Finland tackles energy wastage in flats with digital tracking

Wasted energy is a common problem in blocks of flats, but six housing companies in Helsinki and Vantaa in Finland are piloting a simple digital solution using IT sensors to reduce their energy consumption.

The six housing providers have created the Climate-friendly Housing Companies project, which is backed by Forum Virium Helsinki, the city’s innovation company, plus the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) and Finland’s Green Building Council

Project manager Timo Ruohomäki, from Forum Virium Helsinki, says: “Heating accounts for approximately 70% of the energy consumption of blocks of flats. But they typically have little in the way of technology for actively monitoring heating based on actual needs. The aim of this joint project is to reduce housing companies’ energy consumption and emissions by increasing their awareness of digital solutions.”