Three campuses, long winters: how Lapland UAS manages energy consumption across its properties

Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lapland UAS) describes itself on its Finnish website as a “hero of circumstances – an example of succeeding because of conditions, not despite them.”

The three campuses in Rovaniemi, Kemi and Tornio, Finland, are spread across long distances and the northern climate brings its own demands to property management. Pekka Latvala, Head of Real Estate at Lapland UAS, oversees the campuses with the support of facility services.

“What makes us distinctive as an institution is our location in the north. We have longer winters, but also rapid changes in climate,” Latvala says. Challenging conditions also encourage developing better ways of working.

“Energy efficiency is at the core. It is important to find new solutions that bring down major costs. You need to know your costs and be prepared for them. When you can see several years of historical data, you can build smart budgets,” he continues.

Energy efficiency is at the core. It is important to find new solutions that bring down major costs. You need to know your costs and be prepared for them.

Pekka Latvala, Head of Real Estate, Lapland UAS

Energy consumption monitoring steers energy efficiency work

Lapland UAS is a frontrunner in energy efficiency in its sector. It joined the Finnish Energy Efficiency Agreement*, coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, in 2020, achieved excellent results and committed to the new agreement period that started at the beginning of this year.

Energy consumption monitoring is key to improving efficiency. At Lapland UAS, this is carried out using the real estate management software Granlund Manager, guided by Granlund’s energy experts. Monitoring covers electricity, heating and water consumption.

Remote meter reading for electricity has been in use for over a decade. Water consumption is tracked through meters and Smartvatten’s digital monitoring system while heating energy data comes directly from utility operators. All data is consolidated in the energy management tool within Granlund Manager’s ESG solution, where it steers concrete action.

Energy efficiency improves through continuous development. At Lapland UAS, tap mixers have been adjusted for better efficiency. During the energy crisis in 2023, building temperatures were lowered by one degree – a measure Latvala describes as having an enormous impact.

Energy monitoring and the Energy Efficiency Agreement have brought clear improvements. The reports and actions taken during the previous agreement period speak for themselves: all targets were met.

Climate change is bringing new questions to these latitudes, including cooling – not a typical concern this far north, but one that will require more attention in the future. “Conditions in our buildings always need to be right,” Latvala says.

Reliable data underpins Energy Efficiency Agreement reporting

Organisations committed to the Finnish Energy Efficiency Agreement report their consumption data annually against their individual savings targets. Before reporting, the data is verified and completed where needed.

“The figures are easy to check and can be trusted, because all data is based on readings consolidated in Granlund Manager. Meters can be read automatically and figures can also be verified against invoices,” Latvala explains.

Lapland UAS’s sustainability team uses the same data to calculate and report the university’s annual carbon footprint.

A deviation in the data triggers a process

Granlund’s Energy Management Service Manager Sanni Laurinmäki and energy specialist Eemeli Sippola monitor Lapland UAS’s energy data in Granlund Manager and review any deviations and alerts flagged by the system.

A deviation triggers a joint process that gets maintenance and repairs moving quickly. Latvala describes the collaboration as smooth. He says it helps avoid the extra costs that water leaks, for example, can cause.

“All public buildings should have this kind of automation. If water is leaking somewhere over an entire weekend, the damage can be extensive,” Latvala says.

All public buildings should have this kind of automation. If water is leaking somewhere over an entire weekend, the damage can be extensive.

Pekka Latvala, Head of Real Estate, Lapland UAS

Fault reports are an important part of good property management

Granlund Manager is also used daily at Lapland UAS for Service requests. Anyone on campus can submit a fault report directly from the premises, with no separate login required.

Latvala values the low threshold for reporting. It brings more eyes to the buildings alongside automated monitoring — the building users themselves. Issues reach the facilities manager and outsourced maintenance team quickly, and prioritising action is handled efficiently in Granlund Manager.

We are very satisfied with Granlund Manager. The system works well because, in addition to automation, it has all the processes and tools needed for the daily work of facility services and maintenance.

Pekka Latvala, kiinteistöpäällikkö, Lapin AMK

Data informs decisions for years ahead

Lapland UAS also uses Granlund Manager for long-term capital planning (PTS). Based on energy monitoring data, a water chiller has already been replaced, and investments in areas such as modernising the ventilation systems are being planned.

“It is important to have data. It tells you how old the equipment is and how it is performing. As we commit to the new Energy Efficiency Agreement, we are now drawing up new action plans,” Latvala says.

*The Finnish Energy Efficiency Agreement is a voluntary programme coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Both private and public sector organisations can join. Participants commit to improving their energy efficiency through quantitative savings targets based on their own energy use.