Published: August 2026 · Reading time: 7 min

Does a heat pump improve your energy label?

Considering a heat pump, or just installed one? Then you probably want to know what it does to your energy label. The short answer: a heat pump almost always improves your label, often significantly. But how much you gain varies enormously. In this blog you'll read what it depends on, the difference between hybrid and all-electric, and when you're better off insulating first.

The short answer: yes, and usually significantly

Your energy label is a measure of your home's calculated energy use. A gas boiler converts natural gas into heat at an efficiency below 100%. A heat pump does something clever: it extracts heat from the outside air, the ground or groundwater and therefore delivers more heat than the electricity it uses. That lowers your home's calculated energy use, which is exactly what determines your label under the NTA 8800 calculation method.

In short: you swap (part of) your gas use for a far more efficient system. That is why a heat pump is one of the strongest measures to improve your energy label, often together with insulation and solar panels.

Hybrid or all-electric: that difference decides everything

Not every heat pump delivers the same. The type is by far the most important factor:

• 🔵 All-electric ground- or groundwater-source heat pump: the biggest label gain. High efficiency and the gas boiler disappears entirely, so both heating and hot water move from gas to an efficient electric system.
• 🟢 All-electric air/water heat pump: also a big jump. Slightly less efficient than a ground-source pump, but still a full replacement of the boiler.
• 🟠 Hybrid heat pump: delivers less. The heat pump does part, the gas boiler stays for the peak and usually for the hot water, so gas is still used. Expect 1 to 2 steps.
• ⚪ Air conditioning (air/air) that also heats: only counts if it is your main heating. If a gas boiler remains alongside it, the air conditioning is comfort cooling and does not improve your label, and cooling actually counts as extra energy in the calculation.

What does the label gain depend on?

Two identical heat pumps can have very different effects in two homes. These are the knobs:

• The heat delivery (biggest effect). You gain most with underfloor heating throughout the home, possibly supplemented with low-temperature radiators or convectors. The lower the flow temperature, the higher the efficiency the adviser may calculate with. If only the ground floor has underfloor heating and regular radiators remain upstairs, the gain is smaller than with underfloor heating everywhere.
• Your insulation. A well-insulated home needs less heat and can manage with lower temperatures, exactly what the heat pump wants. Insulation and heat pump reinforce each other.
• The share the heat pump delivers. With all-electric that is 100%. With hybrid a part, the rest stays gas.
• A demonstrably good heat pump. If the adviser can show from the specifications that your unit achieves a high efficiency, they may calculate with more favourable values, and that helps your label.

Insulate first, then the heat pump?

A heat pump only truly comes into its own in a home that can be heated at low temperatures, and that only works when the home is well insulated. In a poorly insulated home it therefore almost always pays to insulate first (roof, facade, floor, better glazing) and install underfloor heating where possible. After that the heat pump runs at low temperature, is at its most efficient, and your label makes the biggest jump. Which measures pay off in which order is explained in our article on improving your energy label.

When does a heat pump gain little for your label?

To be honest, there are situations where the gain stays limited:

• A hybrid heat pump where the gas boiler still has to step in a lot and the hot water stays on gas.
• An air conditioner that mainly cools and sits alongside an existing gas boiler.
• A system where the electric backup heater has to run a lot, for example because the heat pump is too small for the home.

The common thread: a heat pump almost always improves your label, but the size depends on a low flow temperature, good insulation and a high heat pump share.

Does the heat pump count automatically?

No. Your existing energy label does not change by itself; it is a snapshot from the previous home inspection. If you had a heat pump installed after your previous label, it only counts once you have a new label made. During the inspection the adviser records the type of heat pump, the source, the flow temperature and the hot water, and together that determines your new class. Want to see which label is currently registered for your address first? You can look it up by address.

Frequently asked questions

Does a heat pump improve your energy label?

Yes, almost always. A heat pump replaces (part of) your gas use with electricity at an efficiency above 1, which lowers your home's calculated energy use and raises your energy label. How much it gains depends on the type of heat pump, your insulation and the flow temperature.

How many label steps does a heat pump deliver?

In practice often 1 to 2 steps with a hybrid heat pump and 2 to 4 with an all-electric heat pump. This is not a guarantee: the exact number of classes depends on your home and cannot be set in advance. Only an official inspection gives certainty.

What is better for your energy label: a hybrid or a full heat pump?

An all-electric (full) heat pump scores better, because a hybrid still partly runs on gas and the hot water usually still goes through the gas boiler. An all-electric ground- or air-source heat pump that fully replaces the gas boiler gives the biggest label gain.

Do I need to insulate before a heat pump makes sense for my label?

Often yes. You gain most with underfloor heating throughout the home, possibly supplemented with low-temperature radiators, and that only works well in an insulated home. Insulating first makes the heat pump more effective and the label jump bigger.