The only constant is change

This article has originally been published in the Espoo Magazine 2/2022.

Read other articles in the Espoo Magazine 2/2022

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Many recent phenomena support the willingness to make sustainable decisions in one’s everyday life. Espoo is a forerunner in this role for many reasons. 

We meet with Pasi Laitala, Director of Sustainable Development, via Teams on 7 April. Outside, the temperature is barely above freezing and there is half a metre of snow on the ground. More snowflakes are floating in the air. However, the snowfall is not as dense as a couple of days ago when the ground, which had already partially melted, was again covered with several centimetres of snow. 

This is all part of the change we live in. Extreme natural phenomena, such as the vast amounts of snow this year, or the winter in the year before last with no snow at all, the scorching hot summers, substantial rainfall and more frequent storms are manifestations of climate change.  

As for our remote meeting, it is one of the consequences of the radical changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic to our ways of moving about and working.  

“When this is combined with the situation in Europe, which has made it necessary to abandon fossil fuels, particularly those imported from Russia, people’s interest in sustainable solutions has risen to a whole new level,” Laitala says. 

According to an estimate by Fingrid, Finland could achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production in 2024 – or perhaps as early as next year, thanks to the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant and the strong growth of wind power. 

Espoo is also taking big steps towards self-sufficiency in heat production. In cooperation between Microsoft and Fortum, the world’s largest waste heat recovery concept in terms of scale is emerging in connection with the data centres planned in Espoo and Kirkkonummi. 

“When it comes to district heat, the data centre will bring about a significant reduction,” Laitala says. 

Heat production and transport play a crucial role. Espoo aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Of this, 80 per cent would result from emission reductions compared to the level in 1990. 

“At present, the emissions from heat energy are 433 kt of CO2, which is about half of the city’s total emissions,” Laitala says. 

Transport is another important factor in reducing emissions. In Espoo, 54 per cent of mobility takes place by sustainable modes of transport, i.e. by foot, bike and public transport. 

“Traditionally, the number of electric cars has been higher here than in other parts of Finland, and the number has started to grow exponentially due to the rise in petrol and diesel prices. Fully electric cars and hybrid cars already account for seven per cent of all passenger cars in Espoo.” 

This change must be taken into account in urban planning as well. 

“In the past, a place for a service station had to be included in the plans for central intersections to allow people to fill up their cars with fuel, but in the future, we will have to figure out how to place a sufficient number of charging points adjacent to residential buildings, workplaces and services,” says Laitala when describing the change. 

People first. Particularly the Kera district represents this new type of planning in Espoo. 

“The new Kera district has been planned together with a wide range of actors. One of the results of our discussions was the annex added to the land use agreements, in which landowners also commit to the development of Kera based on the principles of sustainable development,” Laitala says. 

The Kera district is currently in the planning phase. Pekka Vikkula, Project Manager for the district, points out that it will take 15 to 20 years to build the area. Not all solutions can be defined now, and it is important to facilitate continuous development. 

As an example, he mentions the air-to-water heat pump plant which Fortum is committed to implement. 

“A two-way low heat network is as efficient as a geothermal heating network, but in the future, it may facilitate the transfer of stored heat as well, provided that we come up with a good storage solution later on,” Vikkula says. 

The anticipated future needs have also been taken into account in transport planning. The Kera district will be built around the existing train station. The possibility of creating good trunk bus and tram connections to the area will be taken into consideration in the planning of the street network. 

“Car parking will be centralised in the outskirts of the central area to make it safe and easy for cyclists and pedestrians. The parking solutions will also facilitate an increasing number of shared cars,” says Vikkula when he describes the planning policy. 

Although Kera is a platform for finding new solutions and the goals are far in the future, Vikkula emphasises the fact that the district is also an area where people live and use services. 

“We need to consider what people need today, not just the future needs.” 

He lists the five key factors for living that should always be put in order as quickly as possible even in a new residential area. They are a shop, a day care centre, a school, transport connections and parks. 

