Save on energy at home in Belgium
Pick your region and how far you want to go, from a new habit to a full renovation. Every tip links to the source it comes from.
Impact bands show roughly how much energy each tip saves in an average home. How we rate impact
124 tips
Do it yourself: works anywhere in Belgium
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Do it yourself
Program a day and night schedule
A good day/night schedule (18–19 °C by day, 16 °C or less at night) saves about 10% on heating.
Level 1 · HabitBig win≈ 300 kg CO₂ a year · 30×≈ 10% of heatingCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Turn the thermostat down by one degree
Each degree lower on the room thermostat cuts heating use by about 7%.
Level 1 · HabitBig win≈ 210 kg CO₂ a year · 20×≈ 7% of heatingCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Air-dry laundry instead of using the dryer
An efficient (A-label) dryer uses about 0.8 kWh per cycle; older dryers 2–4 kWh. Line-drying uses none.
Level 1 · HabitMedium impact≈ 120–240 kg CO₂ a year · 10–20×≈ 2 kWh per cycleCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Wash clothes at 30 °C
A 30 °C wash uses half the energy of a 60 °C wash and a quarter less than 40 °C.
Level 1 · HabitSmall impact≈ 50% per washCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Switch devices fully off instead of standby
Switching off TVs, computers, chargers and similar devices saves about 1% of the electricity bill for a family of four.
Level 1 · HabitSmall impact≈ 15 kg CO₂ a year · 1×≈ 1% of electricityCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
If you burn wood, burn it cleanly, and retire the open fire
Wood smoke harms health inside and outside; use dry wood, light the fire from the top, never close the air supply, never burn waste, skip burning on still or foggy days, and stop using an open fireplace.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Run the cooker hood when cooking on gas, and go electric next time
Cooking on gas releases moisture and combustion gases that are unhealthy; use a hood that vents outside and leave it on after cooking, open a window if it doesn't, and pick an electric stove when you replace it.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Tackle damp and mould at the cause
Mould grows where moisture collects; air the home every day, keep rooms above 15 °C, fix leaks, rising damp and cold spots quickly, and remove mould without bleach.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Set the fridge to 4–5 °C and defrost the freezer
Keep the fridge at 4–5 °C and the freezer at –18 °C; a 2 mm layer of ice in the freezer causes about 10% extra consumption.
Level 1 · Habit≈ 10% of that applianceCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Heat only the rooms you use and close doors
Turn radiator valves down in bedrooms and unused rooms and keep doors closed between warm and cool rooms.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Close curtains and shutters at night, keep radiators uncovered
Closing curtains and roller shutters at night cuts heat loss through windows by 30 to 50%; curtains and furniture in front of radiators block the heat.
Level 1 · Habitat least 30% less heat lost through windowsCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Renovate in the right order, insulation before heating
Insulate and seal the house first, then switch to low-temperature heating, then add a heat pump and renewable energy; doing it the other way round wastes money.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Shower instead of bathing, and keep it short
A full bath takes about 120 litres of hot water; a five-minute shower with a saving head about 35 litres.
Level 1 · Habit≈ 85 L hot water each timeCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Ventilate briefly, keep grilles open
Keep ventilation grilles open and air rooms in short bursts with the heating turned down, to avoid both mould and wasted heat.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Remember that smart plugs use power too
A connected smart plug draws a little power all the time; use one to shift or schedule an appliance, but to cut standby a switched power strip or a plain timer does the job for less.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Ask about lowering the boiler's flow temperature
Switching a combi boiler's hot water to eco mode saves around 1% of heating costs; lowering the return temperature from 60 °C to 40 °C can save around 6%.
Level 2 · Quick fixMedium impact≈ 180 kg CO₂ a year · 15×≈ 6% of heatingCost: FreeAsk landlordPartly uncited -
Do it yourself
Put reflective foil behind radiators on outer walls
About 3 m² of radiator foil on uninsulated outer walls saves around 2% of heating costs.
Level 2 · Quick fixMedium impact≈ 60 kg CO₂ a year · 6×≈ 2% of heatingCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Seal draughts around windows and doors
Draught strips or new seals on windows and doors save on average about 1% of heating costs, and make rooms noticeably more comfortable.
