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nolla_E in the KIRA Growth Program: Renovation as a driver for low-carbon construction

  • niinasoinila
  • Sep 9
  • 3 min read
ree

The KIRA Growth Program, launched in 2022, is a nationwide initiative for the built environment in Finland. Its mission is to promote sustainable business and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon real estate and construction sector. Coordinated by KIRA Forum and key industry players, the program serves as a collaboration platform for companies, municipalities, research institutions, and other stakeholders.


The program is built around experiments, pilots, and challenges designed to address urgent industry questions such as energy efficiency, material reuse, and emissions reduction. The aim is to bring promising innovations quickly into practice and to the market.


#KIRAhaaste brought forward pioneering solutions


In early 2025, the program launched the #KIRAhaaste (engl. #KIRAchallenge), a challenge competition to find replicable, low-carbon renovation solutions. Renovation plays a central role, since the building stock renews slowly – and it is during renovations that significant emission and cost savings can be achieved.


The challenge attracted a wide range of companies, and at the final event on 29 August 2025, more than ten solutions were pitched. Participants included Avarrus Architects, A-Insinöörit, Fira, Hiil, Planera, Skanska, SteelLeanel, Sustera Finland, Sweco, Lunden Architecture Company, studio MPRA, EcoMender, Make a BIM and nolla_E.


Case example: Re-engineering of energy flows saved more than 67,000 kg CO₂


Nikolas Salomaa, CEO and founder of nolla_E, highlighted in his pitch a perspective often overlooked: the share of building services (HVAC, systems, etc.) in the material emissions of buildings.


Estimates suggest that up to 40% of building-related material emissions come from technical building systems. This means reuse and recycling of building services can significantly cut both carbon footprints and investment costs.


As an example, Salomaa presented a 1940’s multi-purpose building at the end of its lifecycle for technical systems.


Original plan: 

  • Transition to geothermal heating

  • Investment: €2.3 million.


nolla_E’s simulation solution: 

  • The software analyzed over 110,000 measure combinations and identified a solution that reduced peak load from 1.45 MW to 556 kW. 

  • Lifecycle costs were halved (from €8M to €4.2M), and the payback time was 2.6 years.


Reused ventilation units (from 2008 and 2014) and a chiller further cut costs. In fact, the final investment came in €118,000 under the budget, with a payback period of virtually zero.Avoided manufacturing emissions: ventilation units: 50,600 kg CO₂, heat pumps: 16,974 kg CO₂. 


Total savings: over 67,000 kg CO₂ – equivalent to more than 400 round trips between Helsinki and Oulu by plane.

An audience member asked: “How are the maintenance costs of reused equipment taken into account?” Salomaa emphasized that nolla_E’s simulations always include these costs, ensuring comparisons with conventional solutions remain realistic and reliable for decision-making.


Looking ahead


The KIRAhaaste event showed that low-carbon renovation is already achievable today. nolla_E continues piloting circular solutions for building services across the Nordics, applying lessons learned with clients and partners.



Our goal is clear: to make low-carbon renovation the rule rather than the exception – delivering both environmental and economic benefits.


Learn more about the KIRA Growth Program: kirafoorumi.fi/kira-kasvuohjelma

 
 
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