“If residential buildings are built in the area, but driving a car is necessary to reach services, it is unlikely that people will start using other means of transport later,” Vikkula says. 

“The starting point for this is excellent in Kera, as we already have a train station and a day care centre. The S Group is one of the major owners of the area, so we are also likely to have a shop in the area in the near future,” he continues. 

According to current estimates, the first new apartments will be completed in Kera in about three years from now. 

Replace the old with reuse. Because Kera is an industrial and logistics area built in the 1960s, converting it into a residential and working area for 14,000 people will not take a toll on natural areas that are always important to Espoo residents. New buildings will be built and old ones reused. 

“Most of the current forested areas in the district will be preserved and new trees will be planted, for example, along the streets. We also have a survey underway to create indicators for the natural values of various green spaces. For example, can lawn areas be counted as green spaces or should they be converted into meadows? Where should green spaces be located in order for them to benefit the fauna in the best possible way?” says Vikkula. 

The principle of replacing the old with something new has also been followed in the Finnoo area in southwestern Espoo, and the first new residents have already moved to the area. For example, the wastewater treatment plant situated in Finnoo will be moved to Blominmäki. Land use plans are in place for Finnoo to become a district for 17,000 inhabitants. 

“Construction of the district will connect areas served by the metro,” says Kimmo Leivo, Project Director for the area. 

During the construction of the Finnoo district, particular focus has been placed on sustainable development solutions, in both energy production and transport planning. Metro service is expected to begin in 2023. 

“Rail transport is the only sensible solution for such a large number of residents. Placing the traffic underground by building the metro will enable us to minimise the inconvenience, including noise, caused by traffic to residents above ground,” says Leivo. 

The Finnoo centre with various services will be built in connection with the metro station. Car parking will be placed on the outskirts of the centre, leaving the central area free for pedestrians and cyclists.  

“Good pedestrian and bicycle traffic networks, local services and well-functioning public transport will reduce the need for private cars. 

At present, three new residential buildings have been completed in the area, and more are under construction. The builders must comply with a wide range of requirements relating to energy efficiency.” 

“An energy expert must always be involved in the planning stage. This type of construction of a new area takes decades, and the requirements for energy solutions change with the times. Something that was an innovation when the construction of the area began is already the norm in many respects today,” Leivo says. 

For residents, examples of energy-efficient construction include underfloor heating, glazed balconies, the choices of household appliances and materials and, in large buildings, shared in-house laundry rooms. 

“For example, structures that bind nitrogen oxides can be used in the roofs, or green roofs can be built,” Leivo says. 

It is the whole that makes a difference. New construction is lively in Espoo. In addition to housing, the growing city needs services, such as schools and day care centres. In recent years, many old school buildings have been replaced with new ones. 

“Particularly in new construction, our aim is to take responsibility for the carbon neutrality target set by Espoo, both at the construction stage and in terms of overall economy,” says Kimmo Martinsen, Head of the Design Management Unit. 

With overall economy, Martinsen refers to the fact that many sustainable solutions may involve higher costs during the construction phase but will pay for themselves in maintenance costs. 

As an example, he mentions the exterior cladding of buildings, for which wood has recently been a popular choice. 

“Wood is a much more expensive material than concrete or steel elements. It also requires more maintenance work over the years. However, due to the global situation, wood may be a more secure material in terms of availability,” he says. 

The aim is to cut the carbon footprint of construction by 80 per cent compared to construction in the 1990s. In many respects, the reduction results from compliance with modern regulations. 

“The thermal insulation of windows, geothermal and solar electricity solutions and energy emissions during construction,” Martinsen says, listing the aspects that are taken into account in planning. 

Multiple effects. So, the aim is an 80 per cent reduction in emissions, and the remaining 20 per cent of carbon emissions will be offset through carbon sinks. Pasi Laitala is confident that Espoo will not only achieve carbon neutrality but will even be able to exceed its target. 

“Espoo is a good place to implement clean and intelligent solutions. We are a growing city. We have the strong scientific community of Aalto University and VTT here, alongside the headquarters of many large technology companies that offer the opportunity for development work. We also have a highly educated population interested in experimenting with new solutions. At the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, we cooperate with all these parties on a continuous basis,” Laitala says. 

