Lappeenranta Energy’s new green district heating system has been well received by the market. The Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation LOAS was one of the energy company’s first customers to switch to carbon-neutral green district heating. Other customers wishing to reduce their carbon footprint are expected to follow suit soon.
Green district heating clearly appeals to the market. Green choices and environmental friendliness are values that more and more customers want to introduce to their lives. Some of the customers making the switch to green district heating are specifically looking to track their carbon footprint.
– Both home owners and businesses have shown a lot of interest in our green district heating system. The first to switch are those of our customers who are particularly dedicated to environmental friendliness, explains Lappeenranta Energy’s Director, Customers Jussi Selenius.
Pursuing carbon neutrality through green district heating
The Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation switched to green district heating at the beginning of November. It owns 37 units that are connected to the district heating system, making it Lappeenranta Energy’s biggest customer to make the switch so far. The new system is hoped to help the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation to achieve carbon neutrality.
– Our strategic goal is to be carbon neutral in 2025. We switched to carbon-neutral electricity a few years back and have been eagerly waiting for a product that would allow us to make the switch in respect of heating as well, explains the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation’s Executive Director Joonas Grönlund.
Switching to green district heating has numerous benefits for businesses. Ecological choices not only help to promote strategic objectives but also to better respond to what today’s customers want and need.
– We work closely with both the LUT University and the student body, and it is important for us to be seen as promoting green values in our own business as well. Being green is very important to students these days, Grönlund explains.
A range of green choices
In addition to heating, the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation currently produces emissions from the use of cars by its maintenance workers. The adoption of more environmentally friendly transport solutions is also under way, with the latest cars running on biogas and the next generation on electricity.
Grönlund describes the process of switching to green district heating as 100% painless. No technical upgrades were needed, just a signature.
– This is the first step. I would like to see more district heating suppliers begin to offer carbon-neutral alternatives. They are, after all, the future, Grönlund says.
– We hope that the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation’s decision to switch to green district heating so quickly creates a trend and encourages others to also start taking steps towards lowering their carbon footprint. It only costs a tiny bit extra to switch to a heating system powered by 100% renewable energy, Selenius explains.
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