The renovations in New Texas are part of the European ‘oPEN Lab’ project, which in turn is part of the ‘Open Thor Living Lab’an initiative of EnergyVille, Stad Genk and Thor NV. By participating in this project, Wonen in Limburg wants to find an answer to the 2050 climate objectives together with the partners involved.
Energy positive homes
In the coming months, the residential area in Waterschei will be converted into a test site for various techniques, both at an individual and collective level. The project is being rolled out across Europe with parallel projects in Estonia, Spain and Genk, where the focus is on the renovation of single-family homes. Due to the renovations carried out, the 27 participating WiL homes become energy-positive homes that generate more energy than they consume.
Affordability
A total of 16 different innovative techniques are used in 35 homes (27 WiL rental homes and 8 private homes). Different techniques and different combinations of these different techniques are used in every home. The homes become a laboratory for new technologies, taking various factors into account: energy efficiency, affordability for both the housing company and the tenants and user-friendliness for the residents.
Energy hub
The collective use of energy is also being investigated. In this way, energy surpluses are connected in a so-called energy hub and optimally used in the neighborhood. VITO is responsible for this control and can be automated in the long term. Constant monitoring also allows techniques to be adjusted over time if this proves necessary to arrive at the most suitable solution for each home. The techniques are incorporated in an energy box that is placed outside the home. This is on the one hand to save space in the home, but also to simplify maintenance.
Two-way street
For the research organization VITO/EnergyVille, the investment in the energy transition of an existing neighborhood with ‘real people’ is a logical step in the research agenda for the energy transition in the built environment. According to Inge Neven, CEO of VITO, we can no longer view homes as individual buildings and the energy transition therefore requires a more integrated and collective approach to neighborhoods in which the interaction with the energy system will become much more two-way traffic. She sees Wonen in Limburg as the ideal partner for this innovation process: “After all, they manage the buildings and have a strong relationship with the residents. Without them, this project, which connects technical and social innovation, would not be possible.”
New prefab building shell
The homes in New Texas are therefore extremely suitable for this experiment because they are all the same homes. The homes are all renovated in the same way with a new prefab building shell, so that the different techniques can be tested for their performance under exactly the same conditions. The prefab building shell allows the homes to be renovated quickly, with as little impact as possible for the residents who continue to live in their homes during the works.
Participation and co-creation
“We try to keep the period of the works as short as possible because residents continue to live in their homes during the works,” says Raf Drieskens, chairman of Wonen in Limburg. “It is precisely for this reason that the involvement and participation of residents in this project is very important. Residents are involved in every phase of the preparations and effective implementation of the works. Through co-creation (first phase), direct connections were made between the various technical partners and the tenants. Not only the technologies used make this project innovative, but the participatory working method is also very progressive.”
Innovative thermostat
“For example, a thermostat will be installed in every home that uses colors to show when the sun yields the most and energy is cheapest. This idea arose through the collaboration of tenants and technical partners,” says Drieskens. The actual works started in February, but the intensive preparations for the project have been going on since the end of 2021. The aim is that all 27 homes will be completely renovated and equipped with new technologies following the summer holidays of this year. A renovation period of approximately 20 working days is provided for each home.
Actual living situation
According to the mayor of the City of Genk, Wim Dries, the energy transition is also a challenge on a human level: “We can test a lot in labs or in the virtual world, but that is not the same as testing in a real living situation. Here we put theory into practice and test in real life. Many thanks to the families who are willing to participate and help shape this living lab. They help make a difference. Thanks also to all partners – Wonen in Limburg, VITO, Open Thor and oPEN Lab – for making this possible and to Europe for its support for this project.” Mayor Dries is already looking forward to the results and new techniques that can help people in a new step towards the energy of the future.
