When you think about making your home more sustainable, the question quickly arises: how does a home battery actually affect my energy label? An energy label provides insight into a home's energy efficiency and plays an increasingly important role in selling, renting, and financing. While solar panels already contribute directly to label improvement, the role of a home battery is becoming increasingly important. With a home battery, you not only increase your own energy usage, but also optimize the efficiency of your home. This not only positively impacts your sustainability score but can also increase the value of your home. In this blog, we explain how a home battery contributes to the energy label, what benefits this offers, and what you need to consider if you are considering this step.

Does a home battery contribute to a better energy label?

A home battery is (as of yet) not separately included in the standard calculation for the energy label, as solar panels are. Yet a home battery plays an important indirect role. The reason: a higher degree of self-consumption of solar energy reduces your net energy consumption. Since the energy label is determined based on energy needs and efficiency, lower consumption can positively affect your label. Especially in sales, the demonstration of smart energy management systems, including a home battery, can contribute to a more attractive sustainability profile of your home. This is increasingly taken into account by appraisers and buyers in their assessments.

How does a home battery improve your home's sustainability score?

The sustainability score of a home looks not only at insulation and installations but also at the extent to which you generate and consume energy sustainably. A home battery helps in several ways:

• Maximum utilization of solar energy: Less dependency on fossil grid electricity.

• More efficient energy consumption: By cleverly managing peaks and troughs in power usage.

• Lower energy costs: Demonstrable savings make a home more attractive.

Although the official energy label methodology is still being developed to better evaluate battery storage, the sustainable character of homes with a home battery is increasingly recognized in home valuations and mortgage benefits.

What is the impact of a home battery on home value?

Sustainable homes are more popular than ever. A home battery can be an extra selling point for potential buyers or renters. Homes with low energy costs, good self-sufficiency, and future-proof solutions such as a home battery:

• Sell faster than average.

• Often have a higher market value.

• Benefit from extra financing advantages, such as green mortgages.

Research shows that each step of improvement in the energy label (for example from label C to label B) can result in a value increase of several percentage points. Investing in a home battery therefore contributes not only to direct savings but also strengthens the value and marketability of your home.

What should you pay attention to when including a home battery in your energy label?

Although a home battery is not automatically included in the standard energy label, you can take advantage of the documentation and explanation:

• Have the installation professionally done: Certificates and seals provide extra proof.

• Document your savings: Show how much own power you actually use.

• Smartly connect your battery to solar panels: A complete solar power solution counts more strongly.

Consult the energy advisor who drafts your energy label on how best to include your home battery. More and more advisors are taking additional sustainable measures into account in their reports.

Why invest in a home battery for label improvement?

Although the effect on the energy label is not yet automatically recorded one-to-one, the relevance of a home battery is rapidly increasing. Due to the energy transition and new legislation around home sales (for example new construction financing label requirements), smart energy systems are becoming increasingly important. With a home battery, you not only improve your home technically but also make it more attractive to the market. You reduce your monthly expenses, increase your self-sufficiency, and are prepared for future requirements and benefits.

Frequently asked questions about home batteries and energy labels

Is a home battery included in the energy label calculation?
Not yet standard, but its effect on consumption counts.

Does a home battery increase the value of my home?
Yes, especially in combination with solar panels and lower energy costs.

Can I officially have my home battery recorded in the label?
You can have energy savings included in the explanation.

Is a home battery required for a better energy label?
No, but it does help indirectly with a more sustainable profile.

What does a better energy label bring in sales?
On average a few percent more home value.

Does a home battery influence mortgage benefits?
Sometimes it does, especially with green mortgages.

Should I report the installation to my energy advisor?
Yes, so that he can correctly include the impact on consumption.

Are there subsidies for improving my energy label with a home battery?
Currently, there are mainly local schemes and financing options.