Saving tips for gas: fewer cubic metres, a lower bill
By Laurens Arends · updated 05-10-2026
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Set the heating water temperature to 60 degrees
Many hr boilers are still set to a maximum flow temperature of 80 degrees. Milieu Centraal advises trying 50 or 60 degrees, so that the return water becomes cooler and the hr boiler condenses better. The Zet ’m op 60 campaign calculated a € 140 saving at a gas price of € 2,37.
That comes to around 59 m³ of gas. Rounded, with an annual consumption of 1.200 m³ we calculate with 60 m³, or 5 per cent: 60 × € 1,37 = a saving of € 82,20. The difference between the two calculations lies in the expected gas consumption. In any case, only lower the temperature of the heating water, not that of the hot tap water. If your home does not get warm enough, raise the flow temperature by five degrees each time until you do manage to heat your home.
Hang radiator fans under your radiators
First place the fans under the radiator in the living room. They spread the heat more quickly, after which you can lower the thermostat or flow temperature. According to Milieu Centraal, on average 72 per cent of gas goes to heating. An energy expert consulted by HIER names a saving of about 20 per cent with radiator fans.
With 1.200 m³ that becomes 173 m³, or around € 237. That is of course no guarantee: one fan in one room saves less. According to the expert, you should moreover combine the fan with lower settings. So do not add this amount in full to the 60-degree setting. The € 237 is therefore rather an absolute upper limit; in practice the saving will be lower.
Furthermore, the payback period must be taken into account, although this is actually quite reasonable. A mono set and a trio set at SpeedComfort, for example, cost € 75 and € 158 respectively and can therefore pay for themselves within one heating season. How quickly radiator fans pay for themselves does in practice depend on the number of radiators you fit with them and on the temperature reduction that is then possible.
Seal the sneaky routes: letterbox, door gap and draught lobby
In a 1930s home, the hall can feel as if you are already outside. So fit a brush with a flap behind the letterbox, let a door closer shut the inner door and hang a heavy curtain in front of the front door. The energy cooperative deA names a saving of at least 4 m³ for a letterbox brush with draught strips.
Milieu Centraal talks about 50 m³ for all seams and gaps in an average corner house or semi-detached house. With a saving of 4 to 50 m³ we can count on a saving of about € 5 to € 69 per year. To save optimally, tackle the other leaks via the general approach to gaps and seams, but do leave the ventilation grilles open.
Still cooking on gas? Calculate the small switch
You do not need to switch to induction for the energy consumption alone. According to Milieu Centraal, cooking on gas uses on average 37 m³ per year and induction 175 kWh. That costs about € 50,69 compared with € 47,25. Such a small difference makes it difficult to earn back the investment in induction. However, if you only use gas for cooking, it is worth switching.
You then pay relatively high grid operator charges for your gas connection. For less than 500 m³, Enexis and Liander charge € 186,64 and € 190,44 per year respectively in 2026. With Enexis, the annual saving comes to € 190,08: € 186,64 in grid operator charges plus € 3,44 difference in consumption costs. With Liander it is € 193,88: € 190,44 plus € 3,44. This tip therefore pays off mainly if cooking is your only gas use.
Apply window film for the winter
Use temporary frame film that you stretch over the frame on the inside and pull taut with a hairdryer. The still layer of air does the insulating work. According to Milieu Centraal, frame film saves 6,5 m³ of gas per square metre per year with single glazing and 2,5 m³ with double glazing. For a 2 m² window that is 13 or 5 m³: 13 × € 1,37 = € 17,81 and 5 × € 1,37 = € 6,85.
Milieu Centraal calculates with € 2,70 material costs per m², so you usually earn back the film within one winter. Film is an interim solution and not a replacement for HR++ glass. For a more structural approach, window insulation is still the best choice.
Set your combi boiler to eco mode
In comfort mode, your combi boiler keeps the heat exchanger warm, even when nobody is using hot water. That is pleasant, but also causes needless consumption. Eco mode only starts heating as soon as you open the tap. You have to wait longer for hot water, but you do use less gas. According to Milieu Centraal, that makes a difference of about 15 m³ of gas per year: 15 × € 1,37 = € 20,55. If you are usually away during the day and mainly use hot water in the morning and evening, according to Milieu Centraal you usually save a little more.
The extra waiting time does cost some cold water, but no extra gas. If you calculate conservatively with two hot water starts per day, the maximum extra waiting time of 30 seconds and a guide value of 0,167 litres per second for a kitchen mixer tap, you use about 3,66 m³ of extra cold water per year. At the Vitens rate of € 1,34 plus € 0,477 tap water tax per m³, that costs about € 6,65. As a result, of the € 20,55 gas saving, a net amount of about € 13,90 per year remains.