Finland is a land rich in water. When the United Nations World Water Assessment Programme examined water quality indicator values in 122 countries, Finland was the highest ranked country in the assessment (published in the World Water Development Report in 2003). Furthermore, according to the water poverty index devised by the World Water Council and the British Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Finland is the richest of the 147 countries assessed, in terms of capacity, water resources, access, use and ecological sustainability.  Finland’s renewable fresh water reserves are estimated at 21268 m3 per inhabitant, whereas the threshold for water poverty has been set at 1700 m3 per person.  The total water use for various purpose is only 2.2 per cent of total renewable resources. Ten percent of Finland’s total area is water, which includes 187888 lakes.  The average discharge of all Finnish rivers is 3300 m3 per second. Almost 75 per cent of this flows into the Baltic Sea, 15 per cent in to Lake Ladoga, and over 10 per cent into the Baltic Sea.

Objectives and target audience

Efficient water consumption: Finland’s renewable resources have been estimated to amount to 17 billion m3 a year.  Only 2.4 billion m3 of water are currently used each year – around 2 per cent of the total resources – but these valuable resources must still be managed and used with care.
New approaches for water protection: treatment of wastewater from industrial and urban municipal sources has improved considerably during recent decades. Diffuse pollution caused by wastewater from sparsely populated rural areas has become a more significant factor in the deterioration of water quality in rivers, lakes and groundwater.  It is therefore increasingly important to develop innovative technologies to deal with these problems, including small-scale solutions.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The costs of improving wastewater treatment systems vary greatly according to local conditions, but the necessary investments have been estimated to amount to an average of around 3000 euros per property.  Government subsidies may be granted in certain cases.
Partners involved:-

• Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Finnish Ministry of the Environment
• Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Finnish Environment Institute
• Finnish Non-Governmental Organizations

Process

The main goal of the programme is to prevent and reduce eutrophication. The Water Protection Programme specifies quantitative water protection targets for priority sectors including agriculture, industry and municipalities.  Progress towards reaching these targets is closely  monitored.  Measures to reduce eutrophication are particularly needed in agriculture and in small rural settlements. The programme also attempts to reduce the risks associated with hazardous substances.

Results

Water quality mostly good in lakes and open sea. During the period 2000 – 2003 the quality of water was excellent or good in 80 per cent of the classified lake area and 73 per cent of the sea area.  In general, the water quality in rivers was worse than in the lakes, because human activities, such as agriculture and development, are concentrated along rivers.  Moreover, many rivers are sensitive to the effects of nutrient loading because of their low flow rates.  Rivers classified as excellent or good (43% of total) are mostly located in the northern Finland.  Unexpectedly, in the vicinity of towns and industrial plants, water quality had improved considerably, because of long-term measures for water protection.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Strict wastewater laws encourage community sewerage schemes. Strict legislation wastewater discharges in rural areas set high requirements for all wastewater discharges.  It is likely that households will be increasingly interested in developing community-based wastewater collection and treatment systems, in order to avoid the investments and maintenance costs related to individual on-site installations. Community-based water system can provide high quality water services at reasonable cost.  Successful water cooperatives have often been led by one key person, who have initiated the idea, organised the establishment of a cooperative, managed the implementation stage.

The City of Turku and Turku Energy Ltd decided to focus on new developments in district heating production in order to fight climate change.

Objectives and target audience

Turku energia (joint-stock power company owned by the City of Turku) aims to increase the use of environmental friendly energy forms of energy.  With the construction of the Oriketo District Heating Station, the first one in Turku fired with biofuels, Turku aimed to replace part of the district heat generated by fossil fuels. The objective was to increase the use of renewable energy sources by 16 %.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Construction costs were 14 million euros. Turku Energy also received some funding from Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Process

Turku Energia had the first environmental permit for the biomass plant in 2000. The construction of the new biofuel-fired heating station (40 MW) and condensing plans (12 MW) in the industrial area of Oriketo was commissioned in November 2001.
The characteristics of the plant are the following: The heat generated by the station replaces district heat energy generated by fossil fuels. District heat production is about 300 GWh/ year. The use of biofuels reduces CO2 from heat generation significantly and sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions at some extent. The main fuel for the heating station is logging residue delivered mainly from final fellings of spruce-dominant forests in the surroundings. This fuel is handled totally indoors to minimise dust and noise problems.
In 2006, Turku Energia applied for a new permission and enlargement for another 40 MW boiler. But the permission was not accepted by the Southern West Environment Department. Therefore, the new permission is still on processing.

