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%.
Do it yourself
Sources checked on .
Medium impact≈ 180 kg CO₂ a year · 15×HeatingLevel 2 · Quick fixCost: FreeA few hours≈ 6% of heatingAsk landlordPartly uncited
The cooler the water your boiler sends to the radiators and gets back, the less energy it wastes. Ask the technician at the next service, or your landlord, whether the flow temperature can go down to about 60 °C, or 50 °C in a well-insulated home, and whether the heating curve (stooklijn) is set correctly, while keeping the home comfortable.
On a combi boiler, switching on the eco setting for hot water is something you can usually do yourself. No citation
Details
| Impact | Medium · A lower return temperature saves about 6% of heating, which is about 900 kWh a year in an average Flemish house (15,000 kWh for heating). How we rate impact |
|---|---|
| CO₂ saved | About 180 kg of CO₂ a year, roughly the yearly uptake of 15 forest trees. How we count CO₂ |
| Estimated saving | ≈ 6% of heating · Lowering flow and return temperature (return 60 °C → 40 °C) about 6%; eco mode on a combi boiler about 1% (Flemish government figures). (confidence: medium) |
| Who acts | You and your landlord |
| Needs landlord's agreement | Yes |
| Type | Action |
| Constant or subject to change | Constant · Good practice that barely changes with new laws, prices or services. |
Sources
- Besparen op uw energieverbruik (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on