housing company KIRJOSIEPPO

DON’T LET HEAT ESCAPE

Calto, member of QMG, was closely involved when housing company “Kirjosieppo” in Turku renewed its energy system. The project was carried out in connection with the renovation of the property’s water and wastewater network. In two years, the benefits of the solution were confirmed. The housing company switched to a hybrid model, where district heat was supplemented by an exhaust air heat pump recovery system.

The design and supervision of the energy system renewal project was done by Jussi Virta from Calto, who also attended the site meetings.

– We were engaged in the project already when the description of the technical system was made. Based on the plan, we made a turnkey contract with the housing company. It makes sense to carry out the energy system renewal in conjunction with the pipeline renovation, since, for example, all the excavation and construction work needed on the site can be carried out at the same time. In addition, the heat pump system requires increased electrical power, and this can easily be taken into account in the renovation of the main switchboard and power supply.

Property manager stresses the importance of an initial survey

– In the Kirjosieppo case, the solution is based on two heat pumps located in the heat room of one of the four houses. From there, underground piping runs to the other three buildings. The liquid circulation risers follow the same routes in the stairwell alongside the water piping.

– In the preliminary plan, the building elevations had a heat recovery unit in the existing exhaust air chambers. However, the space was not adequate, and therefore it was decided to place the fan and the heat recovery unit on the waterproof roof. In addition, a solution was created to place the filters of the heat recovery units in the exhaust air chamber to facilitate maintenance. On the roof of each house there is one exhaust fan, through which the heat recovery is managed.

– The increase in electricity consumption is always taken into account in the savings calculation. While paying for the investment during the first years, the housing company needs to pay less to the district heating company. This way they can cover the increased electricity costs and the loan repayments as well as the interest on the investment, confirms Virta.

Vesa Keskilä has been the property manager of Housing Company Kirjosieppo since 2018. He has a long career in property management having been in the industry for 27 years. Keskilä has ten years of experience in heat recovery and hybrid models of housing company systems.

– Everyone understands that if heat is generated, it should be recovered. Otherwise, heat will be wasted. Finding the right alternative is more difficult. Therefore, it is valuable to have consultants who are experts in their field and who produce calculations and bring different solution models to the attention of housing companies.

Keskilä stresses that it should be kept in mind that every housing company is different and each of them needs to investigate which solution fits them best.

– Energy solutions should be weighed in all older blocks of flats. My advice is to carefully assess the baseline situation and to critically evaluate the alternatives. There are various options, but which solution is most beneficial depends mostly on the size and technology of the building. It is remarkable that in most cases it is possible to carry out similar renewal projects in such an administrative and economical manner that it does not result in a compounding effect on the housing maintenance charges. There are no quick wins, but once the investment has been paid back due to the savings, the benefits will accrue to the shareholders of the housing company.

Energy solutions should be weighed in all older blocks of flats. My advice is to carefully assess the baseline situation and to critically evaluate the alternatives.

Vesa Keskilä, property manager, Varsinais-Suomen Isännöintitalo Oy

A successful project delivers the expected results

Eero Turpeinen, Chairman of the Board of Housing Company “Kirjosieppo”, has been a resident in Kirjosieppo since 2003.

– The board discussed different alternatives in connection with the renovation of the water and wastewater network and we used an external expert. The project plan was prepared on that basis. The installation of a heat recovery system was included sort of naturally. Of course, cost reduction is an important factor, but so is the possibility of introducing geothermal heating later on.

– In our case, the whole project went well also from the point of view of the residents. The annual efficiency ratio was the reason for the decision and the costs have, in fact, decreased. Thus, the results were exactly what we were out for, confirms Turpeinen.

Ari Laanti was involved in the Kirjosieppo project as a consultant. He acted as a supervisor on behalf of the housing company.

Housing Company ”Kirjosieppo”, Turku, Laukkavuori area, address Västäräkinpolku 3
Privately owned, built 1971
4 seven-storey blocks of flats. Total of 128 flats.
Original energy solution: district heat
Installation of air heat pump system in connection with the renovation of the water and wastewater network in 2018–2019

Design and implementation of the heating and sanitation solution: Calto Oy
Technical construction works: Albi Oy

In the picture: Vesa Keskilä and Jussi Virta