In the social housing district of Nieuw Texas in Genk, 27 rental homes are being renovated. The neighborhood serves as a so-called "Living Lab," a living laboratory to test new, energy-efficient techniques. Local residents are heavily involved in the project, and during the renovation works, they can continue to live in their homes.
In the residential area of Nieuw Texas, Genk, efforts are currently underway to transform 35 houses into a ‘living lab’, a living laboratory for new, energy-efficient technologies. Housing corporation ‘Wonen in Limburg’, in collaboration with VITO (as a partner within EnergyVille) and the City of Genk, is renovating 27 rental properties while residents continue to live in their homes. What sets the oPEN Lab project apart is that different techniques are being applied in each house to achieve the most energy-efficient, affordable, and user-friendly solution for all parties involved. In this way, Nieuw Texas is evolving into a laboratory where industrial partners are also actively engaged. oPEN Lab is a renowned European Green Deal project worth €20 million, with similar sites also being developed in Tartu (Estonia) and Pamplona (Spain).
All houses are being renovated in the same way with a new prefab building shell, allowing the different techniques to be tested under exactly the same conditions for their performance. Thanks to the prefab building shell, produced and installed by Machiels Building Solutions, the houses can be renovated quickly with minimal disruption to the residents who remain in their homes during the works.
