The first housing company to sell district heating creates savings for the residents

The Asunto Oy Tampereen Pohjolankatu 18–20 housing company was granted the Hinku award this May. Led by chair Pertti Vesterinen, the Board of the housing company has carried out been exemplary in carrying out actions which save energy and result in significant emission reductions, as well as actively communicating about these activities.

Researcher Teemu Helonheimo from SYKE is handing out the Hinku Award to Pertti Vesterinen, the Chair of the Board of the housing company.

Thanks to these actions, the housing company now sells more heat than it buys. The calculated emissions from the housing company’s heating and electricity consumption have decreased from more than 140 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2010 to a negative 24 tonnes in 2019. ‘In practice, this means that the actions of the housing company decrease the need for the production of district heating while reducing emissions, as fossil fuels no longer need to be used for the corresponding amount of heat,’ says researcher Teemu Helonheimo from The Finnish Environment Institute.

‘It is wonderful that a housing company sought change by itself and carried out the project all the way. The housing company in question was also the best in the entire international EU-GUGLE project,’ says Environment and Development Director Kari Kankaala from the City of Tampere.

Over 700 people have visited our housing company to see our energy-efficient equipment.

Chair of the board Pertti Vesterinen

The active communication about the housing company’s solutions can also be considered exemplary. Vesterinen has held presentations about the building at several events and in many cities.

Energy efficiency acts save the residents’ money

Since 2010, the housing company has invested in energy efficiency. The thermal insulation ability of the building has been improved by installing new windows and balcony doors. The heating equipment has also been updated and adjusted.

In 2014, the housing company received support from the EU-GUGLE project, allowing it to invest in exhaust air heat collection equipment, solar thermal collectors, and additional thermal insulation, for example. In 2017, the same project enabled additional investments in ground heat, wastewater heat collection, increased solar power utilisation, and apartment-specific cooling, for example. Investments were also made in two-way district heating, which also allows the housing company to sell excess heat into the district heating network.

The energy solutions and energy efficiency investments have decreased the maintenance charge from €2.60/m2 in 2010 to €1.98/m2 in 2019. The decreased energy consumption and profit from the sales of excess heat are therefore lowering the costs of living. The investments also increase the value of the housing company.

Projects supporting practical work for the environment

The City of Tampere along with its several surrounding municipalities has been part of the Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities (Hinku) network since April 2019. The main objective of the Hinku network is to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from the 2007 level by 2030.

The City of Tampere and the University of Tampere are participating in the six-year EU Life CANEMURE project, seeking solutions for smart and low-carbon transport in the city region. The project is examining joining the public transport trunk line in the city region, among other things.

Training and practical support for energy efficiency improvements in buildings is also available through the Life EconomisE project (Value for money: unlocking the investment potential for resilient low-carbon Finnish building stock) by WWF Finland, The Finnish Environment Institute, and SYKLI Environmental School of Finland.

Actors and projects

The leap archive of project EconomisE.
The leap archive of project Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities (Hinku).

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