EnergyPortal.eu

The Northern provinces Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe will not lead the way in energy-efficient housing. These provinces had hoped to enforce a higher energy-performance standard for new housing than is legally required. However, there was not enough support for this among those carrying out the work, who support the ambitions of the provincial authorities, but would prefer to determine the effectiveness of higher energy-performance standards on a project-by-project basis. In consultation with the involved authorities and those carrying out the work, Minister Van Middelkoop of Housing, Communities and Integration therefore decided to exempt the north of the Netherlands from the established Order-in-Council (AMvB) that provides the legal framework enabling authorities to enforce higher energy-performance standards. The AMvB will still apply to the thirteen Areas of Excellence, where innovative and very energy-efficient housing will be built. The AMvB will be implemented in those instances.