Level 2 · Quick fixSmall impact≈ 30 kg CO₂ a year · 3×≈ 1% of heatingCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Insulate heating pipes in unheated spaces and turn the circulation pump down
Insulated pipes in the attic, garage or crawl space lose less heat, and setting an old circulation pump to its lowest speed can save up to 120 kWh a season.
Level 2 · Quick fixSmall impactUp to 45 kg CO₂ a year · 4×≈ 120 kWh a yearCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Replace remaining bulbs with LEDs
Each old bulb replaced by an LED saves about 35 kWh a year, close to 1% of an average electricity bill.
Level 2 · Quick fixSmall impact≈ 15 kg CO₂ a year per lamp · 1×≈ 35 kWh a yearCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Know what a smart thermostat can and can't save before you buy one
Independent studies find little or no saving from smart or programmable thermostats over a well-used ordinary one; what saves energy is a lower setting, a night and away setback, and control per room.
Level 2 · Quick fixCost: Free -
Do it yourself
Use a CO2 meter to see whether rooms get enough fresh air
A CO2 meter shows when a room needs airing; Flemish indoor-air rules give a guideline of about 900 ppm, and care-sector guidance treats 1,200 ppm as the upper limit.
Level 2 · Quick fixCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Swap in a water-saving showerhead
A five-minute shower uses about 35 litres with a water-saving head, versus 60 litres with a standard head and up to 125 litres with a rain shower.
Level 2 · Quick fix≈ 25 L hot water per showerCost: Under €100 -
Do it yourself
Replace an electric boiler with a heat-pump boiler
A heat-pump boiler heats water with warmth taken from the air and is three to four times more efficient than an ordinary electric boiler.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Do it yourself
Keep the house cool with outside shading and night air, not airco
Sun through windows causes most overheating; screens or shutters on the outside of south and west windows work far better than blinds inside, and airing at night cools the house down.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Do it yourself
Replace single or old double glazing with high-efficiency glass
High-efficiency glass insulates two to three times better than ordinary double glazing; replacing 1 m² of single glazing saves about 23 m³ of gas a year.
Level 4 · RenovationLarge impact≈ 40 kg CO₂ a year per m² of glass · 4×Cost: €2,500–25,000 -
Do it yourself
Insulate the roof, or the attic floor if the attic stays unheated
Roof insulation is usually the first and most effective insulation step; with an unheated attic, insulating the attic floor is cheaper and simpler.
Level 4 · RenovationLarge impactUp to 910 kg CO₂ a year · 85×Cost: €2,500–25,000 -
Do it yourself
Insulate outer walls from the outside where you can
Outer walls are the second-largest source of heat loss; insulating them on the outside is the safer route, while inside insulation carries real risks of damp, mould and frost damage.
Level 4 · RenovationLarge impactCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Do it yourself
Heat water with the sun using a solar water heater
A solar water heater covers about half of a household's hot water most cost-effectively and roughly halves the cost of heating water.
Level 4 · RenovationLarge impact≈ 200 kg CO₂ a year · 20×Cost: €2,500–25,000 -
Do it yourself
Know the main heat pump types before you ask for quotes
A ground-source heat pump costs most but can cool passively; an air-to-water pump is cheaper but makes noise outside; an air-to-air pump can't heat tap water; a hybrid bridges a house that isn't insulated yet.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Do it yourself
Insulate the floor, from below if you have a cellar
A floor above a cellar or crawl space can be insulated from underneath without touching the room; a floor on the ground has to be broken out, so combine it with other floor works.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Do it yourself
Insulating or replacing windows? Plan ventilation at the same time
An insulated, airtight home needs controlled ventilation, usually system C or D, to keep out damp, mould and stale air.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000
Rules, premiums and services per region
In the nine German-speaking municipalities, such as Eupen and Sankt Vith, housing and renovation support and some rental rules come from the German-speaking Community. The Walloon tips on support and renting below may not apply there, and this site has no German version yet. See ostbelgienlive.be (in German).
