Energy-efficient housing

The energy consumption in buildings stand for some 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden, which can be compared to the US with 40 percent.

“Our greatest challenge is making our properties more energy-efficient”, says Martin Ölmedal, Environmental manager in Property Management.

Continuous optimization

Martin Ölmedal, Wallfast

Wallfast is already self-sufficient when it comes to electricity, from their own production of wind- and solar power. Food waste turns into bioenergy. And the heat consumption is reduced by heat pumps which recycles the energy from ventilation. Another climate smart solution, not yet fully developed, is batteries to store surplus energy from solar power for later use.

“Most importantly, we mustn’t install modern technology and forget about it. That is why we constantly optimize. We monitor and measure its impact, and always try to find new ways to maximize the efficiency of our installations with follow-ups and training of our users”, says Martin Ölmedal.

Ambitious environmental goals

Sustainability is nothing new for Wallfast. The real estate company received its ISO 14001 certificate already in 2002, and in 2009 set the target to reduce heat consumption in the buildings by 8 percent by 2015. The goal had been achieved before that year was over with a reduction of 12 percent.

2020 the targets were to reduce heat consumption by 20 percent, electricity by 5 percent and the unsorted waste reduced by 30 percent compared to 2009.

“Energy is our largest expense. Working with sustainability in real estate, you soon realise that it becomes harder to find solutions which give large effects but to a reasonable cost. Hopefully, new technological solutions can take us even further in the future”, says Carl Talling Real Estate Market Director at Wallfast.