What is energy label A?
Energy label A means that your home is energy efficient. A house with this label is well insulated and uses on average between 105-160 kWh per m² per year. It also often uses sustainable energy sources such as solar panels or a heat pump. That gives you lower energy costs, greater living comfort and a higher home value.
A home with energy label A uses significantly less fossil energy than an average home. Think of a home with energy label C or D, for example. You notice this difference between energy label A and a lower label directly in your energy costs and comfort of your home.
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Requirements and characteristics of energy label A
A house with energy label A consumes on average between 105-160 kWh per m² per year. This means that the house is well insulated, uses little fossil energy and has lower monthly costs. The more pluses after the A, the more energy-efficient the house is. So the energy label not only provides insight into energy efficiency, but also shows how much energy your home uses compared to other homes.
Good insulation
To achieve energy label A, it is crucial that the home be properly insulated. This means that walls, roof and floor are insulated to prevent heat loss. Good insulation keeps your home nice and warm in the winter without losing much energy.
HR++ or triple glazing
A home with energy label A often has HR++ or even triple glazing. This glass has a high insulation value, keeping heat in and cold out. This not only helps to improve the comfort of your home, but also helps to lower your energy costs.
Efficient heating
A modern central heating boiler, heat pump or hybrid heat pump is necessary to achieve energy label A. These systems heat the home efficiently, so you use less energy and have more living comfort. They are much more energy efficient than older heating technologies.
Solar panels and renewable energy
Although solar panels are not required to achieve energy label A, they are common on homes with this label. Homes with solar panels generate their own energy, contributing to lower energy bills and more sustainable home consumption.
Low energy consumption
Homes with energy label A use significantly less energy than homes with lower labels, such as energy label F or G. This lower consumption is achieved through the combination of good insulation, efficient heating and renewable energy sources. You will notice the difference immediately in your energy bills and it increases the value of your home.
Are you curious about the other requirements and characteristics of the other energy labels? In this article on energy labels A to G, you can read exactly what the requirements and characteristics are for each energy label.
Advantages and disadvantages of energy label A
A house with energy label A has clear advantages, but also some disadvantages. For you as a starter, it's good to know both sides.
Advantages of energy label A
- Lower energy costs: because your home uses less energy, your monthly expenses will be significantly lower. This not only helps you save, but also contributes to more sustainable energy consumption.
- Greater living comfort: good insulation keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer. This makes living more pleasant and ensures that you have to heat or cool less, which in turn saves energy.
- Higher home value: an energy-efficient home is not only good for your wallet, it also increases the value of your home. Energy-efficient homes are more popular and often sell faster for a higher price.
- Better for the environment: by using less fossil energy, you consume fewer resources and contribute to a more sustainable future for the planet. This helps not only you, but also society.
- Stronger position on mortgage: banks sometimes offer interest rate discounts or extra borrowing space for homes with energy label A. This makes it easier to get a mortgage and can further reduce your monthly expenses.
Disadvantages of energy label A
- Higher purchase price: due to the high demand for energy-efficient homes, homes with energy label A are often more expensive than homes with lower labels. This can increase the initial cost of the home, so it is important to adjust your budget accordingly.
- Additional investment needed: older homes may require investment in sustainability to achieve energy label A. This may mean additional costs for insulation or replacing outdated heating systems.
- Not always fully sustainable: even a home with energy label A can still be dependent on fossil fuels, for example if a house has a central heating boiler that runs on gas. This means that the home is not fully sustainable, despite the energy label.
A home with energy label A offers significant long-term savings and greater security. It is important to carefully factor the higher purchase price and potential additional investment into your financial planning upfront.
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What does energy label A mean for your mortgage?
With energy label A in 2025, you get up to €10,000 extra borrowing space and often an interest rate discount of 0.1% to 0.3%. That means lower monthly costs, more financial room and a stronger position when buying your first home. Banks see an A-label as extra security, making your mortgage application go more smoothly.
Benefits to your mortgage
- Extra borrowing space: with energy label A, you may borrow €10,000 more than for a less economical home.
- Interest discount: many banks offer a sustainability discount of 0.1% to 0.3%, which directly lowers your mortgage payments.
- Lower monthly costs: you pay less interest and less energy costs.
- Stronger bidding position: an energy-efficient home makes your bid more attractive to sellers.
- More value retention: banks value an A-label higher, which helps you with the application as well as with resale.
So with a home with energy label A, you not only get lower energy costs, but also better mortgage terms. As a starter, this gives you more financial room and security when buying your first home.
What is the difference between energy label A and A+++
The main difference between energy label A and A+++ is in the energy consumption per square meter of the home. Energy label A+++ represents homes that have extremely low energy consumption, often referred to as "0-on-the-meter homes." This means that they do not even have an external energy requirement (0 kWh per square meter).
Energy label A, on the other hand, means that the home uses between 105 and 160 kWh per sq. ft. per year. While both labels indicate that the home is energy efficient, a home with energy label A+++ has even better performance in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Energy consumption by label
How do you improve energy label A?
You improve a house with energy label A by extra insulation, sustainable installations and generating your own energy. This allows you to advance to A+, A++ or even A++++. These are the most energy-efficient labels your home can get.
1. Additional insulation
Your home already has good insulation, but you can improve it further. You can do this by installing triple glazing, upgrading floor or roof insulation, or making your home airtight. These measures allow less heat to escape, which further reduces energy consumption and makes your home even more energy efficient.
2. More sustainable installations
To improve energy label A, you can replace your central heating boiler with a (hybrid) heat pump or an all-electric heat pump. These installations are much more efficient and make less use of fossil fuels. In addition, by investing in efficient ventilation and a balanced ventilation system, you can make your home even more sustainable. This contributes to lower energy consumption.
3. Generating your own energy
By installing additional solar panels or adding a home battery, you can generate and store your own energy. This not only lowers your energy costs, but makes your home almost completely self-sufficient. The energy generated is offset against your consumption, making you less dependent on the energy grid and making your home even more sustainable.
4. Smart applications
With smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances and energy monitoring, you can better control your consumption. These smart applications help you optimize your energy consumption, prevent waste and thus make your home more sustainable.
By taking these steps, you improve your energy label A to A+ or possibly even A++++. The result is not only increased energy efficiency, but also lower energy costs, increased home comfort and increased home value.
All other energy labels explained
Want to know how much energy your home uses and what annual savings are possible? Each label, from B to G, shows how energy efficient your home is. For example, a house with energy label G can have a negative impact on your costs due to high energy consumption and plain double-glazing.
In the articles below, read how you can improve each type of home to achieve greater energy savings.
