Dear oPEN Lab Community,
Change is rarely simple, but it is always necessary. Across Europe, a new phase of the energy transition is taking shape. From 2027 onward, the ETS2 system will put a carbon price on fossil fuels used for heating and transport. This means that gas and oil will become more expensive — not to punish, but to encourage the shift towards clean alternatives. Importantly, this transition will be supported by the Social Climate Fund, designed to help governments ease the path for vulnerable households and small businesses. It will provide the means to invest in energy efficiency, renewable heating and cooling, and affordable mobility, ensuring that climate ambition goes hand in hand with social fairness.
This is precisely the future that oPEN Lab has been preparing for — one where neighbourhoods are resilient, efficient, and socially inclusive.
In Genk, this vision has become reality. The renovation of 27 social housing units in Nieuw Texas is complete. Behind every upgraded façade lies a story of transformation: heat pumps, ventilation systems, and rooftop solar panels now power homes that are warmer, healthier, and more affordable to live in. The Garden City in Waterschei is closely following on the footsteps of Nieuw Texas. Here, seven households have confirmed their participation and are making their homes available as test locations for energy upgrades using different mixes of smart and sustainable technologies. A geothermal heat pump has already been installed in one of the residences, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in social housing. Beyond technology, the oPEN Lab team is experimenting with human-centred innovation — like the Loomy Lamp, which makes energy use visible and helps residents better understand and manage their consumption.
In Tartu, renovation works are well underway. Photovoltaic panels have been integrated directly into the insulation layer of the façades — an Estonian first. Together with rooftop PV and an Enefit battery, this will bring the building’s performance to energy class A. A reconstructed electrical system will soon allow residents to use and share their own locally produced energy. Thanks to oPEN Lab’s pioneering work, apartment-level electricity sharing is expected to become legally possible from 2027 onwards — perfectly aligned with Europe’s wider climate and social policies. More on this will be announced on the oPEN Lab website soon.
Pamplona reached an important milestone, with the first residents moving in the renovated San Pedro apartments. This thus became the city’s first block of municipal housing dedicated to people with disabilities, demonstrating how inclusive communities can thrive in energy-positive homes. Meanwhile, Rochapea’s murals and local biodiversity activities show that Positive Energy Neighbourhoods are not just technical projects, but very significantly social ones. Residents are learning to identify and protect bird species, local artists are reimagining shared spaces, and communities are connecting in new ways. Energy transitions start with people — and here, they are co-creating the future they want to live in.
As Europe advances its climate goals, oPEN Lab demonstrates that sustainable change can also be fair and inclusive. When energy is generated locally, when technology serves people, and when communities grow stronger together, neighbourhoods become truly resilient — ready for whatever the next season brings.
Warm greetings from the oPEN Lab coordination team,
Maarten, Katarina, Paulina, Marianna, and Alexander
