In Leuven (BE), the De Boomgaard neighbourhood is being developed as a forward-looking model that integrates inclusive living with sustainable energy solutions. Located northeast of the city centre, the project consists of two newly constructed buildings designed to accommodate 36 residents with care needs.
The initiative combines renewable energy, affordable heating, and inclusive community development. It is the result of a close collaboration between Livez, a socially oriented housing cooperative providing inclusive living for residents with support needs; ECoOB, a citizen energy cooperative; KU Leuven as the research partner; and the City of Leuven, which owns the land and facilitates development within the public domain.
Through this project, the municipality is establishing a cooperative model that actively involves citizens while ensuring the deployment of sustainable heating systems. The energy system is managed by ECoOB, which operates collective renewable infrastructure, including charging station, heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and a local heat network.
The LEC objective is to deliver affordable, renewable-based energy services through an Energy-as-a-Service (ESCO) model, combining care, comfort, sustainability, and citizen participation.
A Public–Private–Civic partnership
The collaboration between Livez, ECoOB, KU Leuven, and the City of Leuven is centred on aligning social objectives, technical feasibility, and spatial integration.
The municipality plays a key enabling role by supporting permitting procedures, facilitating the integration of the heat network into the public domain, and contributing to the development of a legal framework for micro heat networks, an emerging model of public–civic cooperation.
Livez ensures accessibility and affordability for residents with care needs, while ECoOB contributes technical, financial, and cooperative expertise. Together, the partners have clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and milestones, forming a local energy community (LEC) with both social and technological objectives.
A sustainable and smart heating system
The heating system combines two energy sources: ambient air and geothermal energy. This hybrid configuration ensures high efficiency throughout the year.
The system will be operated using a Model Predictive Control (MPC) system, which functions as the “brain” of the neighbourhood. By integrating weather forecasts and real-time energy prices, the system continuously optimises performance. For example, when solar generation is high, energy is stored in advance. When electricity prices rise, consumption is reduced. This intelligent control enhances resident comfort while improving the financial performance of the cooperative.
A pioneering model
De Boomgaard serves as a pilot for Integrated Energy as a service contracts, an approach not yet common in Flanders, combined with PV generation, EV charging infrastructure, and advanced control systems. This positions the project as both technologically innovative and socially inclusive.
The LEC ambition extends beyond the new buildings’ immediate boundaries. The system has the potential to supply heat to approximately ten neighbouring households through a micro heat network extending into the public domain. Ongoing research is assessing whether surplus heat generated on-site can be effectively shared with the surrounding neighbourhood.
In this way, De Boomgaard is not only a social anchor point but also has the potential to evolve into a sustainable energy hub for the wider district and a demonstrator for neighbourhood integration of construction projects.
As construction progresses, De Boomgaard is quite literally building a neighbourhood that is prepared for the challenges of tomorrow, one that not only provides care and inclusion, but also enables residents and citizens to collectively manage and benefit from their energy system.