The Energy Divide

Abstract

The Netherlands faces severe affordability issues in the owner-occupied housing market. Not only are dwelling prices skyrocketing, but households are also struggling to cover rising energy prices. Meeting climate goals is an additional complexity layer, creating a divide between households able to adapt to the energy transition and ones lagging. Therefore, the distribution of benefits from energy-efficient housing remains uneven. This research investigates how demographic and socio-economic factors influence access to energy efficiency in the Dutch owner-occupied housing market, focusing on three dimensions of social equity, energy costs, wealth growth and access to subsidies. Using a mixed-methods approach, combining data analysis with interviews, the study finds significant disparities between households within the owner-occupied housing market. Lower-income households are underrepresented in better Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) categories and face barriers in subsidy access. While homes with better EPCs are linked to better energy efficiency and higher value appreciation, these advantages mostly benefit higher-income households. Existing subsidies, although intended well, often reinforce inequality due to complex procedures and distrust of certain households in the government. The study proposes policy directions to improve targeting and equity in subsidy schemes, aiming for a more inclusive and effective energy transition by incentivising, informing and integrating.