Independent specialists provide objective information and advice
In 2019, Bart van den Heuvel and Frank Benthem launched a new initiative called Woondokter. The initiative responds to the needs of housing consumers who would like to be well prepared to make their homes more sustainable. There is a lot of information available on the internet, so consumers often cannot see the wood for the trees. Moreover, effective sustainability is different for every home. Woondokter's specialists come to the house personally and record their advice in a report.
New website woondokter.nl
Frank Benthem: ‘We made a flying start in 2019. There was a lot of interest in Woondokter's services and a number of municipalities endorsed the importance. They made subsidies available and supported our initiative. With our experience and accumulated knowledge, it was time for a new website. The new site www.woondokter.nl not only focuses on our services, but also provides much more information. We thus want to support housing consumers in the process from orientation to realisation of sustainability. Because Woondokter is independent, people can count on real and objective advice. We target homeowners throughout the Netherlands.’
From orientation to realisation
Broadly speaking, Woondokter's services can be divided into three phases: orientation, preparation and realisation. Bart van den Heuvel: ‘For consumers who want to orientate on the possibilities and costs of making their homes more sustainable, Woondokter has the WoningPlan and WoningPlan+ developed. If one chooses one of these options, a sustainability consultant comes to their home for a recording. He goes through the house according to a proven six-step method. This ensures that all structural aspects and installations of the house are assessed and recorded. The findings are discussed and then recorded in a report that one receives after the visit. This records all aspects of making the home in question more sustainable. The WoningPlan is aimed at saving energy. Opting for the WoningPlan+ then living comfort is also considered. Advice is then also given on condensation, ventilation, air quality and ambient noise. Things that can significantly improve living comfort.’
Woondokter's advisers can also help in choosing a heat pump with the right capacity. A heat pump with too little power does not generate enough heat and can lead to noise pollution. A heat pump with too much power comes at the expense of efficiency (savings). To effectively achieve sustainability, it may be wise for Woondokter to carry out a warmteverliesberekening to be made. This can calculate exactly what capacity a heat pump needs for a specific home.
Guidance on the sustainability process
If, on the basis of the WoningPlan or WoningPlan+ decided to go sustainable, then Woondokter's sustainability consultants can guide homeowners through the process. By choosing TrajectBegeleiding (Trajectory Guidance) can support Woondokter in selecting potential suppliers and requesting and assessing quotes. TrajectBegeleiding (Trajectory Guidance) by Woondokter fits seamlessly with the WoningPlan and WoningPlan+. If one only wants to be advised on the implementation of preservation separately from Woondokter's other services, this is also possible. Woondokter's other services include providing an energy label (mandatory on sale), a warmtescan (om warmtelekken op te sporen) en een warmteverliesberekening (to determine the capacity of a heat pump).
