Varma | Jumalniemi

The energy renovation of the Jumalniemi shopping centre in Kotka, Finland, improved the building’s conditions and reduced its carbon footprint. What is exceptional is how well the energy efficiency measures fitted into the building’s PTS plan. The broadening of the perspective significantly improved the return on investment.

“We would have had to modernise building automation anyway. Now we did it as part of an energy renovation and cut the property’s carbon emissions by 32 tonnes,” says Tytti Juhokas, Account Manager at Varma.

The building automation and ventilation in the Varma-owned shopping centre was modernised. In addition, 160 kWP solar panels were installed on the roof and the parking lot lighting was upgraded to LED.

“Many of our tenants are active on climate issues. The Godniemi energy efficiency project is very much in line with what they are doing.”

Varma has an ambitious target to zero the carbon footprint of its buildings in terms of electricity and heat by 2030. The renovation of the Jumalniemi shopping centre and other Varma properties is an important step towards the climate target of zero emissions of electricity and heat from the company’s properties by 2025 and 2030 respectively. To achieve this goal, Varma, together with LeaseGeen’s experts, will systematically review its entire property portfolio, including those properties that initially seem challenging.

LeaseGreen designed the energy renovation of the Jumalniemi shopping centre and was responsible for its implementation and results and system optimisation. For reasons of profitability, geothermal was ultimately excluded from the energy renovation of the Jumalniemi shopping centre. It would not have been an economically viable solution in this case, even if it would have made the building carbon neutral.