here and alderman Casper Gelderblom will regularly hold walk-in moments.

Weller director Barry Braeken: "A lot has already been realized in the district and the model home is a wonderful example of this. We will continue with this joint and integrated approach with full energy. We want to support not only our tenants, but also private homeowners in becoming more sustainable. Unburdening is the key word! Residents are not alone, that's our message."

Wonen Limburg director Rufa Lieben agrees: "For both tenants and private homeowners, this large-scale and integrated approach results in a nice home with more living comfort and savings on housing costs. This is especially important for people with a smaller budget." 

Close cooperation

This project is a joint effort of the municipality of Heerlen, Weller, Wonen Limburg, Stadsregio Parkstad Limburg and is part of the collaboration within the National Program Heerlen-Noord. The goal is therefore not only to achieve sustainability, but also to improve the quality of life in Heerlen-Noord.