Of course, carbon neutrality in Espoo is not enough to solve global climate problems. However, Laitala is confident that in pursuing its goal, Espoo will be able to develop solutions that can be copied and utilised in other parts of Finland and around the world. 

Nature House Villa Elfvik has been working towards a more sustainable lifestyle for 30 years.  

“The declining natural resources and climate change have forced people to rethink their lifestyles, and we want to ease the pain of making decisions in their everyday lives,” says Riitta Pulkkinen, Director of the Nature House.  

Pulkkinen has worked at Villa Elfvik since its inception. 

“Espoo wanted to put its grand old buildings to use, and Villa Elfvik was chosen as the nature house due to its location. This is where the Laajalahti nature reserve begins with its herb-rich forests, shoreline meadows and rocky forests. Last year alone, it attracted more than 120,000 visitors according to the Metsähallitus counter.” 

The main exhibition at Villa Elfvik displays biodiversity in Espoo. The temporary exhibitions feature topics that support a sustainable lifestyle. The house offers free admission now that the doors have again been opened to the public after the closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, the annual number of visitors at Villa Elfvik exceeded 30,000 per year. 

“In addition to groups from schools and day care centres, we get visitors of all ages,” Pulkkinen says. 

The objective of becoming emission-free is also reflected on the construction sites in Espoo. A more sustainable model for construction is sought step by step to create the Emission-free Construction Site concept. 

“Everything starts from planning. At the planning stage, we take into account the surrounding nature, residents and partners, with whom we strive to find lower-emission solutions,” says Iina Kallio, specialist in circular economy and sustainable development. 

These solutions include electrically powered construction machinery and transport equipment for logistics. 

“Equipment driven by green electricity is not only emission-free, but it also generates less noise,” says Kallio. 

Machinery powered by a combustion engine must use fossil-free fuel. 

The objectives have also been taken into account in materials. As far as possible, crushed concrete from demolition sites in the surrounding area must be used as the load-bearing soil, instead of gravel or crushed stone. 

“In addition to the circular economy aspect, concrete from demolition sites binds carbon,” Kallio says. 

She mentions paving as another example of materials. 

“Domestic paving stones come from close by, saving emissions that long transport distances would generate. Natural stone is a much more durable solution over time than concrete blocks,” says Kallio as an example. 

The Espoo Public Works Department’s efforts to promote sustainable construction were recognised by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities and INFRA (Infra Contractors Association in Finland) with the award for the best infrastructure buyer in 2021. 

The Kuitinmäki shopping centre is home to the first solar community in Espoo. The solar panels covering the entire roof were installed back in 2019, but it was not until last year that the electricity they generate could be utilised to cover the electricity consumption of the apartments. 

“The simplest way to start using solar energy is to set up a solar community, provided by for example a grid company such as Caruna. In this case, the grid company will distribute the electricity produced by the solar power plant first to the public spaces and then to the shareholders, based on the number of shares they own. If there is any surplus energy, it will be sold at market price to the grid,” says Mika Koskinen. 

Koskinen is the driving force behind the Kuitinmäki solar power plant project, as he came up with the idea and put it to practice. 

“In our case, entrepreneurial shareholders joined in immediately, while institutional ones held back, but only until the real financial savings could be proven,” Koskinen says. 

Covering the entire roof with solar panels required an investment of approximately EUR 60,000, and the annual savings amount to EUR 7,000–9,000. This means that the construction of the power plant will pay for itself in about seven years. 

“Half of the energy from the solar panels goes towards the property’s electricity consumption, that is, mechanical ventilation and the sockets and lighting in public spaces, one fourth to the apartments’ consumption and one fourth is sold,” Koskinen says. 

The solar panels produce the most electricity during the daytime when the spot-market price of electricity is at its highest. This ensures affordable use at all times of the day. The highest benefits are achieved during the summer months when there is a maximum amount of light.