Next step in Heerlen sustainability offensive: pilot in Molenberg

Pilot in Molenberg

In the Molenberg pilot project, 50 households struggling with high energy bills will be relieved of the burden of making part of their homes more sustainable. These are homes with a WOZ value lower than €219,000 and an energy label D, E, F, or G. For each household, a subsidy budget of up to €1,300 is available, with which they can choose from (a combination of) various energy-saving measures, including cavity wall insulation, floor insulation, soil insulation, roof insulation, facade insulation, insulating doors and window frames or energy-efficient ventilation measures. Where necessary, the available subsidy budget can be supplemented with funding from the Heat Fund or an Energy Justice Loan, so that people with the very smallest purse can also participate in this project.

With the help of the WoonWijzerWinkel Limburg (WWWL), we will examine for each home, together with the occupants, which sustainability measures will be most effective in moving towards the national insulation standard. 

Discharge path

Owners of the selected homes are offered a complete de-risking process through the WoonWijzerWinkel Limburg. This trajectory includes:

•  Free customized energy advice: a detailed report with sustainability measures, energy savings calculations, cost overviews and subsidy options. Based on this advice, homeowners decide which measures they want to implement.
•  Quotation requests: Support in requesting quotes through the WoonWijzerWinkel Limburg or an in-house executor
• Municipal subsidy: A municipal subsidy as a contribution to the cost of the insulation measure(s), possibly combined with an energy-efficient ventilation measure.
•  Grant application support: Free assistance in applying for the national Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving Investment Subsidy (ISDE). 
•  Financing Advice: Free advice on other financing options.

"With the Heerlen Sustainability Offensive, we want to give everyone in Heerlen the opportunity to benefit from energy-saving measures. After all, a sustainable home is not only good for the environment, but also for our residents' wallets. In this regard, no one should be left behind. Even someone with 0 euros in their bank account should be able to participate. By taking the first steps in Vrieheide and Molenberg, we are making the first structural steps towards sustainability where the need is greatest. This is how sustainability and solidarity flow together," said Alderman for Housing, Environment and Circularity, Casper Gelderblom.

Township-wide rollout

Lessons learned from the pilot will be incorporated into the rollout across the municipality. The municipality-wide rollout is expected to take place in early 2025. This rollout will take place in phases so as not to frustrate the feasibility of the LAI by both WWWL and implementing companies across the region. This is expected to limit the "wait times" of participating owner-occupants. In the pilot phase, the approach is not yet applicable to Owner-Occupied Associations (AoEs) and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects. We aim to include these target groups in the future.

Park city cooperation

The pilot in Molenberg and subsequent municipality-wide rollout align with the Parkstad-wide Insulation and Sustainability Program. Close cooperation within Parkstad, as well as with other partners in the city and region, are and will continue to be of great importance to Heerlen in combating energy poverty and promoting sustainability goals.