A key partner in the new programme is Finnish Innovation Fund – Sitra. Sitra has committed itself to cooperating with Tampere during the ECO2 project’s start-up phase of 2010-2012.
The Executive Director of Sitra’s Energy Programme, Jukka Noponen, was quoted as saying that, “Tampere has an excellent opportunity to become a national and international example of energy-efficiency. A specific point that interested Sitra in the ECO2 project was Tampere’s readiness to include energy-efficiency thinking and emissions reduction comprehensively in all decision-making within the city management.”
One key element of the work in Tampere is the production of a new planning tool – called MEKO. This will be used in energy planning and holistic design, including calculating the carbon footprint of new developments. MEKO is being developed by the City of Tampere in conjunction with the City of Helsinki and research organisation VTT.
Tampere is also revamping its energy information centre, which has been in existence for eight years. It will be redesigned to provide better and more targeted information for the public – and may soon be supported by an information bus which will travel around the city neighbourhoods and take part in local events taking information to communities and ensuring a higher level of involvement by the city’s population.
The City of Tampere is involved in the work of several international networks – such as ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and EUROCITIES, as well as several EU R&D programmes. The ECO2 staff are currently looking at work being carried out in cities and communities both in Finland and overseas to find new ideas and best practices which will help the city reach its emission targets.
While it has considerable enthusiasm and ideas, Tampere has a long journey before it reaches the carbon neutral utopia.
To follow the city’s progress, go to www.eco2.fi – which contains a project video with English subtitles and will soon have additional English language content.
Alternatively, you could contact Elina Seppanen, ECO2 Project Secretary, for further information – elina.seppanen@gmail.com.
Other Related Initiatives from Finland
Five Finnish municipalities have promised to act as laboratories by working to curb their carbon dioxide emissions ahead of schedule. This ground-breaking project – Carbon Neutral Municipalities (CANEMU) – involves the municipalities of Mynämäki, Uusikaupunki, Kuhmoinen, Padasjoki and Parikkala.
The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) is the principle funding body for CANEMU. The first phase of the project was completed on 31 May 2010. The continuation project, ‘Processes in Municipalities aiming at Carbon Neutrality (proCANEMU), will be carried out from 1st June 2010 to 31st December 2012. The total budget is €650,000, out of which €390,000 is funded by Tekes, €175,000 by the Finnish Environment Institute, and €85,000 by a further 30 companies.
The project aims at greenhouse gas emission reductions both in the near future (2-5 years) and in the longer term (6-20 years). Commitment of the municipal authorities, local businesses and residents to emission reductions is seen as essential to its success. Researchers, experts, businesses, politicians and local residents will together devise and tailor solutions that can reduce emissions, especially related to housing, transportation and food production. All the municipalities will strive to increase their use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.
A study published in mid-2010 revealed that more than 40% of Finns prioritise environmentally friendly housing when searching for new property. Energy efficiency and a location with convenient public transport links were considered important by Finnish house buyers. However, ecological building materials and meeting the latest environmental standards were rated as less important. In addition to the positive environmental impacts, savings on living costs and the higher resale value of ecological property were stated as reasons to buy environmentally friendly housing. The Helsinki Times reported that around 670 property buyers across Finland answered the survey conducted this spring.
