Affordable Green Energy for Homes: A Game-Changer in Bruges
Imagine a future where heating and cooling your home is not only affordable but also fully powered by renewable energy. That future is being tested today in Bruges, Belgium, thanks to our dear partners, KU Leuven, Mintus, and Sweco.
A Sustainable Energy Solution at De Schipjes
In the heart of Bruges, a historic social housing neighborhood called De Schipjes is at the center of an innovative experiment. Researchers, engineers, and companies have teamed up to create a groundbreaking heating and cooling system that combines geothermal energy, solar power, and air-source heat pumps.
Belgian company Fluves collaborated with the SEEDS project and installed a DTS system, which uses fiber optic cables to measure underground temperatures with incredible precision. These special cables allow researchers from KU Leuven to collect real-time data on heat flow and storage deep in the earth.
This data helps engineers optimize the system, leading to:
✅ Higher energy efficiency
✅ More use of renewable energy
✅ Lower heating and cooling costs
✅ Reduced carbon emissions
✅ Future-proof, scalable solutions for other communities
The findings from De Schipjes will not just benefit Bruges. The SEEDS project is designed to test solutions that can be copied and improved for use across Europe. That means cleaner, cheaper, and smarter heating and cooling systems could soon become the norm for homes everywhere.
This initiative shows that with innovation and teamwork, we can make sustainable energy a reality for everyone.
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