The search for pioneering families in Garden City Waterschei in Genk is now complete: seven households have confirmed their participation and are making their homes available as test locations. These seven homes form the beating heart of the neighborhood of the future.
Preparing for a Sustainable Future
With heating demand calculations provided by VITO and guidance from renovation coaches at Stebo, residents are preparing their homes for a comprehensive energy upgrade. This means proper insulation and selecting efficient heating systems.
Each home will feature a mix of smart and sustainable technologies, including:
- a heat pump
- a ventilation system
- solar panels
- a home battery
- smart monitoring & control
- and an individual charging station
7 Homes – 7 Scenarios
Each home has a unique combination of energy technologies. Some families opted for an air-water heat pump with ventilation system C and traditional radiators, while others chose geothermal energy, underfloor heating and ventilation system D.
This variety makes Waterschei a valuable testing ground and provides a rich dataset on what really works in practice. Thanks to smart monitoring, researchers and partners gain insights on how these renovations can later be scaled up to thousands of homes across Flanders and beyond.
The Next Challenge: Living in a Smart Home
Once the technologies are installed, a new phase begins for the residents. How do you adapt your daily behavior in a home that can do so much more than before?
- Learning to manage new heating and ventilation systems
- Gaining insight into personal energy use through monitoring
- Discovering how small choices (like when to do laundry or charge your car) can make a big difference for comfort and energy efficiency
These experiences are exactly what make oPEN Lab so valuable: technology and occupant behavior working hand in hand towards a fossil-free future.
