We operate and develop our campus and our other sites in line with the principles of sustainable development. The key environmental impacts of the campus are related to energy consumption, transport and recycling, and we work actively to develop the energy efficiency of our existing property portfolio and to reduce energy consumption in our campuses.
At the Aalto University campus we actively work to develop the energy efficiency of our present building base and to decrease energy consumption. Aalto University Campus & Real Estate (ACRE), which manages Aalto's properties, makes an effort to produce its own energy in an environmentally-friendly manner.
The former target to achieve Energy self-sufficient Otaniemi 2030 has been updated to aim towards carbon neutrality by 2030. Energy consumption is the biggest part of campus emissions, so promoting a holistic and smart regional energy system is still at the core of reducing emissions. For example, Aalto Works Energy solution is an innovative project to make a local block self-sufficient. All campus activities aim to be low in carbon emissions, and the aim is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 especially in terms of energy consumption.
Discover the nearly emission-free local energy solution here!
Nearly emission-free local energy heats and cools several campus buildings and a data center. In the accompanying animation, you will find campus sites and more detailed explanations of the operating principle of the energy solution.
Aalto University's planning guidelines define the objectives for the design of the university's buildings, their facilities and signs. The principles of sustainable development and accessibility are followed in the development and use of the facilities. In renovation and new projects, the goal is energy and resource efficiency as well as the utilization of renewable energy sources as comprehensively as possible.
The combined power consumption of all campus buildings was 34 GWh in 2024. In relation to square metres, their average power consumption was 93,9 kWh/sqm. This consumption is not divided equally between all buildings, as the six most power-hungry buildings consume approximately 50% of all electricity. Even minor energy efficiency improvements in these six buildings are significant considering the total consumption. Electricity for ACRE is acquired via Nord Pool.
There are a total of 4 solar power plants in the campus:
Sähkömiehentie 5: 103 kWp
Konemiehentie 2: 116,5 kWp
Maarintie 8: 122,4 kWp
Otaniementie 14: 203 kWp
In 2013, some of the electricity procured was certified as renewable energy. In 2014 and 2015, nearly all electricity consumed was covered by certified bio and wind power, in addition to local production. From 2016 to 2021, all electricity consumption was covered using renewable forms of energy. Certified electricity includes a guarantee of origin, i.e. the seller of the electricity must produce at least as much electricity as is indicated in the guarantee using the forms of energy indicated in the guarantee. In 2022 and 2023, an emission-free district heating product was purchased instead of electricity in order to reduce the carbon footprint.
Campus buildings are connected to Fortum's district heating network. The combined consumption of heating energy was 34 GWh in 2024. In relation to square metres, the average heat consumption was 96,3 kWh/sqm.
Espoo's district heat production is committed to carbon neutrality during the 2020s. Coal as a fuel is set to be displaced by 2025. The last coal-burning plant was already phased out ahead of schedule in spring 2024. For more information on Fortum's district heat production, visit the Espoo Clean Heat website. In addition, to cover the peak heat consumption of Otaniemi, mainly in the coldest winter time, heat is produced in the Otaniemi district heating plant. The plant uses natural gas and heavy fuel oil.
District heating certified as originating from 100% renewable sources has been procured to all buildings since 2022. In addition, the buildings in the Aalto Works block receive their heat from the local low heat network using waste heat from the block's buildings and Fortum's air-to-water heat pump plant.
Otaniemi is an area which is beneficial for generating geoenergy – the biggest conventional geoenergy plant in Otaniemi is located in the middle of the campus, under the Metro block -building (Otaniementie 12, 14 and Ekonominaukio 1). The average yearly geonergy production at the campus is 2550 MWh, which corresponds to roughly 5,5% of all the heating energy consumed.
Geoenergy on the campus is produced:
Otakaari 24: approx. 750 MWh a year
Otaniementie 14: approx. 1700 MWh a year
In some of the campus buildings, cooling energy is produced mechanically using a compressor-driven cooling unit. Geoenergy systems are also used for cooling in the summer. In addition, some buildings are equipped with air source heat pumps that act as separate cooling units.
As the power consumption of the cooling units is not measured separately, the need for cooling is estimated on the basis of energy reviews and audits conducted in the buildings. The total cooling energy consumption is approximately 1,000 MWh per year.
On the campus we are actively working to reduce water consumption. To use water resources effectively we are using water-saving or non-water plumbing fixtures. All new urinals are waterless.
Water consumption in the buildings owned by Aalto University was 112 700 m3 in the year 2024.
Aalto University aims to be a pioneer in sustainable mobility, and the Otaniemi campus is the perfect test bed for this goal. The Sustainable Mobility Action Plan for the Otaniemi campus has been drawn up as user-oriented and in interaction with the Aalto community.
The main mission of the Campus Sustainability team is to promote sustainable development through the perspectives of ecological, social and economic responsibility.
Aalto CRE is committed to reducing campus energy consumption regarding to the national energy effiency agreement for facilities (TETS).
The diversity of Otaniemi's forests provides a good habitat for different species. Decaying wood also plays an important role in the natural cycle. Decayed wood is found in almost all forests on campus.
The campus has several meadow areas.
The renovation of the Otaniemi shopping centre, originally completed in the 1960s and designed by Alvar Aalto, also paid attention to the building's sustainable development solutions.
The year-long energy saving campaign by the Aalto community concluded at the end of September.
Plastic recycling expanded to the whole campus at the beginning of 2022.
The renovation of the building was a massive project that was carried out in four phases during 2007–2015
One purpose of this experiment is to test flexible and cost-efficient operating models that can later be expanded and scaled to apply to other educational institutes and services
The main goals of these lobby screens were to more easily communicate information about modification, repair and maintenance projects in buildings
Investments in LED lighting have been made in several buildings on the campus - LEDs save energy and reduce the need for maintenance
The lighting systems of Maarintalo were modernised in Autumn 2013 as the illuminance of the former system fell below recommended limits
A Master’s thesis made for the Aalto University Campus & Real Estate (Aalto CRE) in 2015 produced information on advancing the energy self-sufficiency on campus
The Maarintie 8 building located in Otaniemi houses, among others, the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation.
Sustainability is an important criterion when choosing an office supply provider.
Science, technology and arts play an important role in solving global sustainability problems. Aalto University’s strength is its strong multidisciplinary approach to humanity’s greatest challenges, such as environmental crises.
Understood through all its dimensions - ecological, social, economic and cultural - we are committed to carrying out our activities in a sustainable manner. For example, we work actively to develop the energy efficiency of our property portfolio and to reduce energy consumption in our campuses.
Our green campus is made of small and large activities.
