Nature-friendly insulation: what is it and what should you pay attention to?
Insulation is the first step toward sustainability. It lowers energy bills and increases living comfort. But did you know that insulating cavity walls and roofs regularly disturbs or kills birds or bats? Species that we desperately need in our villages, but are now becoming increasingly rare.
The municipality of Opsterland is therefore working on a Species Management Plan (SMP). This plan makes it possible to insulate your home without disturbing protected animals.
What will change with the SMP?
Normally, the cavity wall must first be checked for the presence of animals such as bats. If they are present, you are required to have an ecological survey done and apply for an exemption from the province. This is according to the rules of the Omgevingswet. This costs time and money.
As a municipality, we do this ecological survey for all of our residential areas at once. This eliminates the need for a separate survey and an exemption per home, as long as you meet the Requirements. This can save as much as €6,000 per household. What you need to comply with, you can read below.
The Opsterland municipality expects to officially have an SMP as of 2026. Until then, the so-called "pre-SMP" applies. You can read more about this under the heading "Planning: short and medium term.
Requirements for nature-friendly insulation
Release opportunities for bats
Prior to insulation, special "flaps" are installed for gaps and holes in the facade. This allows bats to still get out, but not back in. This is called "wildlife-proofing" and prevents animals from being killed during insulation.
Preserving space for animals
A small space in the cavity always remains free for bats (local compensation). Where necessary, house sparrows and swifts are also taken into account. For example, the insulation company leaves part of the ridge free of insulation material. This has no negative impact on the insulation value and does not cause cold bridges or moisture penetration.
Working according to the nature calendar
There is no insulation during the maternity and breeding period (April 1 - July 31) and hibernation (November 1 - mid-March). If your home has been made nature-free before these periods, you can insulate during the maternity and breeding periods.
Why is this important?
The protection of bats, house sparrows, swifts and other species is stipulated in the Omgevingswet's Quality of Life Decree. These animals often live in cavity walls and under roofs. As a homeowner, you have a duty of care and must consider their protection.
Together, the OWO municipalities (Opsterland, Weststellingwerf and Ooststellingwerf) hung more than 60 bat boxes. In Opsterland, 21 boxes were installed. This compensates for the loss of maternity roosts due to isolation measures. Bats are extra vulnerable because they only give birth to one young per year. Moreover, they are useful: they eat many insects.
The cabinets have been placed on municipal and civic properties as well as homes.
Pre-SMP and SMP
To make nature-friendly insulation easier and cheaper, we are working with Ooststellingwerf and Weststellingwerf on a Species Management Plan. This sets out which protected species are present, where they live and how we protect their habitat. The municipality is applying to the province of Fryslân for an exemption for all cores.
The development of the SMP will take 1.5 to 2 years. In the meantime, we have obtained a pre-SMP waiver. This allows you to start insulating already under Requirements the SMP without the need for a separate survey or waiver for each home.
We have already started ecological research on the built environment. We have also provided new habitats for bats, house sparrows and swifts. Because we have done this, the pre-SMP applies.
Once the ecological study is fully completed, we will apply for the SMP from the Province of Fryslân. We expect this to be at the end of 2025.
Do you live in the outlying area?
Do you live in the outlying area and want to insulate your cavity wall or roof? Then take into account an individual ecological survey and exemption application. The SMP only applies to the built-up area of the municipality.
You can find companies that do nature-friendly insulation at www.natuurvriendelijkisoleren.nl. These companies have undergone special training and know how to take protected animals into account. They can also see in the special application whether you are within the built-up area.
