This month Warm Home Zwolle has been active for one year. We are happy about that, because in the past year we have made at least 430 homes more energy efficient. This way we help people who can’t afford it themselves to lower their energy bills.
Wanting to, but not being able to
In the past year, we noticed that people would like to save energy and insulate, but they are not always able to do so. For example, there is no money to buy insulation material. Or it fails to place the materials, leaving it in the corner of the room. Because we offer the materials and have a handyman come by to install everything, we really make a difference. And we help people adjust their habits. Therefore, our volunteer energy coaches provide customized advice when they view the home.
Here’s how we do it
How did we make homes more energy efficient? In particular, we do this by installing small and large insulation measures. The energy coach charts the status of the home and gives advice on how to save, after which a handyman or contractor Van Wijnen takes over the implementation. From radiator foil to LED bulbs to special double glazing to replacing energy-guzzling white goods, that’s how the counter has stood since the one-year anniversary:
Small measures
Radiator foil installed: 142
- Shower head replacement: 46
- Tightening strips placed at doors: 138
- Draft strips at windows installed: 80
- Letterbox brushes placed: 19
- LED lamp replacement: 40
- Pipe insulation installed: 34
- Device replacement: 115
Major measures (for owner-occupied housing)
Replacing glass in windows with HR++ glass: 20
Nice reactions
We sometimes receive beautiful, moving responses. A small sampling of these:
- “Thank you so much! I’m still all emotional about it… Replacing these appliances is a multi-year plan that continually weighs on you when you’re living on welfare. The refrigerator is definitely a concern because it guzzles so much energy. That that is now gone in one fell swoop is beyond comprehension!”
- “Thank you so much for facilitating this great promotion. I am very happy that I can save a lot of energy with this dryer.”
- “You are the best thing that has happened to me in years! How much the energy bill will go down. Wim fixed the jobs so neatly: I want to hug you and squeeze you fine.”
- “I’m in tears … that we’re all doing this is super nice. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
- “Besides feeling immensely grateful, yet also slightly uncomfortable. That this is possible. Many thanks for all the efforts.”
- “I want to thank the Warm Home team immensely, I am very happy with it. How much the energy bill will go down. So thank you to all the people from Warm Home.”
Sign up
Good news: you can still sign up. With the cold weather approaching, the number of registrations is increasing, so be quick to get there and be warm in winter. Sign up through our website.