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More renewable energy on campus

Published: 9.10.2019

Renewing Aalto Works block increases the energy effiency on campus

Energy Awareness Week event ACRE Image: Mikko Raskinen — A more sustainable campus was discussed at the Energy Awereness Week event. Image: Mikko Raskinen / Aalto University

The main environmental impacts of the campus are related to energy consumption, transportation and recysling. Aalto University strives to procure the most ecologically produced energy for the campus building needs.

A sustainable campus is an integral part of the university's campus strategy. The Sustainable Campus team organised a morning event for house and space managers on campus on 9 October 2019 as part of national Energy Awareness Week.

Aalto University Campus and Real Estate, which manages the university's properties, operate and develop the campus in line with the principles of sustainable development. The use of geothermal and solar energy on campus is constantly increasing. Annual CO2 emissions have fallen by 40% since 2012.

Most of the campus buildings were built in the 1960s. The energy efficiency of these buildings can be improved and the functionality of their facilities can be enhanced to correspond to current requirements through renovations.

Energiavartti Energiansäästöviikko 2019 Kuva: Mikko Raskinen — The participants playing Energy Awereness Week game at the event. Image: Mikko Raskinen / Aalto University

Aalto Works block will increase energy production on campus

Aalto University Works includes renovation of existing buildings, as well as construction of new buildings and a green area improvement project. This is the last block on the campus with major renovations. Aalto University Works as a name builds on the history of the block as place for building, iterating and testing. At the same time it updates the concept towards today's activities of collaborating and co-working.

After completion, Aalto University Works will house the departments of the School of Engineering, Department Machine Hall of the School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto Design Factory, Startup Sauna, Aalto Ventures Program and partners of Aalto University. The premises, supporting the innovation process, will receive a new energy solution when the first new building is completed in 2021.

'80-90% of the used for heating and cooling in the Aalto Works block will be from local renewable energy sources. The aim is to obtain the energy potentially to be purchased from the most ecologically produced energy possible', says Aalto University Campus and Real Estate's Development Managers Antti Säynäjoki at the Energy Saving Week theme event.

The waste heat from the Nanotalo and a few other buildings near the block will be recovered and used for the Aalto Works block. Aalto University Campus and Real Estate is looking into the potential for seasonal storage of energy, ie storage of heat and cooling. Seasonal storage is currently being tested in the Väre building and the School of Business building.

Aalto Works block is intended to utilise solar energy, but the degree of self-sufficiency for the block has not yet been defined for electricity generation.

Sustainable campus

The key environmental impacts of the campus are related to energy consumption and transport. A sustainable and carbon neutral campus is at the core of the campus strategy.