Dear oPEN Lab community,
While spring brings longer days and brighter skies, we are reminded that just as the seasons shift —through bursts of warmth, sudden chills, storms, and calm — so too does real change unfold in oPEN Lab. Each step reminds us that lasting transformation is rarely linear but always worth it. Despite the world’s geopolitical shifts, oPEN Lab has made powerful steps in the recent months—from technical breakthroughs to community connections across our three cities.
In Genk, the completion of the social housing renovations marks a major project milestone. With the finalisation of the 27 homes at the Nieuw Texas neighbourhood, the project is driving the transformation towards a Positive Energy Neighbourhood through various state-of-the-art technologies at building and neighbourhood level. Meanwhile, the private dwellings are now equipped with not only heat pumps and ventilation systems, but also with solar panels across roofs with the imminent addition of home batteries. The living lab evolves from cutting-edge building and neighbourhood-level solutions, moving toward data integration and interoperability. We are now entering a new chapter: understanding energy pricing and district performance through collected data and how all these smart solutions are working together to create energy-positive living environments.
Simultaneously, Pamplona’s Living Lab has wrapped up San Pedro’s bold refurbishment: a deeply renovated 1948 apartment complex featuring innovative technologies like vacuum-insulated wall panels, roof-integrated photovoltaics, heat pumps, and advanced energy management aimed at achieving a positive annual energy balance. The Living Lab also focuses on how technical and social goals can be fused, from street-based activities to spreading the word. The ambassador programme Friends of Living Lab plays an important role, as showcased by the example of Yolanda De Miguel Pérez, manager of Hornapan bakery-cafe. She has supported Rochapea’s community by offering her café as a welcoming hub for connection and collaboration for our activities. Her commitment reminds us that community is built not just with projects, but with people — and a good cup of coffee.
Living Lab Tartu has been active with renovation preparations, especially with the anticipated national renovation financing by KredE. A successful “Meet the Buyer” event was hosted back in November, where the dialogue covered advancements in building renovation, highlighting the use of prefabricated insulation elements and the integration of solar panels directly into prefabricated elements. In Estonia, the discussion is also focusing on self-consumption of solar energy within apartment complexes, paving the way for more energy-resilient communities.
As technical progress advances, so does our focus on people. We have launched the Women+ of oPEN Lab initiative, highlighting the project’s commitment to inclusivity, celebrating the contributions of women in the project. In parallel, as part of European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2025, oPEN Lab will host two sessions: “Breaking free from the pilot trap” will showcase how European cities can overcome reliance on subsidies and scale clean energy solutions, while “The missing piece: how sufficiency complements EU energy goals” will explore the role of energy sufficiency alongside efficiency and renewable energy in achieving the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality targets. Both sessions aim to foster dialogue among policymakers, city leaders, researchers, and innovators to promote systemic change towards climate-neutral societies.
Each milestone we reach reflects the remarkable work of our partners, the curiosity of our researchers, and above all, the dedication of the local residents. While there is still much to learn and many challenges to tackle at the local, national or European level, every renovated home, every new system, and every community conversation brings us closer to our vision.
Warm regards from the oPEN Lab coordination team,
Maarten, Paulina, Katarina, Marianna and Alexander