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Wallonia · Subject to change
Buying or owning in Wallonia: minimum labels are announced, not yet law
Wallonia has announced minimum PEB labels after a purchase from 2028 and for all homes from 2031. The official page says these dates are indicative and must still be confirmed by law, so they are not obligations yet.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Spread out heavy appliances to keep your capacity peak low
With a digital meter you pay part of your network costs based on your highest 15-minute peak each month, so avoid running oven, washer, dryer and kettle at the same time.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
On a day/night meter? Use the new off-peak hours, including 11:00 to 17:00
Since 1 January 2026 the Walloon bi-hourly tariff has off-peak hours from 22:00 to 07:00 and from 11:00 to 17:00, every day of the week. Weekends are no longer fully off-peak, so move flexible use into those windows.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Check the EPC label before you sign
Landlords must show the EPC label (A+ to F) in every rental ad and attach a copy of the certificate to the lease.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
All Belgium · Subject to change
Check whether you're entitled to the social energy tariff
Households receiving certain benefits get the social tariff, usually automatically; tenants with collective heating may need their landlord to apply.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Understand your heating bill when the building has shared heating
With collective heating you can't choose a supplier, part of the cost is shared by everyone, and your own use is measured by a meter; with a remotely read meter you are entitled to free monthly information.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Compare all electricity and gas offers with BruSim
BruSim, the comparator on the Brussels energy regulator Brugel's website, compares all electricity and gas offers from suppliers in the Brussels-Capital Region, split into fixed and variable prices.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Compare electricity and gas offers with CompaCWaPE
CompaCWaPE, the comparator of the Walloon energy regulator CWaPE, lists fixed and variable electricity and gas offers for your postcode and estimates your yearly bill with grid costs, taxes and VAT. It is in French and German.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Compare your energy contract every year with the V-test
The VREG V-test is the official, independent Flemish comparison tool for electricity and gas contracts.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Small co-ownership in Brussels without a syndic? Homegrade helps with joint works
Homegrade, the free Brussels advice centre for housing, helps small co-ownerships without a professional syndic with works on common parts, from a pre-diagnosis to comparing quotes and preparing the general meeting.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Ask your CPAS or its energy cell for help with energy bills and debts
In Brussels, the energy cell or the CPAS (OCMW) of your municipality gives advice, information and support on energy bills, and the CPAS can help you settle an energy debt.
Level 1 · HabitCost: FreeUnder review -
Flanders · Subject to change
Only choose a dynamic contract if you can shift usage
Dynamic contracts follow market prices per hour or per quarter hour; they can pay off if you can run heavy appliances when prices are low, but raise risk if you cannot.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Get free advice from your local Energiehuis
Every Flemish municipality is covered by an Energiehuis, where all residents, tenants included, can get advice on energy bills, saving energy, renovation and subsidies.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Know the EPC for common parts; it counts towards every apartment's label
Every apartment building with two or more units needs an EPC for its common parts, valid for up to 10 years; it feeds into each apartment's EPC, so improving the shared roof or heating lifts every unit's label.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Understand your home's EPC label and score
The EPC gives a home a label from A+ to F and a score in kWh per m² a year; it is a calculated figure under standard assumptions, not your actual use.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Book a free Mijn Energiescan home visit
Tenants with a lower income get a free home visit with personal tips, small fixes on the spot and a €25 kit (LED, water-saving showerhead, draught strips).
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Get free, neutral energy advice from a Guichet Énergie Wallonie
The Guichets Énergie Wallonie are the Walloon public energy advice offices. Tenants and owners get free, neutral answers there on insulation, heating, bills, solar panels and financial support for their home.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Get free, neutral advice from Homegrade
Homegrade is the Brussels advice centre where tenants, owners and co-owners get free, non-commercial advice on energy, insulation, works and grants for their home.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Brussels tenants: your home must meet minimum standards, and you can complain
Every rented home in Brussels must meet minimum standards for safety, health and basic equipment such as heating and hot water. If yours has serious defects and the landlord does nothing, you can file a complaint with the regional housing inspectorate.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Get free, independent help with energy contracts and bills from Infor GazElec
Infor GazElec is the free, independent and confidential Brussels information centre for electricity and gas consumers. It helps with contracts, bills, moving house, cut-offs and debts.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Know the minimum energy rules for rental homes
Every rental home in Flanders must have basic roof insulation and double glazing; single glazing in more than one window can get a house or flat declared unfit.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Know that rental homes need a minimum EPC label from 2030
From 1 January 2030, terraced houses and apartments that are rented need at least label D (detached and semi-detached: E), tightening in 2035 and 2040.
