Apartment blocks’ energy audits reveal the objects with the best saving potentials

An energy audit was conducted in seven apartment blocks in Iso Roobertinkatu in February 2016.

An energy audit is a method to survey the energy-saving possibilities for an apartment building. The energy audit can be ordered from a specialist company that offers auditing services. Some house managing agencies also conduct energy audits. In energy audits, the energy specialist visits the property, checks the technical facilities, the operation of ventilation and heating systems, and makes visits to chosen apartments and performs apartment-specific measurements (temperature, flow rate for faucets, ventilation). Auditing processes also include a questionnaire to the residents. This is done in order to achieve the best possible picture of the present circumstances in the apartments.

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What can I do?

Over 70% of the climate effects caused by one person arise from housing, transportation and food. In terms of electricity and heat consumption, the number remains the same for energy consumption in city centre ground floor shops. See the list below for useful tips and hints on how to save our climate, find good health and cut your expenses!

 

Energy

Lower the temperature

• Lower the temperature by one degree and you’ll save 5% of heating energy.
• The healthy temperature in living spaces is between 20 and 22 degrees.
• The healthy temperature in a bedroom is between 18 and 20 degrees.
• You’ll sleep better and fall asleep more easily in a cool temperature.
• For more information, please visit: Motiva+ Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (in Finnish)

Replace your electricity with green electricity

• Electricity produced from renewable energy sources is practically emission-free, and is often not more expensive than regular electricity.
• It is always worthwhile to tender out electricity companies, and it is easy too!
• For more information, please visit: Replace your electricity (in Finnish)

Light smarter

• LED lighting is the solution of today. LEDs have low electricity consumption and heat production levels and are long-lasting.
• Their prices are very compatible when the euros saved in electricity bills are taken into account.
• For more information, please visit: Lamp information + Save Now (in Finnish) + Lighting tips from the Martha Organisation (in Finnish)

Use water wisely

• Playing with hot water consumes energy and is very expensive.
• By shortening the daily shower from 10 minutes to 5 minutes, one person can, besides energy and water, save up to 155 euros per year.
• Energy-efficient laundry means washing full loads and using low water temperatures.
• Dishwashers often save water in comparison to washing dishes under running water.
• For more information, please visit: HSY +  Motiva water saving tips + Motiva laundry tips

Saving in the sauna 

• Heat up the sauna for the whole family in one go and go to the sauna as soon as it is hot enough.
• The recommended sauna temperature is 60-80 degrees. 100 degrees raises energy consumption by over one quarter.
• Choose the ready-to-use sauna stove only if you go to the sauna every day, and in that case get a model that is thoroughly insulated.
• For more information, please visit: Motiva (in Finnish)

Ventilate effectively

• In wintertime, ventilate quickly by cross-draught to save energy.
• During the hot summertime, ventilate in night-time and early in the morning. Keep curtains closed to cool down during the daytime.
• For more information, please visit: Motiva

Use solar energy

• The prices of solar panels have dropped by 70% in the past five years, and the solar power levels that can be produced in the southern parts of Finland are similar to the ones produced in Northern Germany.
• After the installation of the panels, the costs of the operation and maintenance are low. The investment will pay itself back in the form of a smaller electricity bill.
• For more information, please visit: Solar power to homes (in Finnish)

Take care of the property

• Improve the energy efficiency of the property: remember thermal insulation, good ventilation and the correct indoor temperatures.
• If the balancing of the central heating system is not carried out properly in a property, the result manifests as greater heating expenses and uneven living conditions inside the building.
• For more information, please visit: Get balance in your building (in Finnish) + Energy guidance for consumers (in Finnish)

Use energy-efficient appliances reasonably

• Make use of the residual heat of the oven. When baking larger quantities, use a fan-assisted oven.
• Take care of the refrigeration equipment and place them correctly.
• Turn off stand-by modes in consumer electronics.
• On average, laptops consume only one tenth of the electricity consumed by standard desk computers. You have the possibility to make a difference to your electricity consumption.
• For more information, please visit: Refrigeration equipment tips from Motiva + Consumer electronics tips from Motiva + Computer tips from Motiva + Oven tips from the Martha organisation

 

