The Pinnacle of Energy Efficiency
A Nul-op-de-meter (NOM), or 'Zero-on-the-Meter', home is a residence that is so energy-efficient that over the course of a year, it generates enough renewable energy (primarily through solar panels) to cover all of its household and heating-related energy needs. This is the highest standard of energy performance in the Netherlands. It is achieved through a combination of extreme insulation, superior airtightness, an all-electric heating system (like a heat pump), and a large array of solar panels. While there are no longer specific 'NOM subsidies', this standard is heavily encouraged through building regulations and allows landlords to use a special rent structure.
The 'Energieprestatievergoeding' (EPV)
For a tenant, the unique aspect of living in a NOM home is the payment structure. Instead of a variable monthly energy bill paid to a utility provider, the tenant pays a fixed monthly fee to the landlord called an energieprestatievergoeding (EPV), or Energy Performance Fee. This fee is for the guaranteed energy performance of the home and the use of the energy-generating installations. The EPV is legally capped and is intended to be roughly equal to what a tenant in a regular home would pay for energy.
The Skeptical View: 'Zero' is Not Always Zero
The 'zero-on-the-meter' promise is based on the energy consumption of an average, standardized household. The EPV covers this baseline consumption. If a tenant's personal energy usage is higher than this standardized average—for example, if they work from home full-time, have a hobby that uses a lot of electricity, or simply prefer a very warm house—they will have to pay for the excess consumption to a utility company. The monthly cost is therefore the fixed EPV plus any charges for above-average use. The promise of 'zero' is conditional, and tenants should be aware that their lifestyle directly impacts whether they will truly have no additional energy bill at the end of the year.
