CO2 emissions from Dutch homes rapidly decreased in recent years

The CO2 emissions of Dutch homes and buildings have decreased significantly since 1990, and the target of 55 percent fewer emissions by 2030 is in sight, outgoing Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Housing informed parliament on Monday. He stressed that the high energy prices played a significant role in the reduction, and he can’t guarantee that will be permanent, the Volkskrant reports.

Last year, CO2 emissions from homes and buildings were 38 percent lower than in 1990, falling from 30 to 18.6 megatons. Nearly half of that decline occurred in the past two years.

Between 2021 and 2023, natural gas consumption in homes decreased by a quarter. That is partly due to sustainability measures like better insulation and heat pumps, but more reserved consumption also played a big role. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and caused energy prices to spike. Since then, many Dutch households have turned the thermostat down a few degrees. The past two winters have also been mild.

It is, therefore, “uncertain” whether the decline will continue, De Jonge said. Households remained frugal last year despite lower gas prices, and that is hopeful. But he can’t guarantee that this will remain the case.

De Jonge reported that home insulation is “well on track.” Some 700,000 homes took insulation measures last year. Heat pumps were installed in 150,000 homes. Two-thirds of them were fully electric, and the other third was hybrid.

Households used the government’s sustainability subsidies 240,000 times last year, three times as many as in 2022. “The figures show that people know how to find the options and that sustainability is continuing,” De Jonge said.

The private rental sector is doing less well, and its goal of 325,000 rental properties meeting the home insulation standard by 2030 is nowhere near being met. Especially smaller landlords with fewer than 50 homes still have a lot of work to do, De Jonge said. His Affordable Rent Act, currently being considered by the Senate, therefore, includes measures to encourage landlords to make their properties more sustainable.