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July 2, 2025
Decentralized heat recovery ventilation (HRV) is playing an increasingly important role in the search for energy-efficient homes. This technology not only improves the indoor climate and tenant comfort, but also has a significant impact on a home's energy label, which directly influences its WWS points (Housing Valuation System) and rental value. In 2025, with stricter requirements such as the Affordable Rent Act and the target of energy label B for social housing, decentralized heat recovery ventilation is a smart investment for landlords. In this blog, we discuss how decentralized heat recovery ventilation works, its impact on the energy label, and the benefits for landlords and tenants, inspired by insights from guest lectures on property management.
Decentralized heat recovery ventilation is a system that supplies fresh air and removes polluted air, while recovering heat from the exhaust air to heat the incoming air. Unlike central systems, which require a complex network of ducts, a decentralized heat recovery unit is installed in each room, usually in the wall of a living room or bedroom. One example is the Fresh-R Compac, a CO2-controlled unit that automatically ventilates based on air quality.
Advantages:
Costs: The installation of a decentralized heat recovery unit costs an average of €2,500–€3,500 per unit, depending on the home and the type of unit.
The energy label of a home, based on the NTA 8800 standards, measures energy performance based on primary energy consumption (kWh/m²/year). Decentralized heat recovery ventilation reduces this consumption through efficient ventilation and heat recovery, which contributes to a higher energy label (e.g., from C to A). This has a direct impact on the WWS points:
Practical example: In a Rotterdam project, we installed decentralized heat recovery units in 40 apartments as part of a package that also included solar panels and insulation. This improved the energy label from C to A, which yielded +22 WWS points per home and increased the rent from €681.44 (social) to €1,025.87 (mid-range rent).
The costs of decentralized heat recovery ventilation are relatively low compared to other sustainability measures, but the impact is significant. Here is a cost-benefit analysis:
Example: In an Amsterdam project, we installed one heat recovery unit (€2,500 after ISDE subsidy) in a 40 m² apartment, which raised its energy label from D to A (+26 points). The rent increased by €300/month, resulting in a 20% ROI within 3 years.
With the Affordable Rent Act (July 2024) and the target of energy label B for social housing by 2030, decentralized heat recovery ventilation is a must. Homes with low labels (C, D, E) risk rent reductions and declining value, while label A offers advantages:
Practical example: In a Rotterdam project, we combined heat recovery with insulation, which raised the energy label from C to A and increased the WWS points by 22. This made mid-range rentals possible, with a rent increase of €344.43/month per home.
Would you like to use decentralized heat recovery ventilation to improve your home's energy rating? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation!
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The difference lies mainly in the degree of insulation and the proportion of sustainably generated energy. An A label can be achieved with good insulation and an efficient installation. For A+++, more is needed: a large proportion of the energy must be generated sustainably, for example with solar panels and a heat pump.
The energy label is determined based on the fossil energy consumption of the home, expressed in kWh/m² per year. For an A label, this value is between 105 and 160 kWh/m² per year. With good insulation, an A label is easily achievable. Homes built after 1991 often already have sufficient basic insulation to fall into this category. Solar panels are therefore not necessarily required to achieve an A label.
Practical experience – reliable energy expertise and results-oriented collaboration
Decentralized heat recovery ventilation (HRV) is playing an increasingly important role in the search for energy-efficient homes. This technology not only improves the indoor climate and tenant comfort, but also has a significant impact on a home's energy label, which directly influences its WWS points (Housing Valuation System) and rental value. In 2025, with stricter requirements such as the Affordable Rent Act and the target of energy label B for social housing, decentralized heat recovery ventilation is a smart investment for landlords. In this blog, we discuss how decentralized heat recovery ventilation works, its impact on the energy label, and the benefits for landlords and tenants, inspired by insights from guest lectures on property management.
Decentralized heat recovery ventilation is a system that supplies fresh air and removes polluted air, while recovering heat from the exhaust air to heat the incoming air. Unlike central systems, which require a complex network of ducts, a decentralized heat recovery unit is installed in each room, usually in the wall of a living room or bedroom. One example is the Fresh-R Compac, a CO2-controlled unit that automatically ventilates based on air quality.
Advantages:
Costs: The installation of a decentralized heat recovery unit costs an average of €2,500–€3,500 per unit, depending on the home and the type of unit.
The energy label of a home, based on the NTA 8800 standards, measures energy performance based on primary energy consumption (kWh/m²/year). Decentralized heat recovery ventilation reduces this consumption through efficient ventilation and heat recovery, which contributes to a higher energy label (e.g., from C to A). This has a direct impact on the WWS points:
Practical example: In a Rotterdam project, we installed decentralized heat recovery units in 40 apartments as part of a package that also included solar panels and insulation. This improved the energy label from C to A, which yielded +22 WWS points per home and increased the rent from €681.44 (social) to €1,025.87 (mid-range rent).
The costs of decentralized heat recovery ventilation are relatively low compared to other sustainability measures, but the impact is significant. Here is a cost-benefit analysis:
Example: In an Amsterdam project, we installed one heat recovery unit (€2,500 after ISDE subsidy) in a 40 m² apartment, which raised its energy label from D to A (+26 points). The rent increased by €300/month, resulting in a 20% ROI within 3 years.
With the Affordable Rent Act (July 2024) and the target of energy label B for social housing by 2030, decentralized heat recovery ventilation is a must. Homes with low labels (C, D, E) risk rent reductions and declining value, while label A offers advantages:
Practical example: In a Rotterdam project, we combined heat recovery with insulation, which raised the energy label from C to A and increased the WWS points by 22. This made mid-range rentals possible, with a rent increase of €344.43/month per home.
Would you like to use decentralized heat recovery ventilation to improve your home's energy rating? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation!
Practical experience – reliable energy expertise and results-oriented collaboration
I have experienced Renewable Partners as a reliable and professional party in the field of sustainable energy. They think along well, are transparent in their communication, and deliver customized solutions that really meet the need.
Professional and readily available for questions. I am very satisfied with the service and can recommend the company. Kind regards,
While my energy label doesn't matter at all, new residents are going to renovate the entire house, Nik has still made a thorough and clear report of my old farmhouse. TOP job. Thanks
The energy label inspector is a highly skilled professional who knows his trade. We were helped well and quickly with his advice. The reactions of this company are praising the price, the lowest, and the service, downright TOP!
The recording was done carefully. All documents and construction dimensions were checked/recorded by the advisor Ronan van der Loo. And good advice was given. He finished the recording within 2 hours.