Level 1 · HabitCost: FreePartly uncited -
Flanders · Subject to change
Open your Woningpas to see your home's EPC and renovation plan
The Woningpas is a free online file for your home with its EPC, permits and a step-by-step renovation plan with cost indications.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Renting in Brussels? Check the PEB class in the ad and ask for the certificate
Brussels rental ads must show the home's PEB class and energy use per m², and the landlord must give you the certificate by the time you sign the lease at the latest. Use it to compare homes before you commit.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Read the renovation path on a new Walloon PEB certificate
PEB certificates made since 1 September 2026 add an indicative path towards label A, with the label after works. Older certificates stay valid. The path is not a quote and does not replace the audit logement.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Brussels homes must reach PEB 275 by 2033; a certificate for every home will follow
By 1 January 2033 at the latest every Brussels home must use no more than 275 kWh of primary energy per m² a year, about class E today. A PEB certificate will become compulsory for every home, but its timetable is not fixed yet.
Level 1 · HabitCost: FreeUnder review -
Brussels · Subject to change
Use the renovation scenario on your Brussels PEB certificate to plan works
Since March 2023 a Brussels PEB certificate includes a recommended renovation scenario showing which works to do and how far each step improves the home. Read it before you plan or ask for quotes.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Thinking of a prepayment meter? Ask your CPAS first
Since 2026 ORES uses the smart meter with a prepayment function as the standard prepayment meter. It is free for protected customers and when the CPAS supports the request, and an emergency credit starts when your balance runs out.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Behind on energy bills? Ask Brugel for protected-customer status
In Brussels, a household with an energy debt, a formal notice from its supplier and an income under a ceiling can become a protected customer, supplied by Sibelga at a social tariff and shielded from a cut-off.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Protected customer in Wallonia? Make sure you get the social tariff
Federal protected customers get the social tariff from any supplier, usually automatically. Regional protected customers (CPAS budget guidance, debt mediation, collective debt settlement) get it only when supplied by their grid operator, with a yearly certificate.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
RENOLUTION premiums are suspended; check before counting on a grant
The Brussels RENOLUTION renovation premiums are currently suspended and no new support has been decided. Check renolution.brussels for the current situation, and ask Homegrade, before planning works around a grant.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Brussels rent indexation: no valid PEB certificate, no indexation
A Brussels landlord can only index the rent after giving the tenant a PEB certificate that is still valid. Older leases on homes rated E, F or G get a correction that lowers the indexation; the official calculators show the amount.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Walloon rent indexation: written request, once a year, and a PEB effect from 2022–2023
In Wallonia rent is never indexed automatically; the landlord asks in writing, at most once a year. The PEB label limited indexation from November 2022 to October 2023, and the official page says this still affects homes rated D to G.
Level 1 · HabitCost: FreeUnder review -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Renting in Wallonia: the minimum quality rules and how to ask for an inspection
Every rented home in Wallonia must meet minimum quality rules, including a heating point, ventilation, no serious damp or mould, and safe gas and electricity. Tenants can ask for an inspection; small homes and kots also need a permis de location.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Set your advance bills to your real usage
Advance payments (voorschotfacturen) are estimates; you can ask your supplier to align them with your real consumption, or switch to a monthly settlement if you have a digital meter.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders
Secure your smart home devices, and decide who sees your meter data
Change default passwords, install updates, secure your Wi-Fi and switch off what you don't use; your meter data is yours, and nobody may use it for other purposes without your explicit consent.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Your ORES smart meter is free; ask to see your detailed readings in myORES
ORES is replacing meters with smart meters for free, commune by commune, and you cannot refuse one. Once it is in, you can ask for your quarter-hour readings to be shown in your myORES account.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Ask Sibelga for a free smart meter and follow your use in the app
Sibelga is fitting smart electricity meters across Brussels, area by area. Installation is free, you can ask for one yourself at any time, and the free My Sibelga app shows your electricity use.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Solar panels from before 2024: keep compensation and use more of your own power
Walloon solar panels in service before 2024 keep compensation until 31 December 2030 unless you enlarge, share or sell. With a smart meter the prosumer charge follows what you draw from the grid, so using your own power pays.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Check your roof on the Brussels solar map
The Brussels solar map gives a first, non-commercial estimate of what your roof could do with solar panels or a solar water heater. Anyone can use it, and you can pass the report on to an installer.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Check your roof on the Walloon solar map
The Walloon solar map gives a free first estimate of what your roof could do with solar panels or a solar water heater. Use it before you ask installers for quotes.
