On Saturday the 2th of February IOK and Kamp C organised a free visit to the inspiring young company Skilpod and to the instructive mechanic-organic separation system (MBS) in Geel, Belgium.  We invited all Energy Experts and inhabitants of the participating districts to join us on this wonderful studytrip!

Skilpod

Today's proliferation of niche housing types includes dwellings that are tiny, modular, prefabricated and inexpensive. Belgian firm Skilpod is producing homes that are all of these things.  The Skilpod homes are built in a factory in the Belgian city of Geel. They are made from cross laminated timber and are designed to be transported to site via trucks.

The materials used and design of the homes are said to make them highly energy efficient and Skilpod says that they can be zero energy (or even better) with the use of solar panels. Among the other features that contribute to the sustainability of the homes are heat pumps, ventilation systems with heat recuperation, automatic sunscreens and other home automation systems.

We went to the manufacturing site and talked about living today and tomorrow, the search for sustainable materials and the barriers of the current legislations.

MBS

In the Campine region, non-recyclable waste doesn’t get landfilled anymore. Since 2006 there is an alternative way of processing non-recyclable waste. In the mechanic-organic separation system (MBS) of IOK, non-recyclable waste is processed in a sustainable and environmental way. Two enthusiastic gentleman have guided us through the process and have answered all of our questions.

We would like to thank Filip and Jan from Skilpod, the guides from the MBS and all participants for taking part in this pleasant trip!