Transportation

Use your muscles for transportation

• Bicycling makes you happier, more alert and fitter. Often it is also the fastest way to move around.
• Cyclists and walkers save money with low or non-existing fuel and travelling expenses. In addition, the disadvantages of motorised transport, such as noise, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, are reduced.
• Tutustu aiheeseen lisää: Journey Planner for cyclists and walkers + the UKK Institute cycling site (in Finnish)

Favour public transport

• Plan your journey for public transport and compare the emission levels caused by the different modes of transport: Journey Planner for Public Transport

Drive your car wisely

• The more passengers there are in the car and the smarter the driver drives, the smaller is the emission load caused by one single passenger. Alternative fuels replace the fossil fuels in the transport sector, and thereby reduce the oil dependency of the sector.
• Try car sharing or carpooling.
• Drive more economically.
• Charge the electric car with green energy.
• For more information, please visit: Motiva / Biofuels + Sharing economy / Car sharing (in Finnish) + Motiva / Car sharing (in Finnish) + Motiva / Carpooling (in Finnish) + Self-evaluation for economic driving (in Finnish) + Motiva / Electric cars (in Finnish)

 

Food

Eat more vegetables

• For example, the climatic load of eating beef is quadruple when compared to eating vegetables.
• Besides causing global greenhouse gas emissions, livestock and animal production also takes land from the original nature and the production of other foodstuffs.
• For more information, please visit: WWF on food

Don’t waste food

• The majority of the food-related emissions are produced in the primary production sector. Therefore, all foodstuffs should be carefully utilised. Even your wallet will thank you, as wasted food costs us 500 million euros per year.
• For more information, please visit: Love Food Hate Waste website

Cook eco-efficiently

• When cooking food, cook for several meal times at once.
• When heating the oven, prepare several dishes at one go.
• For more information, please visit: Ecological cooking tips from the Martha organisation (in Finnish)

Follow the season 

• Growing vegetables in greenhouses in Nordic circumstances during the winter season causes substantial amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. It would be better to eat seasonal vegetables and fruits that have not been grown with the help of extra energy in greenhouses.
• For more information, please visit: Harvest calendar (in Finnish) + Finfood – Finnish Food Information organisation’s Finnish seasonal calendar (in Finnish)

Grow and pick by yourself

• You can grow all types of foods and ingredients in your own back garden, balcony or windowsill. For example, pea shoots grow quickly regardless of the time of the year!
• Berries and mushrooms grow naturally in the forests. Go and pick them, but use some other mode of transport than your own car.
• For more information, please visit: Dodo’s Urban Farmers website

 

Consumption and waste sorting

Buy sustainable products for real need

• According to a report by Sitra, the consumer can reduce his carbon footprint by 25-40% if he makes sustainable consumption choices.
• Plan your shopping list beforehand and buy only what you need. Ignore advertisements and sale products that you don’t really need.
• Check if you can buy the item you are looking for as used.
• Buy furniture, clothes and goods that will please you for a long time. Remember that you can always adapt, complement and repair goods. Timeless designs stand the test of time.
• For more information, please visit: Valonia + Climate Guide: Sustainable consumer choices + Feel Good Wardrobe website + Reuse centre: “High-quality clothes – characteristics and the environment” (in Finnish)

Shared use

• Why should everyone buy their own impact drills or steam cleaners? Actually, many goods and items are rarely needed. It is a good idea to share goods and services in your apartment block or in the neighbourhood, for example.
• For more information, please visit: Jakamistalous.fi (in Finnish) + Nifty Neighbour (in Finnish)

Thank you for sorting your waste 

• When you sort your waste, valuable materials can be reused and utilised as compost, new goods and energy, for example.
• For more information, please visit: HSY + Thank you for sorting your waste website (in Finnish)

Cool down with a green roof

• Vegetation on the green roof binds water and prevents flooding that is becoming more common in the cities due to climate change.
• Green roofs help bring down buildings’ heating and cooling costs, enhance biodiversity of the urban nature, decrease noise, prolong the roof’s lifespan and create relaxing green spots in the middle of the city.
• For more information, please visit: Geo magazine: Are green roofs taking over Finland? (in Finnish)

Make your yard greener

• The yard doesn’t have to be an asphalt jungle filled with parking spaces and bin sheds. A green yard creates a cosier atmosphere and prevents flooding in the city.
• For more information, please visit: Kotivinkki magazine: The yard of an apartment building turned into an oasis (in Finnish)