Lappeenranta Greenreality – a green and active Lappeenranta

• The city of Lappeenranta is reducing the environmental impacts of its operations. The city was the first municipality in Finland to participate in the WWF Earth Hour City Challenge, in which the candidate cities are assessed on the basis of their contributions to climate protection. Lappeenranta was among the 14 best cities in the world.
• Lappeenranta has the most advanced green university in Finland. Green Campus has also been awarded internationally. Green Campus encourages the city to invest in improving the state of the environment.
• The city of Lappeenranta has joined the HINKU network of carbon neutral municipalities. The aim is to reduce GHG emissions by 80% from the 2007 level, by 2030.
• Finland’s first inland wind farm has been constructed in Muukko in Lappeenranta by TuuliMuukko Oy.
• The Port of Lappeenranta is developing a green harbour for Lappeenranta – Green Marina Lappeenranta.
• Lappeenrannan Energia Oy generates low-carbon district heating energy and electricity in partnership with Kaukaan Voima Oy. Kaukaan Voima Oy is helping Lappeenrannan Energia Oy generate environmentally friendly district heating energy and electricity.
• Lappeenrannan Energia Oy is also constructing a 50 kW solar power plant on its site in Simolantie.
• The ENNE project provides impartial advice on energy saving solutions, in the South Karelia region.
• Through the Green Energy Showroom,companies showcase their own solutions for cleaner energy generation.
• Etelä-Karjalan Jätehuolto Oy uses environmentally friendly waste treatment methods and contributes to the development of waste recycling. Its recycling rate is one of the highest in Finland, at around 90% in Lappeenranta.
• The Lappeenranta Region Environmental Office is constructing wetlands for the treatment of stormwater runoff in order to reduce the load on the waters of Pien-Saimaa. More information on the improvement of water quality in Pien-Saimaa.
• The City of Lappeenranta Educational Services has three schools and one day-care centre, which have received the Eco-Schools Green Flag certificate, and one school certified by the OKKA Foundation (Sammonlahti School). Green Flag schools incorporate environmental issues and sustainable development as part of the school’s everyday activities. Read more
• The city has arranged its public transport services and routes through competitive tendering, and organises free events. The number of users has been increasing.
• The city of Lappeenranta has joined the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s Energy Efficiency Agreements. The practical implementation of the agreements has already exceeded the objectives.
• Cycling and walking is promoted through the national PYKÄLÄ project, by improving the bicycle routes, in terms of traffic flow and signage. Lappeenranta is Cycling City of the Year 2015.
• The city of Lappeenrannan is investing more than € 2 million on making its street lighting more energy efficient (11,000 lamps).
• Many other projects and activities are also ongoing in the city that promote energy-efficiency, combat climate change and improve the state of the environment.