Norwegian family transforms ‘Norway’s coldest house’ as record numbers apply for energy upgrades

A Tromsø family once crowned winners of a contest for having Norway’s coldest house has cut heating costs and improved their home through energy-efficient upgrades, part of a national surge in applications for government support, reports Dagbladet.

In 2010, Fredrik and Ingrid Synnøve Aunegård’s 1960s-era home was named Norway’s least energy-efficient in a competition run by state agency Enova. Poor insulation left the house drafty, forcing the couple to rely on wood stoves and space heaters. “At its coldest, we had to take turns lying in bed first just to warm up the sheets,” Fredrik Aunegård told Dagbladet.

As contest winners, the family received funding to overhaul the property, adding 10 cm of wall insulation, replacing all windows and doors, and upgrading the exterior cladding. “The difference was immediate—the house held heat far better,” Aunegård said. Later, they installed a home charger for their electric car, securing a 25 percent subsidy.

Their experience mirrors a broader trend. Enova reports a record 29,000 approved applications for its expanded home energy grant scheme since August 2025, totaling over NOK 350 million in approved funding. Homeowners can receive up to NOK 100,000 per property, with payouts confirmed before work begins.

“Never before has Enova approved this much support for household energy upgrades in such a short time,” said Anna Barnwell, Enova’s market director for construction and consumers. Demand is expected to rise further as the spring renovation season begins.

The scheme, broadened in 2025 to include measures like high-efficiency windows, insulation, and air-source heat pumps, targets Norway’s residential sector—which accounts for roughly a third of national electricity use. “Smart upgrades ease grid pressure and reduce emissions by freeing up power for transport and industry,” Barnwell added.

Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Labour) called the response “encouraging,” noting that efficiency cuts costs for households while boosting capacity. For the Aunegårds—now a family of four—the 2010 upgrades proved life-changing. “It raised our home’s value, slashed heating bills, and made daily life far more comfortable,” Fredrik Aunegård said.