Level 1 · HabitCost: FreePartly uncited -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Consider the optional tarif Impact only if you can shift big electricity loads
Since 2026 Walloon households with a smart meter can opt for tarif Impact, a grid tariff with five time bands at three price levels. The regulator says it is not meant for most consumers, only for those who can move large loads.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Track your usage in Mijn Fluvius
With a digital meter you can see your electricity and gas use per day and even per quarter hour in Mijn Fluvius.
Level 1 · HabitCost: Free -
Brussels · Subject to change
Selling or renting in Brussels? Have the PEB certificate ready before the ad
A home of 18 m² or more needs a valid PEB certificate before it is offered for sale or rent, and every ad must show its energy class and its use in kWh/m² a year. Gather your invoices first, because missing proof gives a worse score.
Level 1 · HabitCost: €100–2,500 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Selling or renting in Wallonia? Get the PEB certificate before the home is on the market
A Walloon home that is sold, rented out or advertised needs a PEB certificate first. Ads must show figures from it, and the buyer or tenant must receive it before signing.
Level 1 · HabitCost: €100–2,500 -
Flanders
Make a concrete upgrade proposal to your landlord
Tenants pay the energy bills but landlords own the building; a specific, costed proposal makes improvements more likely.
Level 2 · Quick fixCost: FreeAsk landlordPartly uncited -
Flanders · Subject to change
Open the user port on your digital meter to see your use live
Every digital meter has a user port (P1) that sends your electricity use every second; you activate it for free in Mijn Fluvius and choose yourself which app or device may read it.
Level 2 · Quick fixCost: Under €100 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Get the boiler serviced (it is usually your job as tenant)
In Flanders the tenant is normally responsible for periodic boiler servicing; a well-maintained gas boiler saves about 5% on heating.
Level 3 · UpgradeMedium impact≈ 150 kg CO₂ a year · 15×≈ 5% of heatingCost: €100–2,500 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Know how Mijn VerbouwPremie works for an apartment building
The syndic applies once for the base premium on works to the common parts, for the whole building; each owner can apply separately for works to their own apartment, such as windows.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Choose a certified installer for a heat pump, solar panels or a solar water heater
RESCert certifies installers of heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters and pellet boilers; for a heat pump premium it is required, for the others it is recommended.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Get free renovation advice, and possibly a coach, from your Energiehuis
Anyone can get free renovation advice at their Energiehuis; owners under the income limits can get a free coach who visits, compares quotes and helps with premium applications.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Check Mijn VerbouwPremie before you renovate
The Flemish renovation premium covers eight kinds of works done by a contractor; since March 2026 some income categories only get it for a heat pump, so run the simulator first.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: Free -
All Belgium · Subject to change
Energy works on common parts are decided by the general meeting
The roof and facade usually belong to all co-owners, so the association of co-owners decides on them; works on common parts usually need a two-thirds majority, legally required works a simple majority.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Get free renovation advice for your apartment building through the Energiehuis
Through Mijn VerbouwBegeleiding, an association of co-owners gets free, independent advice on the best investments for the common parts, with no income conditions and no minimum number of units.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: Free -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Start with an audit logement by an accredited auditor before you renovate
The new Walloon renovation loans need an audit logement made or updated in the year before you apply. An accredited auditor visits the home and gives you a report that sets out the label, the works needed and the order to do them in.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Brussels · Subject to change
Have your boiler checked by an approved PEB technician
In Brussels a gas boiler or gas water heater needs a PEB periodic control every 2 years, an oil or wood boiler every year. In a rental the tenant arranges it unless the lease says otherwise.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Have your boiler checked by an approved technician
In Wallonia an oil or solid-fuel boiler needs a periodic check every year and a gas boiler up to 100 kW every 3 years. In a rental the tenant usually arranges the servicing and keeps the certificate.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500Under review -
Flanders · Subject to change
Let an energy management system run your appliances when the sun shines
An energy management system reads your meter's user port and switches the heat-pump boiler, car charging or other appliances on when your solar panels produce, which raises self-use and keeps your capacity peak low.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Low income? Ask your CPAS about the MEBAR subsidy before you buy or start works
MEBAR is a Walloon subsidy for low-income households that improve the energy use of their main home, for example new windows, insulation, a stove or a boiler. You apply through your CPAS before buying anything or starting works.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500Ask landlordUnder review -
Flanders · Subject to change
Consider a plug-in balcony solar panel
Since 17 April 2025, plug-in solar panels are allowed in Flanders; the government advises keeping the inverter below 800 W. They suit tenants who cannot install a full system.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500Ask landlordPartly uncited -
Flanders · Subject to change
