Additional investments to boost the energy efficiency of the housing stock in the north of the Netherlands can create a substantial number of new jobs in construction and supply industries. That is the conclusion of a pilot study carried out for the conservation NGO Natuur en Milieufederatie Drenthe by CE Delft and SEO Economic Research. Depending on the energy efficiency target adopted, an annual investment of around €400 million would lead to some 4,500 new jobs (in the first year). This would mean over 2,000 unemployed construction workers being able to return to work. To realise these investments requires a ‘quantum leap’ in funding. For an efficiency improvement scenario of 2% per annum this would mean a quadrupling of present investment plans in this part of the country.