LIFE helps Dutch homeowners make the clean energy transition Skip to main content
European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • News article
  • 28 January 2025
  • European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • 2 min read

LIFE helps Dutch homeowners make the clean energy transition

As the world marked the International Day of Clean Energy, LIFE is making it easier for home owners in the Netherlands to save energy — and money. 

© Getty Images
© Getty Images.

It almost seems too good to be true: across the Netherlands, on the International Day of Clean Energy, letters are dropping through thousands of mailboxes offering householders a customised home energy package for as little as €29! That’s the deal from LIFE WHILARENO, a 4-year, EU funded project which aims to make energy efficiency — well, more efficient. 

Coordinated by Winst uit je Woning (WujW)— Dutch for ‘Profit from your Home’ — LIFE WHILARENO is all about making the transition to clean energy as simple as possible. Whether it’s double glazing, solar panels, cavity wall insulation or under-floor heating, retrofitting your current home to make it more energy efficient can be a nightmare. Measuring up, comparing quotes, contracting a renovation company and living in a building site while the work is done can all seem like too much stress.  

That’s where LIFE WHILARENO steps in, simplifying the entire process for homeowners wanting lower fuel bills, warmer homes and increased energy efficiency. The project supplies them with instant quotes for sustainable solutions; helps them choose the best installer based on quality, service and warranty; gets them the best deal and helps with grant applications to cover some or all of the cost. 

‘We’ve developed a white label solution which means mortgage lenders, municipalities or energy companies can provide their customers with energy saving information using their own brand identity,’ explains Leon Makkinga, WujW’s Programme Manager for Sustainable Innovation.  

One recent ‘white label’ partner is the Netherlands’ biggest bank ING. ‘Our collaboration with ING is the ideal outcome for LIFE WHILARENO,’ he says. ‘600 000 ING mortgage clients will have the opportunity to make their homes more sustainable and improve their EPC rating. As we speak, we are already assisting the first ING clients.’ 

LIFE WHILARENO is just one of dozens of projects funded by the LIFE Clean Energy Transition (CET) sub-programme to support Europe’s transition towards an energy-efficient, climate-neutral and climate-resilient economy based on renewable energy. With a budget of nearly €1 billion, in 2023 LIFE CET awarded €98 million to 59 projects. While the results of the 2024 call for CET proposals have yet to be announced, more than €81 million has already been earmarked for a range of projects from installing heat pumps to alleviating energy poverty. 

LIFE WHILARENO aligns with the Energy Union StrategyEnergy Performance of Buildings Directive; Energy Efficiency Directive; Moving towards a low-carbon economy in 2050; and REPowerEU

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