Which subsidies can you get to improve your energy label?
Raising your energy label costs money — but you don't have to pay all of it yourself. Through the ISDE, the National Heat Fund and your municipality, a good deal of subsidy and cheap financing is available in 2026 for exactly the measures that improve your label: insulation, HR++ glazing, a heat pump and solar panels. In this article we set out which pots exist, how much you get and how to combine them cleverly.
š” Want to know which measure delivers the most for your home? An energy label with tailored advice shows you — calculate the price right away.
Calculate your price →Why subsidy and the energy label go together
Your energy label is determined by how efficient your home is: insulation, glazing, heating and your own generation. Those are exactly the measures the government subsidises. Put differently: every euro of subsidy you claim helps pay for a higher label — and therefore a lower energy bill, more comfort and a higher property value. Want to know how your label goes up in the first place? Read our article improving your energy label: from D to A; below we cover how to pay for it.
1. The ISDE: the main subsidy pot
The ISDE (Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving) is the cornerstone of subsidy policy for homeowners. For 2026 the budget has been increased substantially, so there is room. You get ISDE subsidy on:
- 🧱 Insulation — roof, facade/cavity wall, floor/ground insulation: a fixed amount per m².
- 🪟 HR++ or triple glazing — a fixed amount per m² of new glazing.
- 🔥 (Hybrid) heat pump — one of the largest subsidy amounts.
- ♨️ Solar water heater — for hot water and/or heating.
- 🌬️ Energy-efficient ventilation — new in 2026, a fixed amount if combined with insulation.
The key rule to remember: for insulation you only get a subsidy if you carry out at least two insulation measures within 24 months, or combine one insulation measure with a heat pump, solar water heater or connection to a heat network. If you do, the subsidy amount per measure doubles. Insulating therefore pays off most when you combine it cleverly.
To give an idea of the amounts (indicative, 2026; the exact rates per measure are on RVO.nl):
- Roof insulation: around € 7 – € 14 per m² (with sufficient insulation value).
- Facade/cavity wall insulation: around € 8 – € 18 per m².
- HR++ glazing: around € 25 per m², and up to € 50 per m² if combined with a second measure (for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 45 m²).
On average the ISDE covers about 30% of the cost of the measure. You apply for the subsidy at RVO; for insulation this can be done up to 24 months after the work, for a heat pump usually within a few months. Note: only buy and pay once you are sure you meet the conditions.
2. The National Heat Fund: cheap borrowing
The National Heat Fund is not a subsidy but a financing scheme: the Energy Saving Loan. Handy if you cannot or do not want to advance the cost of the measures all at once. The interest is low, and for lower-income households borrowing is even possible at 0% interest, with a term of up to 20 years. Amounts, income thresholds and conditions are adjusted regularly — check warmtefonds.nl for your current situation.
The clever combination: finance the work with a Heat Fund loan and use the ISDE subsidy you receive afterwards to repay (part of) the loan.
3. Your municipality: the local pot
Many municipalities in the Groene Hart region have their own insulation or sustainability scheme, often on top of the ISDE. Think of a local insulation grant, a free energy advice session or a sustainability loan at a discount. These pots are limited and first-come-first-served, so it pays to look early in the year. Check your municipality's energy desk (Woerden, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Oudewater, Gouda, Montfoort and surrounding areas each have one) or use the energy subsidy finder for your postcode.
Renting out a home? Note the SVOH
If you are a landlord, different rules apply: private insulation is not covered by the ISDE, but there is the Subsidy Scheme for Sustainability and Maintenance of Rental Homes (SVOH), which is being expanded in the coming years. This is extra relevant now that rental homes with label E, F or G must reach at least label D before 2029. For landlords, upgrading and claiming subsidy therefore kills two birds with one stone.
How to get the most out of it — in 4 steps
- 1️⃣ Start with an energy label + tailored advice. Then you know which measure gives the biggest label jump for your home, instead of guessing.
- 2️⃣ Combine measures to double the ISDE (two insulation steps, or insulation + heat pump).
- 3️⃣ Stack the pots: ISDE + municipal scheme, optionally financed via the Heat Fund.
- 4️⃣ Have a new energy label inspected afterwards. Only then does the improvement officially count — on sale, rental or a green mortgage discount.
That last point matters: subsidy pays for the measure, but only a registered energy label makes the improvement official. Not sure which measure delivers the most, or what your home currently scores? We're happy to think along with you.
Frequently asked questions
Which subsidy can I get to improve my energy label?
The main scheme is the ISDE (Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving): it gives you subsidy on insulation, HR++ glazing, a (hybrid) heat pump and a solar water heater — exactly the measures that improve your energy label. In addition, you can borrow at low interest from the National Heat Fund, and your municipality often has its own insulation or sustainability scheme.
How much subsidy do I get for insulation through the ISDE?
The ISDE covers roughly 30% of the average insulation cost. The amounts apply per square metre and per measure — for example around € 7 to € 14 per m² for roof insulation and € 8 to € 18 per m² for facade insulation. If you carry out at least two insulation measures within 24 months (or combine insulation with a heat pump or solar water heater), the subsidy amount per measure doubles.
What is the difference between the ISDE subsidy and the National Heat Fund?
The ISDE is a subsidy: money you do not pay back. The National Heat Fund is a financing scheme: an Energy Saving Loan at low interest, and for lower-income households even at 0% interest. You can combine the two: finance the measure with a Heat Fund loan and use the ISDE subsidy to repay (part of) it.
Do I need an energy label or tailored advice first to get a subsidy?
For the ISDE on individual insulation measures an energy label is not required. But an energy label with tailored advice shows exactly which measure delivers the most for your home, so you spend the subsidy where it counts most. And after the work, a new energy label proves your home really scores a class higher.
Do the subsidised measures actually improve my energy label?
Yes. Insulation, HR++ glazing, a heat pump and solar panels are precisely the measures that count in the label calculation (NTA 8800). The improvement only counts officially once you have a new energy label inspected and registered in EP-online afterwards.
Request an energy label?
Want to know which measure raises your label fastest — and therefore where your subsidy counts most? At Hollands Duurzaam you pay from € 220 for an official energy label including free improvement advice. We are BRL 9500-MWA-W certified, a member of AVEPA and registered in EP-online.