Reducing Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint of Second Home Living
"The Laiturilla 3 project promotes the energy efficiency and use of renewable energy in second homes in South Savo, as well as achieving climate goals and low carbon by offering energy advice to second-homers. The project also develops new service concepts for remote working."
When promoting energy efficiency measures and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, second home living, which is the largest in South Savo in Finland, must also be taken into account. There are more or less the same number of permanent residential buildings and second homes in the region. The carbon footprint of second homes in South Savo amounts to 2000 kg CO2e per second home in terms of electricity consumption. Most of the second homes’ energy consumption comes from heating, and about 40% of the second homes have at least basic heating on in winter. There is a clear need for energy efficiency measures in second home living.
The Laiturilla 3 project promotes the energy efficiency and use of renewable energy in second homes in South Savo, as well as achieving climate goals and low carbon by offering energy advice to second-homers. The project also develops new service concepts for remote working. The project aims to reduce emissions of traffic related to second home living. The project strengthens South Savo’s position as a promoter of sustainable holiday home living.
As a result of the project, the energy efficiency of second homes in South Savo has improved, the use of renewable energy in second home living has increased, and the second-homers of South Savo are forerunners in their use. Achieving climate goals and low carbon has been promoted. New service concepts have been developed for supporting remote working to extend the stay at second homes, thus reducing emissions of traffic connected with second home living. The connected parking experiment related to second home living is the first one of its kind in Finland, and it opens up new opportunities for reducing emissions, building up services and business as well as the development of transport connections. Second-homers’ understanding and awareness of sustainable second home living as well as their own choices and opportunities for influence have grown.
Energy advice for second homes will be available in 2024–2025.
For communication, information and guidance we use the existing Laiturilla.fi website and social media channel, aimed at second-homers in South Savo.