Results

The operation of the station and the supply and transport of fuels offered about 20 new jobs. The new biofuel-fired heating station secures the heat supply to Turku’s inhabitants in a favourable and environmental friendly way. The share of bioenergy in district heating increased to about 20% after the construction of Oriketo wood-fired heating plant. This implies, at an annual level, CO2 emissions reductions by about 90.000 t, SO2 emissions by about 300 t and NO emissions by about 70 t.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

The City Council and Turku Energia commitments towards fighting climate change have made it easy to justify new investments on carbon free heat production.
This plant been a very profitably investment. It produces approximately 300 GWh district heat every year and it has compensated the use of charcoal in Turku region.

Old city infrastructure, apparently useless, can be transformed and used to deliver efficient and sustainable energy. In the case of the City of Turku, an old unused gas storage which serves now as district heating battery.

Objectives and target audience

Its main objective is to store heated water for the district heating system during low consumption periods which can later be used during consumption peaks. As a result, this initiative uses the produced heat in a more efficient way saving 2000 tonnes of oil annually.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Please give an overview of the budget, and an outline of the funders.
Which organisations were involved in shaping and delivering the project.
Turku Energy’s total costs were 3 000 000 Euros, it was own investment.  There were no other partners involved.

Process

Results

As a result, 20 GWh of oil usage for energy production can be replaced by the heat battery which means a saving of approximately 2000 tonnes of oil.
By converting the old gas storage in a modern district heating battery, it has been possible to save and renovate a historically valuable building which otherwise would have been destroyed as in that moment it was very deteriorated and badly contaminated by toxic matters.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Wastewater (sewage) is a proven source of energy which can be used for heating and cooling buildings. This technology is being developed for the construction of a heat pump in the waste water treatment plant of Turku.

Objectives and target audience

The main objective is to produce clean energy from renewable sources, in this case treated waste water, to be used for district heating and cooling in the city of Turku.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Please give an overview of the budget, and an outline of the funders.
Which organisations were involved in shaping and delivering the project.
Total Turku Energy`s investment was 12,5 million euros. The Ministry of work and business also invested in this project–

Process

Turku Energy made cost accounting of heat pump’s best position and this option was selected as the best one.

Results

Once the heat pump will be running it is expected that it will produce18 MW clean energy for district heating and 35 MW for district cooling.
The annual volume of the heat pump will cover:-

• approx 80 % of district cooling volumes in Turku;
• nearly 10 % of district heating volumes in Turku.

As a result:-
The total share of renewable energy sources in heat generation will increase from 22 % to 30 %
It will substitute mainly coal-based base load:-

• Use of coal will decrease by 21 000 tonnes annually;
• SO2 emissions will decrease by 110 tonnes per year;
• NO2 emissions will decrease by 110 tonnes per year;
• Particle emissions will decrease by 6 tonnes per year;
• CO2 emissions will decrease by 46 000 tonnes per year.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

The Energy Agency of Southwest Finland organises energy expert trainings for the resident committees of the blocks of flats owned by the City Council

Objectives and target audience

The main objective of this initiative is to reduce energy use in social housing.
The target audience are the residents of blocks of flats owned by the City.
Financial Resources and Partners involved
The real estate company, owned by the City, pays for the training. Other partners involved are the Energy Agency of Southwest Finland and the residents and resident committees of the concerned blocks of flats.

