Improve your EPC label by insulating
A renovation obligation came into force in Belgium on 1 January 2023. Houses or flats purchased from that date onwards with a poor EPC label must be renovated within five years. The goal? To improve your property’s energy label. How do you do that? Insulation is one of the most effective ways. Luckily, you don’t have to carry the full cost of renovation and insulation yourself. There are a number of grants available to help cover the expenses.
Which EPC label do you need to achieve?
If you buy a house or flat with a poor EPC rating from 1 January 2023 onwards, you’ll have 5 years to renovate the building and improve its label. Homes with an EPC label of E or F must be renovated to at least label D. But be aware: label D is only an intermediate step. Stricter regulations will follow in 2028, 2035, 2040 and 2045. From 2028, you’ll have to renovate to label C, from 2035 to label B, and from 2040 to label A within 5 years of purchase. After renovation, you’ll need a new EPC report to prove that the required label has been achieved.
Improve your EPC score by insulating
If you’re looking to boost your home’s EPC rating in the coming five years, insulation is a quick win. Most heat is lost through the roof, so investing in roof insulation will boost your EPC score. You can also insulate the floor and walls for additional gains. At Aquaplan, you’ll find all the materials you need to tackle insulation yourself:
- IKO enertherm ALU is the ideal PIR insulation board for wind- and damp-proofing your roof, attic, walls, floor and ceiling.
- For flat roofs, IKO enertherm MG is perfect for substrates like steel, wood or concrete (with a suitable underlay).
- The IKO enertherm Combi-Floor board has a PIR insulation core topped with OSB board. It insulates your floor and makes it immediately walkable.
You’ll also find other useful insulation accessories in our range, such as Iso-Fix insulation glue, Iso-Fill insulation foam and Iso Tape Alu adhesive tape for sealing seams between insulation boards.
Mijn VerbouwLening, renovation loan with interest subsidy, and other grants
If you’re planning to renovate, you won’t have to shoulder the full cost yourself. The Belgian government offers grants for different types of insulation work. Whether you’re insulating a roof, floor, cavity wall, interior or exterior wall, you can usually rely on financial assistance from the government. This applies both to insulation installed by professionals and to DIY projects.
- Mijn VerbouwPremie provides grants for renovation and insulation works for roofs, floors, interior and exterior walls, electricity and plumbing, among others.
- Mijn VerbouwLening allows you to borrow up to €60,000 to finance renovations that improve both the quality and energy performance of your home. You can use this loan to invest in insulation, solar panels, a solar water heater or a heat pump.
- The interest-free renovation loan, where the government used to repay all interest, was converted on 1 January 2023 into an interest subsidy. The more energy-efficient your renovation (and the better the EPC label you aim for), the higher the interest subsidy you’ll receive.
In addition to these three schemes, other grants are available, not just from the government, but also from Fluvius, your grid operator. Check out the Premiezoeker for a complete overview of grants for housing and renovations in Flanders.
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