Is Your Home Heat Pump Ready? EnergyVille/VITO Study Forms the Basis of a New Online Tool by the Energy and Climate Agency of Flanders

The Majority of Flemish Homes and Apartments Are Heat-Pump Ready

Nearly 70% of Flemish homes are heat-pump ready. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) submitted over the past two years for single-family homes and apartments reveal that 35% of single-family homes are ready for a heat pump, while 33% can install a hybrid heat pump (a combination of a gas boiler and an air-to-water heat pump) without major modifications. Other single-family homes need additional insulation first. For apartments, 76% are theoretically heat-pump ready, 17% can install a hybrid heat pump, and the rest require extra insulation.

These figures clearly show that most Flemish homes and apartments are ready for a heat pump. To make this clear to residents, VEKA has launched the Heat-Pump Ready tool [Dutch only]. With just a few clicks, you can discover whether your home or apartment meets the criteria.

A New Tool Based on EnergyVille/VITO Research

The above figures are based on insulation levels and heating demands from submitted EPCs. In 2023, VEKA commissioned EnergyVille/VITO to investigate the insulation levels and heating demands at which low-temperature heating—and therefore a heat pump—is feasible.

“Installing a heat pump is a viable option more often than people think, provided the heating demand is sufficiently low and the home is adequately insulated. Therefore, heat pumps are primarily promoted for new buildings, but they can also be a perfect solution for renovation projects and existing homes with good to excellent insulation.”

Maarten De Groote, Programme Manager at EnergyVille/VITO

The EnergyVille/VITO study results [Dutch only] form the backbone of the ‘Heat-Pump Ready’ tool. The tool is user-friendly: after entering details such as the surface area, roof, wall, window, and floor insulation, as well as the current heating system, the building receives a score:

• Ready for a heat pump;
• A hybrid heat pump is an intermediate step;
• Not yet suitable, requiring additional insulation.

If a building is heat-pump ready, the tool indicates which type of heat pump is most suitable, along with cost estimates, space requirements, and the necessary work involved. Additionally, the tool provides an estimate of how much the EPC rating will improve after installing a heat pump. If the building is not yet ready for the future, the tool outlines the necessary steps to get there.

The tool also provides advice for apartments, though collective solutions such as shared heat pumps are recommended over individual heating systems. It is therefore advisable to involve all property owners when considering options.

Curious about the five key factors influencing the feasibility of heat pumps in residential buildings?

Read “Winter is Coming: Where are the Heat Pumps?” from December 2023, where EnergyVille/VITO summarises insights from its extensive research on heat pumps.

Many Installers Are Already Heat-Pump Ready

The tool provides an initial assessment based on data and assumptions. For bespoke design and advice, VEKA recommends consulting a certified installer. There are 2,400 RESCert-certified installers ready to install heat pumps. According to Techlink, over the past two years, more than 1,200 installers have participated in information sessions on heat pumps, 500 of them specifically trained on heat pump installations in renovation projects.

The tool is primarily designed for homeowners but can also assist installers in determining whether they can recommend a future-proof heat pump or whether a traditional gas boiler remains a better option for the time being.

Financial Support for Choosing a Heat Pump

Flanders is gradually moving away from fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy sources for heating buildings.

The Flemish government supports the choice for heat pumps with grants, making them accessible and affordable for everyone. The grant amount depends on your income and the type of heat pump. Grants are available for owner-occupiers of single-family homes and apartments, as well as for investors and landlords. These grants are valid until the end of 2025. There is also an increased grant for replacing electric heating or installing a heat pump in areas without access to natural gas.

If you are considering a heat pump or planning additional insulation, the ‘My Renovation Loan’ might be of interest. Depending on your income, you can borrow up to €60,000 over a maximum of 25 years at an annual interest rate of 2.75%.

When choosing a new heating system, it is also worth noting that from 2027, a European carbon tax (ETS2) will be introduced for fossil fuels, making natural gas and fuel oil more expensive.

“A heat pump is most suitable for a well-insulated home. Many people wonder whether their home is sufficiently ready for a heat pump. This tool provides a first answer. If you still have a perfectly functioning fossil fuel heating system, there is no need to replace it immediately. But do prepare thoroughly for the future. If your fossil boiler is due for replacement, the choice you make today will determine your heating system for the next 20 years.”

Lotte Ringoot, spokesperson for the Energy and Climate Agency of Flanders

For New Builds and Major Energy Renovations

New builds and major energy renovations are well-insulated, making heat pumps the obvious choice. For planning applications for new builds and major energy renovations since 2020, nearly 40% included a heat pump, rising to almost 60% for applications submitted in 2021.

From 1 January 2025, natural gas connections will no longer be permitted for new builds, making heat pumps the most logical choice where a heat network is not available. For major energy renovations, a hybrid heat pump (combining a boiler and heat pump) will be the minimum requirement from this date.

Prepare your home for the future today and check warmtepompklaar.be [Dutch only]

Special Research on Low-Carbon Heating and Cooling for Heritage Homes

Flanders Heritage Agency has investigated ways to heat and cool heritage homes in a low-carbon manner [Dutch only]. The goal is to provide tools for homeowners, heritage consultants, and designers to adapt heating systems in heritage buildings.

The oPEN Lab in Genk is also exploring how the historic Waterschei miners’ houses can be included in the energy transition. These homes are being made heat-pump ready while preserving their heritage value, enabling them to later join the ‘Positive Energy Neighbourhood’. One of these homes was a case study in the above mentioned research of Flanders Heritage Agency.

Combined with the collective renovation of the social housing district ‘Nieuw Texas’, oPEN Lab is creating a residential test infrastructure for future developments. This allows various renovation measures, energy techniques, and systems to be monitored, tested, and compared.

More information

• • Warmtepompklaar.be, homepage of the tool [Dutch only]
  • Final Report: Research on Policy Measures for Hybrid Heat Pumps in Existing Residential Buildings [Dutch only]
  • Winter is Coming: Where are the Heat Pumps?
  • Technical Background to the Heat-Pump Ready Tool | Vlaanderen.be [Dutch only]
  • oPEN Lab Genk I – Low-Carbon Heating (and Cooling) of Heritage Homes [Dutch only]

Text based on the original VEKA press release [Dutch only]