Process

The training course takes place during 4-5 evenings lasting three hours each. It also includes 1-3 field trips to related sites. Experts receive an information package which includes different kinds of brochures and equipments such as energy consumption meters and water flow meters.  Experts may organise meetings/trainings for other residents or talk about energy issues during informal chats. Their contact information is also available to all residents in case anyone wants to ask for advice. Follow-up meetings should be organised annually.

Results

All together about 100 experts have been trained since 2001. Only part of them are really active and advice their neighbours. That’s partly because the lack of support of the owner/ house manager.
Key result is the raising awareness of energy issues and the experts willingness to do this work voluntarily. Some experts have done bulletins and so on to their neighbours for example of waste management and decreasing the amount of waste.
Experts need also more detailed advice for example of heating, air conditioning and lightning.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Man has to find socially suitable persons who can manage with different kind of neighbours. The expert should be positive adviser rather than inspector.  Key issue is to get all actors motivated.
About the challenges see 11. above.
The energy expert is originally created by Motiva Oy, which is the “National Energy Agency in Finland“. Our training is modified after the needs and possibilities in our working area.
The success is easy to transfer to another organisation if there is enough motivated actors.

The Energy Agency of Southwest Finland organises trainings for Housing Associations about sustainable energy solutions, specially related to heating systems
Objectives and target audience
The main objective of this initiative is to change progressively the old heating systems from houses for new energy efficiency systems by the training of the residents of one-family houses.

The target audience are the housing associations in Turku

Financial Resources and Partners involved
First phase 2005-2006 was mainly financed by Climate Change Campaign organised by the Ministry of Trading and Industry and other part was financed by Finnish Housing Association and heating system industry.

Process

Firstly, an NGO makes contact with the Energy Agency of Southwest Finland.  The Agency conducts a background analysis of the situation of the heating systems in that specific residential area. The Agency is then in charge of planning the contents of the training. Training evening lasts 2,5 hours with coffee brake.
The material was created during the first phase. Material consist about 20 minutes of basics of climate change, then rest of the evening is about sustainable energy solutions like solar energy, wood pellets, heat pumps and wood. Also few minutes about possibilities to get financial support fore the changing of heating system. During the first phase there were 27 training evenings, 17 in Southwest Finland and 10 in other parts of Finland, 663 participants. After that over 50 evenings have been held all over Finland.
Once the trainings are finished, individual contacts are maintained in order to assist trained experts in the renovation of the heating system from their buildings.

Results

Awareness of the climate change and the influence of heating to it raises. People get neutral information about different heating possibilities.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Advertising is very important to get the people attend to these evenings. usually when Housing associations orders the experts to give the lecture they are in charge of the marketing and usually it is successful. There’s approximately 25 people in these training evenings, which gives the possibility to give advice face-to-face and answer questions. We have trained new experts in other parts of Finland, but it is difficult to find single persons that are neutral and who know well different types of heating systems. Material is delivered to other energy agencies.

Local and regional energy agencies (LEAs) support the introduction of good energy management practices, advocate the concept of sustainability, provide information and guidance, and offer a number of other local services based on specific local energy needs. A good example of that is the Regional Energy Agency for Southwest Finland.

Objectives and target audience

What was the project trying to achieve? Who was the project targeted at (if applicable)?
The main aim of the Agency is to increase the use of renewable energy sources, energy conservation and energy efficiency. New target is to inform citizens about climate change and how to mitigate it. It aims to promote the introduction of new energy-saving technologies and methods and the exchange of experience and know-how at international, national and regional levels. The Agency also aims to promote the cooperation and exchange of information between energy producers and consumers in the province. Their aim is therefore to make changes in the decisions, purchases and lifestyles concerning the use of energy.
The target audience are communities, companies, NGOs and citizens, real estate

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Please give an overview of the budget, and an outline of the funders.
Which organisations were involved in shaping and delivering the project.
The Energy Agency for Southwest Finland was firstly funded by the SAVE II programme of the European Union which ended in 2002. Since then, the funding sources are: National Funding: 10%, Regional Funding: 30%, Local Funding: 30%, Private Funding: 20%, and in-house Funding: 10%.
There are many partners involved in the Agency at national, regional and local level.