Fit thermostatic radiator valves and a programmable thermostat
Thermostatic valves let each room keep its own temperature and usually pay for themselves in under two years; a programmable thermostat handles the day and night schedule.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Charge your electric car smartly at home
Charge a little every day at a lower power, at night or on solar power, and choose a charge point with load balancing; every home charge point must be registered with Fluvius.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €100–2,500 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Solar panels from 2024: no compensation, so use what you produce
Walloon solar panels in service since 1 January 2024 get no compensation and pay no prosumer tariff. Grid costs apply only to what you draw, a smart meter is required, and you can sell what you inject to a supplier.
Level 3 · UpgradeCost: €2,500–25,000Partly uncited -
Brussels · Subject to change
Finance energy works with the ECORENO loan
The Fonds du Logement's ECORENO loan finances renovation and energy works in Brussels at a preferential rate for households under income ceilings. Homegrade helps you prepare the application for free.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Spread the cost with Mijn VerbouwLening
The Flemish renovation loan has an interest rate that depends on your income; you apply through Mijn VerbouwLoket with help from your Energiehuis, and any Mijn VerbouwPremie goes to repaying it early.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: Free -
Flanders
Make the house airtight when you renovate, and have it measured
Cracks and joints between building parts let warm air escape; sealing them during a renovation, and checking with a recognised airtightness test, only works together with controlled ventilation.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €100–2,500 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Check for asbestos before you start breaking things
In a building from before 2001, get an asbestos attest, and for renovation an extra investigation of the work zone, before any demolition; asbestos you uncover must be removed, not covered up again.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €100–2,500 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Have your cavity walls filled with insulation
If your outer walls have a cavity, filling it takes one to two days, needs no permit and usually pays for itself in three to five years.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Find out whether a heat network is coming to your street
A heat network delivers heat through underground pipes, so you need no boiler of your own; it suits dense neighbourhoods, and your municipality's heat zoning plan shows where networks will come.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Check whether your home is ready for a heat pump, and insulate first if not
The free Warmtepompklaar tool shows whether your home suits a full heat pump, a hybrid, or needs better insulation first.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Weigh a home battery carefully; there is no premium any more
With solar panels, a battery can lift the share of your own power you use from about 28% to about 68%, but the Flemish premium has ended and a bigger battery is not automatically better.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Landlords: know the minimum energy rules for the homes you rent out
Roof insulation and double glazing are already minimum requirements, and from 1 January 2030 a minimum EPC label applies; a home that fails cannot get a conformity certificate and may no longer be rented out.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Tenants can sometimes claim Mijn VerbouwPremie, now only for a heat pump
A tenant who pays for energy works in their rental home can, in principle, apply for Mijn VerbouwPremie. Since 1 March 2026 that only covers a heat pump or heat pump boiler.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000Ask landlordPartly uncited -
Brussels · Subject to change
Replacing a boiler in Brussels: no new oil boilers, and gas limits from 2030
Since 1 June 2025 no oil boiler may be installed in Brussels, even as a replacement, and any new or replaced heating needs a PEB reception. From 2030 gas boilers are banned in heavy renovations, not in an ordinary replacement.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Replacing an oil boiler in Wallonia: plan for the 2031 ban
Oil and coal boilers are banned in new Walloon buildings since 1 January 2026. In existing buildings installing or replacing one is banned from 1 January 2031; burners may be replaced until the end of 2034.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Decide on your next heating before the old boiler breaks
When a boiler fails you have to replace it in a hurry; deciding early lets you insulate first and choose a heat pump, a hybrid or a heat network rather than another fossil boiler.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Renovating in Wallonia? Support is now a loan (Rénopack or Rénoprêt), not a grant
Since 1 October 2026 Walloon renovation support takes the form of loans from the SWCS or the FLW, for homes with a low PEB label. The old primes Habitation closed on 30 September 2026, and the new procedures are still being finalised.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000Under review -
Flanders · Subject to change
Share solar power from the roof with the residents of your apartment building
Solar panels on a shared roof usually feed the common meter; the surplus can be shared or sold to residents with a digital meter, managed by the association of co-owners or another manager registered with Fluvius.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Brussels · Subject to change
Solar panels in Brussels: certified installer and Sibelga declaration
To get green certificates for new home solar panels in Brussels, have them fitted by a RESCert-certified installer and declare them to Sibelga. The support is recalculated every year, so check the current rules first.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Check your roof on the Zonnekaart before buying solar panels
The free Zonnekaart scores each part of your roof for solar panels and estimates yield, cost and payback time.
