Seven residents of the Garden City of Waterschei in Genk placed their trust in oPEN Lab and are now actively contributing to research into energy-positive neighbourhoods. One of them is Effi. After 30 years, Effi returned to her roots in Genk. There, she lives close to her family, in a vibrant city and at the same time in the quiet, green garden city. When she purchased a charming house with renovation potential, she unexpectedly became an ideal participant in oPEN Lab. She has made her garden city home available for the installation of energy-efficient technologies, which researchers will test over the next 15 years.
How did you become involved in oPEN Lab?
Effi: “Through my niece and her husband, who are also taking part in oPEN Lab. They spoke very positively about the project. At first, it almost sounded too good to be true. I did hesitate for a while, mainly because I was worried about possible excessive costs. That naturally made me cautious.”
“Gradually, during the renovation process this feeling changed. Quite quickly, I noticed that we needed much less heating to keep the house warm after insulating the roof and walls and replacing the windows. That really built my confidence. It also helped that I could always turn to the oPEN Lab team with my questions, and that they were answered quickly and clearly.”
BEFORE THE RENOVATION
What challenges or concerns did you see in the house before the renovation? What did you worry about most?
Effi: “Constantly moving things from one room to another was probably the biggest challenge. Wherever possible, we helped out ourselves to keep costs down. I received a lot of support from my children and my partner.”
And what were you most looking forward to?
Effi: “Definitely the new windows and the solar panels. The idea that nature can provide us with free electricity is incredibly valuable to me. I hope we will be able to make even more use of that in the future.”
DURING THE RENOVATION
You and your family stayed in the house while the renovation works were taking place. What was that like?
Effi: “At times, it was quite intense, especially since my son and I both work full-time from home. Fortunately, our jobs allow for flexibility, which really helped. Some days were long, but because the works were carried out in phases, there were also quieter periods in between.”
Did you receive support from people outside the project as well?
Effi: “Absolutely. We have wonderful neighbours. We kept them informed about the works, and they were genuinely interested in the project. We really appreciated their understanding when it came to the extra noise.”
What role did the renovation guidance provided by oPEN Lab play for you?
Effi: “That role was extremely important to me. Stebo managed to coordinate the visits of the different contractors very efficiently. The overall organisation was excellent. Whenever needed, the team was always ready to answer my questions. That gave me a lot of peace of mind during the renovation. I
AFTER THE RENOVATION
What was the most satisfying moment for you after the renovation?
Effi: “Simply the fact that the works were finished. You’re never truly ‘done’ renovating a house, but it was reassuring to know that the biggest changes were behind us, both financially and organisationally.”
What is the biggest difference you notice today in terms of comfort and energy use?
Effi: “Mainly the reduced energy loss. Over the summer, we also started consciously using electricity at times when the sun was shining.”
How does your family experience the house now? Are behavioural changes needed to make the most of the new systems?
Effi: “We’re still working on that. We’ll soon be getting an electric car, and together with oPEN Lab we’ll look at what to consider in order to live as energy-efficiently as possible. We’ll also use the Loomy lamp to monitor the energy flowing in and out of the house.
Beyond that, there isn’t a major difference in our daily lives, although I do find myself thinking more often about which appliances consume the most energy and whether more efficient alternatives
What benefits do you see in combining smart technologies with future monitoring?
Effi: “Above all, the ability to save energy in a climate-friendly and efficient way. And to be well prepared for the future.”
LOOKING BACK AND ADVICE
Do you feel that you learned something during this renovation project?
Effi: “Definitely. I would advise contractors to make their quotations as detailed as possible, and I would also be more critical about them myself. In addition, I received a lot of useful information from oPEN Lab during the works.”
Would you do this journey again if you had the chance?
Effi: “Absolutely. I wouldn’t do anything differently.”
Finally, do you have any tips for other homeowners considering a similar energy renovation?
Effi: “Take it step by step. Don’t focus too much on the final goal, but remember that every step brings you closer to an energy-efficient home.”
