Developing energy-efficient countryside

Renewable energy and energy self-sufficiency are emerging megatrends. In rural areas, it is possible to change the form of heating to renewable energy in many different ways. Solar panels can be installed on the roof of the buildings or the heating can be managed with a geothermal heat pump. Traditional wood heating is a natural choice as a climate-friendly form of heating. In rural areas, the topography of the terrain can also be used to harness wind energy.

Go to South Karelia! The employees of the project advise all residents living in the sparsely populated area of ​​South Karelia on the comparison of different forms of energy.

- Together we can compare the investment and savings effects of different options on your property, he says Tanja Nyholm From the city of Lappeenranta.

The project also promotes improving the energy efficiency of public buildings, e.g. village halls. An official energy survey and plans to improve energy efficiency can be ordered for these locations.

- The goal is to find 5–10 public utility sites in the province where this work will be carried out. The pilot sites receive an energy inspection free of charge, Nyholm explains.

Register your home or village hall as a project partner, and together we will find the best-suited energy solution for it. You can find the project's contact information online www.imatra.fi/hinkuaEteläKarjalaan

Free advice

Counseling and training are also organized on the selection and comparison of renewable forms of energy. The counseling sessions will start remotely in January 2021, and the first session on January 27 will focus on giving up oil heating. You can find the link to join the Oil from renewables webinar on the website.

When it is safe to organize events again, training will also be organized traditionally. You can also invite a project employee to be a guest speaker at your own event, if energy matters are of interest.

Go to South Karelia! - the project is implemented by the Imatra regional environmental agency and the Lappeenranta regional environmental agency. The project implementation period is March 1.3.2020, 31.12.2022–December 350, 000. The project's budget is €XNUMX and it is financed by the Rural Development Program of Mainland Finland of the Southeast Finland ELY Center.

For more information:
Project leader Anna-Maija Wikström, Hilarious to South Karelia! project, 020 617 4320, anna-maija.wikstromimatra.fi (anna-maija[dot]wikstrom[at]imatra[dot]fi)
Project worker, Tanja Nyholm, Hike to South Karelia! project, 040 703 3366, tanja.nyholmlappeenranta.fi (tanja[dot]nyholm[at]lappeenranta[dot]fi)