Process

The Agency collects data on energy matters such as energy saving agreement, energy audit, biofuels, wind power, education material, etc. And then it disseminates this knowledge organising and participating in seminars, field trips and other events. The Agency does not only disseminate information, but it gets involved in local projects and plans.
Some of the initiatives that the Agency has been developing are:

• Tailor made trainings about sustainable energy solutions, energy saving, etc.
• Campaigns like energy saving week, Climate Change campaign.
• Own stand in different kinds of exhibitions.
• Once a week so called eco tip for the local media.
• Permanent exhibition about sustainable life style. Open for public and school groups.

Results

The Energy Agency is known as a neutral expert in different kind of energy issues, also by the media like radio and newspapers. The Energy Agency has build up an active network with local partners which make possible to initiate new projects in the energy field, Partners like universities and other schools, local Business development centres, SME’s, Forestry Centre, Council of Southwest Finland, and other Energy Agencies in Finland and different kind of NGO’s. New field are the parishes (church) that have their own environmental diplom and they have woken to give energy advice to their emloyees and also common members of the church.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Employees of the agency have to be devoted to the issue and be active and innovative. Difficult is to get the financing for the dissemination, because the state of Finland don’t give any direct funding to the EA’s. There are around 10 EA’s in Finland and some more is coming in next few years. The network of EA’s in Finland is active and agencies know each other and their fields of action very well.

The City of Helsinki has a long tradition on energy management in municipal operations, both in terms of targets for specific heat and electricity consumption of the municipality and in terms of carrying out energy audits, energy monitoring, other technical measures and communication actions for energy conservation and savings.

Objectives and target audience

In order to fulfil the commitments of the energy efficiency agreement between the Ministry of Employment and the Economy and the municipality, the City of Helsinki aimed to launch and implement an action plan focused on energy savings in existing public service buildings.
The main items of the programme were:

• Energy monitoring;
• Energy audits;
• Energy investments;
• Information campaigns for  employees, citizens and especially for school children.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The work has been financed by the City of Helsinki. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has subsidised energy audits (40-50 %) and energy savings investments (10-40%).

The Energy Savings Board of the City of Helsinki monitors and coordinates the energy savings work in the City’s real estate and other energy consuming activities. The energy efficiency work has been carried out by Building Services Office in Construction Management Division.

As other important actors has been:-

• Other departments of the City of Helsinki;
• The Ministry of Employment and the Economy TEM;
• Motiva;
• Several small and medium size consulting companies;
• Several small and medium size contractors.

Development work has been carried out with several research institutions and organizations in Finland and within EU.

Process

As a result of the action plan on energy savings, the following activities have been developed:

Energy monitoring:
Since 1987, the City of Helsinki uses software called KULU for monthly energy consumption monitoring in public buildings. The data collected from the meters can be easily introduced in the system via internet and instantly produces a feedback report. The Construction Management Division is in charge of coordinating the installation of energy meters and train maintenance personnel to use the system and inform house management about the consumption.
Energy Audits:
The Construction Management Division coordinates the energy auditing in the City of Helsinki by using the model developed by Motiva. Motiva is national energy agency owned by the State. The working procedure includes data collecting, measurements and tests in buildings. The audit report recommends energy-saving measures, savings to be achieved and costs estimations. Display energy label is made in connection of energy audit from 2006.
Energy investments:
As a result of the audits, the City of Helsinki has developed an energy investment programme for energy efficiency, indoor air climate and general condition improvements in municipal buildings.
Information campaigns:
The City of Helsinki offers training for energy efficient use of buildings, information forum and also organises the energy saving week and public exhibitions. It also runs the Energy Advisory Centre.

