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A 100-year-old house in the Waterschei garden settlement in Genk, Belgium, has been extensively renovated to demonstrate fossil-free living while preserving its historic character. The house is part of the European oPEN Lab project, which researches energy-positive neighbourhoods.
On 23 October 2025, a unique demo house opened in the Waterschei garden district , in Genk (Belgium). This demo house demonstrates that even 100-year-old housing estates are ready for a fossil-free future without losing their historical character. The thoroughly renovated house on Boslaan is equipped with the latest energy technologies, including the first geothermal heat pump in a Limburg mining estate. The house is part of the European oPEN Lab project, which is investigating whether energy-positive neighbourhoods are feasible in practice: neighbourhoods that generate more energy than they consume.
Heritage with a future
The former miner's house underwent a drastic renovation, but retained its heritage value. The façade remained intact, and the materials, colour and volume of the roof were preserved. ‘The house went from Energy Performance Certificate label D to A. It is heated entirely without fossil fuels thanks to geothermal energy. This required two boreholes up to 150 metres deep in the back garden. ‘The fact that this house is completely disconnected from the natural gas grid is very unusual for such an old house,’ says Stéphanie Lieten, project assistant at Stebo vzw. ‘We complied with the heritage framework of the city of Genk, which we ourselves helped to develop. This preserves the historic streetscape.’
Living lab for sustainable neighbourhood renovation
The house on Boslaan is one of seven test houses in the Waterschei garden district within the oPEN Lab project in Genk. In addition, oPEN Lab is also experimenting in the Nieuw-Texas neighbourhood with innovative renovation solutions that are affordable, feasible and scalable. Each home tests a different mix of techniques, materials and resident behaviour. Together, they form a “living laboratory”. This provides insights for large-scale neighbourhood renovations, which are necessary to achieve climate targets.
With support from Europe, VITO installed underfloor heating on all floors in this demo home, controlled by a geothermal heat pump, heat-retaining ventilation D, 33 solar panels, a 15 kWh home battery and smart controls. A charging station is discreetly located behind the house.
‘Within each combination, we coordinate the innovative techniques for maximum efficiency. In addition to individual performance, we learn how the technologies work together and reinforce each other. The experiences and comfort of the users are also crucial. Their feedback helps us to approach renovation projects in a better and more user-friendly way. It provides valuable insights for Europe and Flanders,’ says Dorien Aerts of VITO.
Renovation with and for residents
The approach in Waterschei combines technical innovation with intensive renovation guidance for residents. The owners themselves invested in insulation, with social and technical support from Stebo renovation coaches.
‘Residents play an important role in the energy transition. An energy-efficient home requires new habits, such as the smart use of ventilation, heating and energy storage. Our role is to guide them in this, so that they find a balance between comfort and energy efficiency,’ says Lieten.
House with history
This house, now a showcase for sustainable living, also has symbolic value. It was the home and workplace of the late Jef Ulburghs, founder of Stebo vzw and pioneer of socially and ecologically committed living in Limburg. “The past and future of social living literally come together under one roof here,” concludes Erwin De Bruyn, managing director at Stebo vzw.
More about oPEN Lab:
oPEN Lab is transforming neighbourhoods in Tartu, Pamplona, and Genk into Positive Energy Neighbourhoods (PENs).
Residents, local authorities, universities, businesses, and industry experts are coming together to convert these neighbourhoods into ones that generate more renewable energy than they consume, aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and even to produce a surplus of clean energy each year. However, this project is not only about renovation, but also about building a community. By embedding technology, art, culture, and local voices into the energy transition, oPEN Lab is fostering a sense of ownership, pride, and collective purpose, ensuring that the energy transition is not only sustainable but also deeply human.
Steinbeis Europa Zentrum supports as a project partner: the dissemination and communication of the project activities and results, for example through a project website, social media activities, promotional materials, press work, video production, web seminars, workshops and conferences.
oPEN Lab receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant agreement No. 101037080.
Dorien Aerts, VITO
https://openlab-project.eu/- Project website
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