Did you know that you too can give nature a helping hand? For example, you can create more greenery around your home. Turn your garden or vegetable patch into a welcoming refuge for all kinds of (wild) plants and animals. And there's more you can do. Together with our partner Milieu Centraal, we've listed a number of ideas for you.
"}},{"componentType":"promotionalBanner","icon":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/bc98b812-1d22-4f9a-8c54-0a560ae59f41/Circle-Keys-9","type":"image","width":64,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/de63ea5d47373bc/original/Circle-Keys-9.svg","extension":"svg"},"body":"Discover the costs and benefits of making your home more energy efficient.","date":{},"textLink":{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/upgrade-check","text":"Start the Upgrade Check"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Your own natural garden"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"With a few simple tricks, you can turn your garden into a truly natural one. A common misconception is that you can only create biodiversity if your garden is large and looks wild and untamed. Nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t need much space. Even small city gardens can be transformed into thriving habitats. Aim to pave no more than 40 percent of your garden. You can leave the rest untouched, or plant native vegetation, plants that naturally occur in your region.
There are a few basic principles for creating a wild, varied, natural garden. It’s best to avoid using chemical products. To stimulate biodiversity, it’s important to create spaces where animals and insects feel at home. This makes them more likely to visit and stay in your garden. Make sure there’s enough food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. And we don’t just mean fat balls. Native plants, flowers, seeds, nuts, berries, and other fruits are key. You’ll see that a natural garden full of fragrant and colorful plants is very attractive to all kinds of wildlife.
Adding a natural pond also offers many benefits: it collects rainwater, provides a habitat for frogs, toads, and insects, and is relatively inexpensive. In a small garden, you can create a mini pond. And have you considered disconnecting your downspout and installing a rain barrel? This way, you can collect rainwater and use it to water your garden during dry periods, without using drinking water.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Go higher: install a green roof"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"A great way to boost biodiversity is by creating a green roof for example, on your shed or extension. A green roof offers many perks: it captures rainwater, provides food for insects, and can be cooling in summer. Essentially, it adds an extra piece of garden to your house.
Sedum is a popular choice for roof vegetation. This succulent is lightweight and resilient to both drought and heavy rainfall. Herbs, certain mosses, and grasses are also suitable for green roofs. If you’re dreaming of a full ornamental or vegetable garden on your roof, make sure to first check whether your roof structure can support it.
You can find a helpful overview of what to consider when installing a green roof on the Milieu Centraal website.
Did you know that you may be eligible for a subsidy when installing a green roof? Several municipalities and water boards in the Netherlands offer financial support for homeowners who want to install a sedum roof or rooftop garden. The exact conditions and amounts vary by region, but you can easily check what’s available in your area via the Green Subsidy Guide.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Green facade or facade garden"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Another way to create more greenery around your home is to create a facade garden or a green facade. By replacing a few tiles, you create more space for plants. Milieu Centraal tells you how to shape your green facade.
If you want to create a facade garden, there are a few rules to keep in mind. Check with your municipality whether you're allowed to remove paving stones for a facade garden and what the permitted dimensions are. In some municipalities, the stones and sand will be collected for you. If not, you can stack the stones to build an insect wall or offer them second-hand.
If you live in a rental property, make sure to consult your landlord first.
If you want more greenery around your home, it’s a good idea to start with a plan. And did you know that many municipalities offer subsidies for greening your garden? This allows you to easily take the first steps towards more greenery on and around your home.
"}},{"componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"title":"More about sustainable living"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/financing-sustainable-renovation","text":"Financing"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/government-subsidies","text":"What subsidies are available?"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/current-mortgage-rates/the-energy-label-and-your-mortgage-interest-rate","text":"The energy label and your mortgage interest rate"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/energylabels-for-homes","text":"Energy labels explained"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/your-mortgage/building-fund-account","text":"How does a building fund work?"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/mortgage-types/buying-a-sustainable-house","text":"Mortgage for a sustainable home"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/more-green-around-the-house","text":"More green around the house"},{"url":"/en/personal/mortgage/sustainable-living/home-battery","text":"Home battery"}]},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Good to know","richBody":{"value":"The English text of the website is a translation of the Dutch original version. This translation is intended for the customers convenience only. In case of any discrepancies between the two versions, the original Dutch version shall prevail. The mortgage offer and contract will be signed in Dutch. Also, all further communication after signing the mortgage contract will be in Dutch. You acknowledge and accept this. If any assistance or clarification is needed, we recommend contacting your mortgage advisor or to call our customer service via the ING app.
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