Seven key points of our policy

The aim of Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn is to become an energy-neutral municipality and to share energy. To achieve this, we want to generate as much energy as we use collectively. This contributes to reducing our ecological footprint and helps combat climate change. Energiek Alphen has seven key priorities for our members, residents, businesses and organisations.

  1. Energy awareness

The ultimate goal for all residents, organisations and businesses is an energy-neutral Alphen. Join in and become a free member of the Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn energy community. Together with organisations, businesses and the local council, we can then develop local initiatives for your street, neighbourhood, district or town centre.

In a local energy community (see also: Local4Local), we work on sustainable generation and local use, energy storage, smart energy management, and local ownership. At least twice a year, Energiek Alphen organises an energy-saving market in a neighbourhood or centre of the municipality to draw the attention of all residents to the importance and possibilities of energy saving and the generation of sustainable energy, together with local companies that can offer good deals.

  1. Energy saving

Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn wants to help all residents make their homes more sustainable, regardless of whether they own or rent their property. The aim is to reduce energy consumption while maintaining or increasing living comfort. We advise owners/residents on the order in which measures can be taken. We also help them choose a company to carry out these measures (preferably from Alphen) and furthermore: what financing is available through loans and/or subsidies from the government and/or municipality. We want to help residents who are unable to implement small energy measures themselves, for example by installing draught strips, radiator foil, etc.
Energiek Alphen and local businesses are keen to collaborate with Woonforte, Habeko and other housing providers to make rental properties more energy efficient as quickly as possible. The sooner homes are energy label The better you are at C or B, the better.

  1. Sustainable energy generation and sharing

To become energy neutral, the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn needs more locally produced sustainable energy that can be shared by and with residents, organisations and businesses. Sustainable energy that also belongs to the people of Alphen. This starts, for example, with solar panels on your own roof or participation in Sunshine in Alphen.

Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn is convinced that local ownership also ensures that the interests of local residents are taken into account when installing solar panels or wind turbines, either independently or in collaboration with others. A good mix of sustainable energy from sun and wind is important here. The municipality facilitates this by issuing permits.

  1. Affordable energy costs

Energy costs must be affordable for everyone. Locally generated energy should preferably be used and shared locally, making use of short/long-term energy storage and smart energy management. This reduces the burden on the grid operator, as grid congestion (traffic jams on the power grid) decreases. In this way, we also need less national, more expensive energy.

  1. Lower dependency

With its projects, Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn actively contributes to increasing energy independence within our energy community. This makes us less vulnerable to fluctuations in energy prices due to political or economic causes and/or possible disruptions in the energy supply.

  1. Local economic stimulus

Locally generated and shared energy reduces dependence on external energy sources and expertise. By collaborating with entrepreneurs from the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn, who can implement energy-saving measures for residents, organisations and businesses, we are strengthening the local economy. This is creating new jobs in the sustainable energy sector.

  1. Innovation and education

Energetic Alphen aan den Rijn actively participates in the realisation of innovative energy solutions, such as energy storage and energy hubs in local energy living labs. In addition, we participate in the Energy Transition House van Alphen aan den Rijn, which focuses on training local tradespeople and energy specialists and informing residents about the energy transition, in order to get them fully involved.