Sep 03, 2008 | Amsterdam Investment in energy saving pays itself back via energy bill
Nuon today presented Minister Cramer of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment with a solution that enables consumers to invest in energy-saving measures without incurring high costs. Thanks to a pay-as-you-save scheme, the energy cost savings are used to repay the investment via the energy bill. This puts a product like insulation within reach of every homeowner. The size of an investment like insulation or a high-efficiency boiler still scares off many consumers.
When a consumer expresses interest in investing in an energy-saving measure like insulation, Nuon makes an estimation of the costs and the potential energy savings. Next, the energy supplier can help set up a pay-as-you-save scheme where the saved energy costs are equal to the repayment of the investment. An accurate estimation of the investment and the savings thus makes it possible to keep the energy bill at the same level.
Floor and cavity wall insulation is rarely applied, particularly in older homes. At present, 57 per cent of homes have an uninsulated floor, 43 per cent uninsulated outer walls and 29 per cent an uninsulated roof. To mention one example, cavity wall insulation can lead to savings of 25 per cent on the fuel bill, which is a few hundred euros annually. So cavity wall insulation soon earns itself back.
Removing barrier to investments
Kjartan Skaugvoll, Director of Nuon Retail: “Our experience is that more and more customers know that reducing energy waste is a great way to save costs and help the environment. With this solution we are removing the barrier for consumers so that they can make improvements to their home without incurring high lump-sum expenditures.”
A Dutch household pays an average of EUR 1,926 on gas and electricity; so the annual energy bill could be reduced by hundreds of euros by wasting less energy.
Minister Cramer and Nuon today introduced a pay-as-you-save scheme for energy-saving measures. An investment in, for instance, home insulation or a high-efficiency boiler can be paid for via the energy bill. Insulation, in particular, is one of the most efficient investments for reducing energy waste.
For more information:
Nuon Media Relations
Melanie Poort, spokeswoman
Telephone: 020 597 42 00
E-mail: mediarelaties@nuon.com