Aallonharja’s ventilation savings exceed expectations – Expanded to other Areim properties

Customer's savings per year (all properties):

-36
tCO2

Carbon Footprint

-254
MWh

Energy Consumption

-17,454
€

Energy Costs

2,7
years

Payback Time

Reduction in airflow rate
-55
%

The FlowHero demand control ventilation system was installed in Areim Ab’s Aallonharja commercial property in spring 2023. The property houses two restaurants: Waves by Dylan, which serves local employees, and a student cafeteria for Haukilahden High School. The project aimed to reduce the energy consumption of the kitchen ventilation systems and decrease the building’s carbon footprint.

Initial assessments predicted significant energy and cost savings, as well as a short payback period. Now, over a year later, Safera Oy, the supplier of the FlowHero demand control system, has provided Areim with a report on the achieved energy savings.

The results exceeded the original estimates. Based on the success and positive experiences, Areim decided to expand the use of the FlowHero system to its other properties, and preliminary savings estimates for those sites also look promising.

Read the original article here: Aallonharja Customer Story – Estimated savings.

Energy consumption and carbon emissions reduced beyond estimates

When the FlowHero system was implemented at Aallonharja, the initial goal was to achieve significant energy savings and reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Now, with the results clear, the data collected from the property shows that the benefits of the project have been greater than anticipated.

Summary of Aallonharja’s estimates versus actual performance:

  • Carbon footprint: Estimate 20 tCO2 → Actual 28.8 tCO2 (44% better)
  • Energy savings: Estimate 130 MWh → Actual 190,708 kWh (47% better)
  • Payback period: Estimate 1.5 years → Actual 2 years

The carbon footprint reduction was 44% greater than initially predicted. Similarly, the energy savings were nearly 50% higher than originally expected. In addition to the savings, the FlowHero system has maintained excellent indoor air quality and work conditions for kitchen staff, demonstrating that improving energy efficiency in kitchen ventilation can be achieved without compromising air quality.

Although the payback period was slightly longer than expected (2 years compared to the initial estimate of 1.5 years), due to fluctuating energy costs and revised investment figures, the greater energy savings and reduced emissions clearly offset this difference. The project proved to be highly cost-effective within just a few years, with significant long-term savings.

Overall, the project’s results have exceeded the original estimates significantly, so despite a slightly longer payback period, the investment has been quickly profitable.

Areim extends FlowHero to more properties, saving 250 MWh of energy annually

Areim is committed to promoting sustainability principles across all its properties. The company’s strategy focuses on reducing environmental impacts, improving energy efficiency, and lowering the carbon footprint across its entire property portfolio. The results achieved with FlowHero at Aallonharja directly support Areim’s sustainability goals and align with the company’s values of responsible development.

Based on the positive experience at Aallonharja, Areim decided to expand the use of the FlowHero system to other properties in Finland. FlowHero has already been in use for several months at Vallila Corner and Kravattitehdas, and preliminary data suggests similar energy savings as at Aallonharja.

In total, Areim is saving approximately 250 MWh (-76%) of the ventilation energy consumption from its four restaurant kitchens – thanks to the FlowHero system:

  • Carbon footprint: Reduced by 36 tonnes CO2 annually (59% savings)
  • Energy consumption: Reduced by 253,805 kWh annually (76% savings)
  • Cost savings: €17,454 annually (59% savings compared to previous costs)
  • Exhaust air volume: Reduced by 55%
  • Total investment: €47,253
  • Payback period: 2.7 years for the entire investment

Annual report confirmed the investment’s profitability and provided valuable insights into property usage

In addition to Aallonharja’s positive results, Areim’s decision to expand the FlowHero system to other properties was influenced by the smooth collaboration and the comprehensive analysis and annual report provided by Safera, based on the data collected by the FlowHero system.

Hannu Tammia, Aallonharja’s asset manager, was particularly pleased with how Safera’s analyses of the data provided by FlowHero on kitchen usage and air quality helped with property management. The reports demonstrated how the usage of the restaurant spaces influenced ventilation needs and energy consumption, aiding in ensuring tenant satisfaction.

The annual report also analyzed the difference in exhaust air volumes between the timer-controlled and demand control systems. Despite the fact that a comprehensive energy efficiency project had just been completed at the property, where the ventilation timers were optimized based on estimated needs and design documents, the demand control system still delivered a further 87% reduction in exhaust air volumes.

Safera FlowHero data analysis dishwashing area

Another example of the value provided by FlowHero’s data was the analysis of the usage profile of the Haukilahden High School cafeteria. It revealed that a significant portion of energy savings comes from school holidays and public holidays. As is common, a weekly schedule had been set on the timer at Aallonharja, which didn’t account for holidays or public breaks.

Safera FlowHero data analysis yearly view

Optimizing the timer based on holiday schedules is challenging since these dates vary every year, and the kitchen’s opening hours during holiday periods can fluctuate. However, the FlowHero system monitors kitchen usage and air quality 24/7, every day of the year, ensuring there is no need to manually adjust for exceptional opening hours.

Areim’s asset manager Hannu Tammia was highly satisfied with the annual report:

“I have to say, it’s a real pleasure working with you. There’s a positive attitude, but also strong expertise. The way you’ve presented everything is excellent. It’s easy to understand what’s happening in the building and what can be done to improve energy savings and tenant satisfaction.”

This collaboration highlights how, in addition to energy savings, FlowHero also brings benefits to property management. The system provides property owners with a comprehensive understanding of how spaces function and how their usage can be optimized both in terms of energy efficiency and overall occupancy. This added value was a key factor in the decision to extend the system to Areim’s other properties.

The annual report detailed the various sources of energy savings. The majority of savings came from redused heating energy, which is typical in colder climates like Finland.

  • Heating energy: Across all properties, the majority of energy savings came from redused heating energy use. In most cases, heating energy accounted for 80–94% of total energy savings.
  • Fans: The contribution of fans to energy savings ranged from 4–16%, depending on the property.
  • Cooling energy: Cooling energy contributed only a small portion of the savings in all properties, typically just 1–5%.
FlowHero sources of energy savings

FlowHero supports Areim’s carbon neutrality goals across its property portfolio

The FlowHero project at Aallonharja exceeded the original savings estimates and demonstrated how intelligent demand control can generate significant environmental and cost benefits. In addition to reducing energy consumption and the carbon footprint, FlowHero provided valuable insights into building usage, helping Areim better understand energy consumption and optimize operations.

Aallonharja’s success has led Areim to expand the FlowHero system to other properties. The initial results from these properties are already promising. The FlowHero system helps Areim achieve significant energy savings and supports the company’s carbon neutrality goals across its entire property portfolio.

FlowHero’s demand control is an example of modern, smart building technology that reduces the environmental impact of buildings, simplifies their management, and delivers long-term financial savings with a rapid payback period.

See also: