What is energy label G?
Energy label G means that your home has the most unfavorable label. A house with energy label G is often poorly insulated and uses more than 380 kWh per m² per year. This is far above the average energy consumption of Dutch homes. As a result, you have a high energy bill due to a lot of heat loss and little comfort.
A home with energy label G is mainly found in older homes. These houses were often built without good insulation or modern installations. As a result, a lot of heat is lost and you pay more each month than necessary.
{{cta}}
Requirements and characteristics of energy label G
A house with energy label G consumes on average more than 380 kWh per m² per year. That means high energy consumption, high costs and less living comfort. Because it is the lowest label in the range from energy label A to G, it scores worse than all other energy labels.
A house with energy label G has the following characteristics and requirements:
- Poor insulation: walls, windows and roofs often have little or no insulation.
- Much heat is lost: heat escapes through cracks, single glass or uninsulated roofs.
- Old-fashioned central heating boiler: often still an old installation with low efficiency.
- No solar panels: mostly lacking own generation of renewable energy.
- High energy consumption: consumption is much higher than in a home with energy label C or energy label D.
Curious about the other energy labels? Then take a look at this overview of energy labels A to G.
Advantages and disadvantages of energy label G
A house with energy label G has few advantages, but clear disadvantages. For you as a buyer or starter, it is important to know both sides.
Here are the pros and cons:
Advantages energy label G
- Low purchase price: often cheaper than comparable homes with a better energy label.
- Great improvement potential: by investing in energy-saving measures, you can make your property or home significantly more sustainable and increase its value.
Disadvantages of energy label G
- High energy costs: due to high consumption, your monthly costs increase significantly.
- Lower living comfort: poor insulation and drafts make for a chilly and uncomfortable home.
- Lower home value: the same home with energy label C or energy label B is usually worth more.
- Less favorable mortgage terms: banks are stricter with a low energy label. You often get less borrowing space or a higher interest rate.
{{cta}}
Energy costs of a house with energy label G
The cost of a home with energy label G is often between €400 and €600 per month. This amount is based on an average single-family house of 120 m² with an average energy consumption of more than 380 kWh per m² per year.
This is considerably more expensive than for a home with reasonably low energy consumption, such as energy label C or energy label B. There, monthly charges are often hundreds of euros lower.
The high costs are mainly due to poor insulation, lost heat and an outdated central heating boiler. Because there are no solar panels or sustainable installations present, energy bills rise even further. An energy label provides at-a-glance insight into your energy efficiency and the impact on your wallet.
Want to know how your home scores and whether you can get a better label after improvements? Then simply request a new energy label.
What does energy label G mean for your mortgage?
A house with energy label G does not give you any advantages at the bank. In fact, many banks apply less favorable conditions for this low energy label.
- No extra borrowing space: an energy-efficient home often allows you to borrow more, but at energy label G, this advantage is eliminated. So you have less financial room to buy a house.
- No interest discount: banks sometimes give a discount on the mortgage interest rate for a house with a better energy label. With energy label G, you will pay the standard interest rate, making your monthly expenses higher.
- Lower maximum loan amount: some banks are more cautious with a low label and allow a lower mortgage amount. This is because a home with high energy costs is seen as less value-retaining.
A home with energy label G therefore makes it harder to get favorable mortgage terms.
What is the difference between energy label G and better energy labels?
The main difference between energy label G and better labels is in the energy consumption per square meter. Whereas a house with energy label G consumes more than 380 kWh per square meter per year, a house with energy label C, for example, has a reasonably low energy consumption of 160-250 kWh.
In a well-insulated house with energy label B, energy consumption drops even further to 110-160 kWh per m². A house with energy label A or higher even scores extremely well with low energy consumption between 0 and 160 kWh.
Energy consumption by label
How do you improve energy label G?
You make your home more energy efficient step by step by insulating: start with the roof, floor and walls. This preservation increases energy efficiency and helps you increase your living comfort.
1. Improve insulation
The biggest gains come from improving insulation. Consider roof insulation, floor insulation and cavity wall insulation. Replacing single glazing with HR++ windows also makes a big difference. These measures prevent heat loss and significantly reduce your energy consumption.
2. Renew installations
Many homes with energy label G still have an old central heating boiler that uses a lot of fossil energy. By replacing it with a heat pump or hybrid system, you immediately make your home more energy efficient. Combine this with smart heating and ventilation to further increase your living comfort.
3. Generating your own energy
With your own generation you lower your energy bill and contribute to a better environment. Installing solar panels is the most common step, but a solar water heater or home battery can also be interesting. This way you generate sustainable energy that you can use directly in your home.
4. Make sustainable step by step
Not everything has to be done at once. You can also start small. Place draft strips, replace old lamps with LED lighting and take a critical look at your appliances. By taking small steps, you gradually make your home more energy efficient and work toward a better energy label.
Want to know how to apply for a new energy label after improvements? A licensed energy consultant will assess your home and provide an indication of the new label.
All other energy labels explained
Wondering how your home scores compared to other labels? Below is an overview of the different energy labels. So you can see at a glance what steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient.