Level 4 · RenovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Building new? Don't count on a renovation premium or a property tax cut
Mijn VerbouwPremie only covers buildings above a certain age, and the property tax cut for very energy-efficient homes ended for permits applied for from 1 October 2025.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Free -
Flanders · Subject to change
Appoint an EPB reporter before building starts, and keep your EPC bouw
Before the works start you appoint an EPB reporter and a ventilation reporter. Afterwards the EPB declaration gives you an EPC bouw, valid for 10 years.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: €100–2,500 -
Brussels · Subject to change
Building new in Brussels? Appoint a PEB adviser before you apply for the permit
A new home needs an approved PEB adviser, who draws up the PEB proposal for the permit, the start notice and the PEB declaration. Bruxelles Environnement then issues the home's PEB certificate.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: €100–2,500 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Building new in Wallonia? Appoint a PEB manager before you apply for the permit
An approved PEB manager draws up the initial PEB declaration for your permit, the final declaration after the works, and the PEB certificate of the new home, valid for up to 10 years.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: €100–2,500 -
Flanders · Subject to change
No gas for a new home, so plan its heating around a heat pump or heat network
Since 2025 a new home, or a home demolished and rebuilt, can't be connected to the gas grid. Heating must come from a heat pump, a heat network, biomass with a heat pump, or direct electric heating.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
A new home must produce some of its own solar energy
For permits applied for from 2025, a new home needs at least 15 kWh per m² a year from its own solar panels or solar water heater. A heat pump no longer counts towards this.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: €2,500–25,000 -
Flanders
Design a compact new home with shaded windows to the sun and efficient ventilation
A compact home is easier to insulate and loses less heat. Windows to the east, south or west catch winter sun but need shading, and ventilation with demand control or heat recovery saves the most.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Over €25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Building a new home? These EPB energy limits shape the design
A new home in Flanders must reach at least E30 and S28, be ventilated, stay cool enough in summer and use no gas. Your architect designs to these limits from the first sketch.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Over €25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Renovating with a permit? EPB energy rules apply to the whole project
If the building is heated and your works need a permit or notification, EPB rules cover every part of the project, and you need an EPB assessor before you start.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Over €25,000Under review -
Brussels · Subject to change
Building a new home in Brussels? It must be near zero energy, with no gas boiler
For permits applied for from April 2024, a new Brussels home may use at most 45 kWh of primary energy and need at most 15 kWh for heating per m² a year. Gas and oil boilers are banned for permits from 2025.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Over €25,000 -
Wallonia · Subject to change
Building a new home in Wallonia? It must meet Q-ZEN and use 35% renewable energy
A new Walloon home must reach the near-zero-energy Q-ZEN level. For permits from 2026, at least 35% of its energy must be renewable, and oil and coal heating are banned.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Over €25,000 -
Flanders · Subject to change
Buying a home with label E or F? You must renovate to D within six years
Since 2023, buyers of a Flemish house or apartment with EPC label E or F must bring it to at least label D within six years of the deed.
Level 5 · Deep renovationCost: Over €25,000Under review
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