Learning what zero-energy living really means

The bad news is that in September Belgium was revealed to have the fifth highest ecological footprint in the world, according to the Living Planet Report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), as measured by its consumption of natural resources. A good portion of this, says CEO of WWF-Belgium Damien Vincent, can be attributed to old, poorly insulated buildings.

The good news is, this weekend, from 8 to 11 November, Ecobouwers / Écobâtisseurs (Ecobuilders) are giving you a chance to find out how you can improve those numbers by making your living spaces more sustainable and energy efficient. Across Belgium, scores eco-home owners will open their doors to visitors, giving guided tours of their nearly zero-energy homes.

Tours are free (although reservations are required), lasting between one and two hours, and are meant to serve as workshops for people interested in eco-building or renovations.

Owners will share with you all aspects of their building project, from costs and which products and contractors they used, to what went right and what went wrong. You are welcome to come with your own questions, says Benjamin Clarysse of the Bond Beter Leefmilieu, an umbrella organisation of all the environmental organisations in Flanders that is helping to organise the event.

In Brussels, the event is bilingual and supported by the Brussels regional government. However, this year, for the first time, they are also offering tours in English.

While several spots have already filled up for the English tours, it’s still not too late to sign up. Available slots include an award winning house in Watermaal-Bosvoorde, giving tours on 8 November and 9 November at 10:00, as well as two buildings in Etterbeek with tours on 10 November at 10:00 and 14:00. All three buildings have been renovated using ecological building materials and insulation, including wood fibres, cork, cellulose and clay.

If you speak French or Dutch you have more options. Throughout Belgium, there are some 300 houses on display, including 29 in Brussels, 195 in Flanders and 100 in Wallonia. To find tours in local languages, use the property search function and interactive maps on the French and Dutch pages.

“By 2020, the European Union will oblige a nearly zero-energy standard. Our goal is to show that it’s already feasible to build a nearly zero-energy house now and that the people who do it are just normal people like you and me,” says Clarysse.