Results

The energy savings work has resulted in 20 % savings in specific consumption of heating energy compared to that in 1979. On the other hand the specific consumption of electricity has increased over 25 % compared to 1979. This is mainly due to the growing use of electrical devices such as computers, copying machines etc.  During the last 10 years the specific consumption of heating energy in public service buildings has decreased over 4 %. At the same time the operating time of buildings has increased considerably, which inevitably increases the energy consumption. The specific consumption of electricity has increased in public service buildings during the same period 20 %. This is mainly due to the reasons mentioned above and the increased use of buildings. During the last 4 years the specific consumption of electricity has increased only 3,5 % and in 2007 the specific consumption of electricity decreased 2 % compared to 2006. It is estimated that the energy consumption would be at much higher level without the energy savings work described above.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Reliable energy monitoring system is the basic of all energy savings work.
The voluntary Energy Efficiency Agreement with the Government (Ministry of Employment and the Economy) has proved to be an efficient tool in energy management work. The new agreement was signed with The Ministry of Employment and the Economy in December 2007 for the years 2008-2016. The Energy Services Directive is implemented by means of the Agreement. The main target is 9 % energy saving till 2016. The energy audits will play a key role in the agreement as well as the purchasing of the energy consuming equipments. The City will show exemplary role.
It has also become obvious that in large cities like Helsinki, where there are 34 relatively independent departments, a centralised energy savings unit with sufficient and permanent resources is needed for successful energy savings work. In addition, every department should have highly motivated person/persons to implement energy savings work and disseminate information

Ekoviikki is the largest sustainable building site in Finland.  Situated in the Viikki suburb in Helsinki, a range of environmental and energy concepts has been tested in the design and construction of a new housing area.

Objectives and target audience

The main objective for Ekoviikki was to built a new ecological housing area, applying ecological and sustainability guidelines in full urban scale, including innovative energy designs as for example active and passive solar, photovoltaics, heat pumps and energy conservation.  The Ekoviikki Project was divided in two energy-related sub-projects:

Ekoviikki PV Building sub-project:-

• largest photovoltaic application in a residential building in Finland (2002-2003);
• Innovative PV balcony concepts;
• Important reference for PV market development.

Ekoviikki EU solar heating sub-project:-

• largest solar energy project in Finland (1999-2001);
• Innovative solar heating concepts (building integration, combisystems);
• Important reference for solar market development in Finland.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The Ekoviikki project was part of the European Energy demonstration programme Thermie (project ref. REB71/98/FI) under the name “Integration of large-scale solar thermal scheme into a major urban ecological housing area in Helsinki”.
The project was coordinated by Solpros Ay, a Finnish company specializing in solar energy solutions.  Five major builders in the City of Helsinki, ATT; VVO, Skanska, ESY and Helas also participated in the project.
Financial support was received from the European Commission (part of the EU PV-Nord project), the National Technology Agency (TEKES) and the Finnish Ministry of Environment.

Process

In Ekoviikki, special consideration was given to the ecological and sustainable planning principles using the PIMWAG approach.  This method is a multi-criteria evaluation and decision-making method in which five major factors affecting the building’s environmental performance are considered.  The Ekoviikki site was subjected to extensive sustainable planning accounting for energy and environmental improvements, enabling integration of solar energy from the earliest moments and ideas.
The 3 main solar projects implemented in Ekoviikki were:-

• A large solar heating scheme for multi-store apartment houses;
• An innovative BIPV system for a multi-family house;
• A passive sustainable solar house design.

Results

The Ekoviikki site houses 2000 inhabitants and represents a built area of 62,000 m2.  The solar access of the whole site is good and renewable energy and energy efficiency is promoted.  The largest solar projects in Finland are realized in Ekoviikki covering half of the buildings.  In addition, 10 solar heating and 2BIPV systems have been realized in apartment houses.
When finished in year 2010, the Viikki suburb will have over 10,000 inhabitants.  It will represent a high-level sustainable area in urban scale with approaches that can be applied widely in Europe and in northern climates.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

The Ekoviikki project has been able to demonstrate that it is possible to improve energy and environmental performing of buildings with low construction costs (only around 5% higher than normal).
According to the results of a satisfaction survey made to the inhabitants of Ekoviikki, the uniqueness and high quality standards of the buildings are very much appreciated. However, the survey also pointed out some concerns regarding the lack of public services, such as public transport, public health and banking services in the area.