The city searches for households to test services of sustainable living

Earth's resources and climate change advance in a rapid pace. How does it affect everyday life in Finland and what kind of goods and services are needed for a sustainable lifestyle? The city of Lappeenranta searches for households to experiment with these goods and services for a month's test period during autumn. Also companies who can provide goods and services for participants to test during the test period are looked for.

The experiment is part of the Greenreality Homes activity that aims to encourage the households of Lappeenranta to reduce their carbon footprint and move towards a more sustainable way of living. Greenreality Homes act as a pioneer of sustainable living in Lappeenranta. Greenreality Homes have their own Facebook group where members can share their experiences and everyday stories on a sustainable lifestyle, in hopes that it will create a sense of community for its members.

The search for households is now in progress

The city arranges a test period on 21.9.–20.10.2019 for voluntary households. During the month, the households experiment with products and actions supporting a sustainable way of living, and live their everyday life with a smaller carbon footprint.

The households count their current carbon and material footprint and compose a roadmap for reducing their footprint together with experts during a workshop on 2 September. From the roadmap, households can pick objects and services that they want to experiment with during the test period, says Sanna Laukkanen, an expert from the city's Greenreality services.

The members can experiment with sustainable and affordable mobility, home delivery services, low-carb diets and instructions and services concerning the energy efficiency an sustainable consumption of the home, for instance.

Households of all sizes are welcome to join the experiment, be it a large family home, a shared apartment or a studio, and it can similarly be a high-rise building or a detached house, and be located in the city or in the country. The household doesn't require previous participation in Greenrelity Homes activity.

The wish is that some of the households participating would like to share their experiences for the media and the greenreality.fi website and thus act as an example for other households in Lappeenranta.

Companies and communities are searched as collaborators

Also companies that can offer different goods and services concerning sustainable living, mobility, eating and consumption are searched for the test period. The goods or services can either be used by the households for the entire experiment or a shorter period of time.

In addition to companies, also communities that can offer instructions concerning sustainable living and eating for example, are wished to join the experiment.

The companies and communities participating gain visibility for their product or service provided, growth for their business and visibility as a contributor to sustainable development.

The search for the companies and communities for the test period continues until 23.8.2019.
The workshop will be arranged 2.9.2019 and the test period during 21.9.-20.10.2019.

THE REGISTRATION FORM FOR HOUSEHOLDS
THE REGISTRATION FOR COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES

More information:

The city of Lappeenranta, Greenreality services
Expert Sanna Laukkanen
+358 50 5326 187, sanna.laukkanen@lappeenranta.fi

D-mat Oy
CEO and expert on sustainable development Michael Lettenmeier
+358 40 5412 876, michael@d-mat.fi

Greenreality Homes–activity and the participation of citizens in a sustainable way of living is developed in the Greenreality Homes and Companies project. The project is pioneered by the city of Lappeenranta and Lappeenranta University of Technology. It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the city of Lappeenranta and Lappeenranta University of Technology. The Greenreality Homes test period is also part of the international Sustainable lifestyles accelerator.

The Sustainable lifestyles accelerator works in seven countries. From Finland, in addition to Lappeenranta, also Porvoo, Vantaa, Kuopio, Valkeakoski, Lahti, Kauniainen, Helsinki and Joensuu are members. The goal is to get 500 Finnish households to join in 2019 altogether. The international project is coordinated by the German Wuppertal Intstitute and in Finland D-mat oy, with which Lappeenranta collaborates.