From energy-intensive to future-proof: renovations oPEN Lab in New Texas completed

What began as a pilot initiative now marks the beginning of a sustainable transformation where innovation, participation, and future-proof living converge. Nieuw Texas is now ready for the next phase of the project: collecting and analyzing real-life data.

Smart renovations at record speed

Thanks to industrial techniques such as prefabricated façade panels and a modular energy box – pre-integrating elements like the heat pump, ventilation system, and buffer tank – the homes were renovated in an average of just eight weeks. Each home received a tailored combination of technologies, including green roofs, solar panels, smart ventilation, and additional insulation.

“As a housing company, we face the challenge of delivering sustainable, high-quality homes in an increasingly complex context,” say Philippe Plaghki and Raymond Visser, project leaders at Wonen in Limburg. “With oPEN Lab, we prove that collaboration, innovation, and resident engagement already yield concrete results today. Nieuw Texas shows how we can carry out renovations that are both technically strong and socially inclusive.”

Creating support with and for residents

From the outset, residents played an active role in the project through information sessions and individual guidance. Their input was crucial to tailoring the renovations to their daily lives.

One of the main ambitions was to carry out the work without requiring residents to move out, in part to avoid additional pressure on the social housing waiting list. However, for some, the impact on privacy and peace proved too great. As a result, flexibility was built into the process, allowing residents to opt for temporary relocation with full support.

“Residents are not end-users, but partners in making their living environment more sustainable,” say Lore Parade and Anneleen Baptist of Wonen in Limburg. “Through co-creation and intensive participation, we aimed for a socially supported renovation process. Experience has shown us that proactively identifying barriers, honest communication, and close collaboration are crucial to building this support together with the residents.”

Next phase: research in the renovated homes

With the renovations completed, the “living lab” phase begins: in each home, over 200 parameters – including temperature, air quality, and energy consumption – will be monitored via a smart IT platform.

Initial measurements indicate that the energy demand for heating and hot water has been halved, and the indoor climate has noticeably improved. Over the coming months (and seasons), it will become clear which techniques and combinations are most effective and how they contribute to comfort and affordability.

“The renovation was extensive, but I can already feel the difference,” says resident Aynur, who lives in Nieuw Texas with her family. “There’s no more draft, the rooms are much warmer in winter, and I feel more comfortable in my home.”

The road ahead

The renovations in Nieuw Texas mark an important step toward a sustainable living environment. The process provides valuable insights into how renovations contribute to energy performance, comfort, and affordability.

At the same time, the project highlights that even with advanced technical improvements, affordability cannot be taken for granted. Current electricity prices challenge the feasibility of sustainable solutions and hinder their broader adoption. This underscores the need for structural support and tailored policy frameworks to enable such projects on a larger scale. At the same time, forecasts suggest a shift in energy prices that favors electricity over fossil fuels, offering better protection for residents against future price fluctuations.

The approach in Nieuw Texas demonstrates that technological innovation, resident involvement, and energy performance can reinforce each other – when applied thoughtfully and in collaboration with residents, partners, and policymakers.

“We’re at the beginning of a new chapter where we can gather real insights into energy performance, comfort, and affordability,” says Maarten De Groote, Program Manager at EnergyVille/VITO. “oPEN Lab is becoming a European testing ground for the cities of tomorrow.”

* The oPEN Lab project – a large-scale European research initiative supported by Horizon 2020 and coordinated by VITO/EnergyVille – selected the Nieuw Texas district in Genk as a pilot site for the transition to a positive energy neighborhood. In total, 27 social housing units managed by Wonen in Limburg were renovated for energy efficiency.

The oPEN Lab project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101037080.