TNO launches health‑focused housing retrofit pilots as Belgium offers free energy‑saving webinars

The Dutch research institute TNO has started a project called “healthy living on prescription” that links energy‑saving home improvements with health care. Pilots are underway in five municipalities – Heerlen, Arnhem, Leiden, Amersfoort and Almelo – where care professionals can refer residents in energy‑poverty to energy‑help and retrofit measures. Early research shows such upgrades can cut household energy use, reduce damp and cold, and lower medication use for asthma and arthritis, saving about €70 per household per year.

In Belgium, the Energiehuis Kempen programme is running a series of free digital information sessions in the autumn of 2026 covering topics such as roof insulation, ventilation, heat‑pump installation, digital meters and financing options. The initiative also includes a two‑day “Bouwfit” course in Geel to teach participants about sustainable building and renovation practices.