Hyvän Olon Keskus in Pudasjärvi to pilot the Ministry of the Environment’s new carbon footprint assessment method

YIT Corporation Press release, November 28, 2019, at 07:00 a.m. 

A new carbon footprint assessment method developed by the Ministry of the Environment will be piloted at the Hyvän Olon Keskus in Pudasjärvi. Carbon footprint calculation provides information on a property’s full life cycle climate impact.  

YIT will be responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the Hyvän Olon Keskus for a period of 20 years.  

“It is a very interesting opportunity for us to participate in the development of this national calculation method, deepen our understanding and obtain the latest information on our project. YIT will be involved in the full life cycle of the Hyvän Olon Keskus, and we are eager to identify opportunities for reducing the carbon footprint and also to take advantage of the results of the carbon footprint calculation in the design, implementation and maintenance of subsequent projects,” says Marko Palonen, Regional Director, Building Construction, Northern Finland at YIT. 

“Pudasjärvi is a pioneer in public sector timber construction in Finland. Piloting a carbon footprint assessment method is an excellent fit with our priorities. Participating in the development of the method with our largest construction project to date is important in many ways,” says Tomi Timonen, Mayor of Pudasjärvi. 

Making the carbon footprint transparent through shared rules 

Buildings have life cycles of tens — or sometimes even hundreds — of years, which is why understanding the full life cycle carbon footprint is so important. The carbon footprint also helps piece together a building’s total climate impact instead of focusing simply on energy consumption or energy efficiency. However, the use of many different calculation methods makes it difficult to compare the results.  

The carbon footprint assessment method for buildings developed by the Ministry of the Environment aims to facilitate the consistent calculation of the climate impacts of construction. The assessment method has been developed in cooperation with construction industry experts since 2017, when the Ministry of the Environment published a road map for low-carbon construction with the goal of incorporating the carbon footprint of buildings into regulatory processes. The piloting of the method began in autumn 2019 and the objective is to determine the degree to which the assessment method developed by the Ministry of the Environment is suited for use in normal design and construction projects. 

“The Ministry of the Environment’s calculation procedures are expected to harmonise operating practices and significantly increase the popularity of carbon footprint calculation. During the 2020s, the calculation method is expected to become a regulatory tool much like the E factor has already become a regulatory tool in the context of energy efficiency,” says Juhani Huuhtanen from Green Building Partners Oy, which is partnering the Hyvän Olon Keskus in carbon footprint calculation.  

The Ministry of the Environment selected 15 pilot projects as recipients of financial support for carbon footprint calculation and reporting. The projects include public and private construction projects across Finland. The Hyvän Olon Keskus in Pudasjärvi was also granted financial support for piloting the method.  

Hyvän Olon Keskus will benefit everyone in Pudasjärvi 

The Hyvän Olon Keskus in Pudasjärvi will include facilities for healthcare, rehabilitation, social services, culture and youth services as well as a library. The property will also include three business facilities. The project has been designed with a full life cycle perspective and timber will be used for the majority of the construction. 

“Timber construction is an eco-friendly choice thanks to its long service life, which makes it perfect for public buildings. In addition, the life cycle model enables us to comprehensively ensure the functionality of the site and the service level required by the operations in an environmentally friendly manner,” says Hannu Soikkeli, Director of Life Cycle Projects at YIT. 

Construction began in August 2019 and the new premises will be opened in September 2021.  

“The City of Pudasjärvi is interested in the life cycle of buildings and the end use of wood material. The city will continue to implement the City Council’s policy decision to first consider timber whenever a public construction project is planned. This research project linked to the Hyvän Olon Keskus supports the city’s goals and the ongoing assessment of the eco-friendliness of wood construction,” says Mayor Tomi Timonen. 

For further information, please contact:  
Marko Palonen, Building Construction, Northern Finland, YIT, tel. +358 50 583 9472, marko.palonen@yit.fi 

Arja Korhonen, Communications Manager, YIT, tel. +358 40 554 5806, arja.korhonen@yit.fi  

Tomi Timonen, Mayor, City of Pudasjärvi, tel. +358 50 454 8230, tomi.timonen@pudasjarvi.fi  

YIT is the largest Finnish and significant North European construction company. We develop and build apartments and living services, business premises and entire areas. We are also specialised in demanding infrastructure construction and paving. Together with our customers, our nearly 10,000 professionals are creating more functional, attractive and sustainable cities and environments. We work in 11 countries: Finland, Russia, Scandinavia, Baltic Countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The new YIT was born when over 100-year-old YIT Corporation and Lemminkäinen Corporation merged on February 1, 2018. Our restated pro forma revenue for 2018 was approximately EUR 3.2 billion. YIT Corporation’s share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy. www.yitgroup.com