FlowHero helped our customer win the Energy Genius of the Year award
Real estate investor Areim has won the prestigious Energy Genius of the Year 2024 award by successfully halving the energy consumption of ventilation in its commercial kitchen spaces. The award was granted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Energy Authority, and Motiva as part of an annual competition.
One commercial kitchen hood can consume as much energy as a detached house
Commercial kitchens present a significant challenge in terms of energy consumption. A single kitchen hood in a restaurant can consume 15,000 kWh of energy annually—equivalent to the heating energy required for a medium-sized detached house. And most restaurants operate multiple hoods.
According to Motiva, over two-thirds of a restaurant kitchen’s energy is used for ventilation and heating. Traditional timer-based ventilation systems fail to adapt to varying kitchen usage, often resulting in excessive exhaust airflow and wasted energy. Safera FlowHero adjusts ventilation to match actual kitchen usage. The system monitors kitchen activity and air quality in real-time, optimizing airflow as needed. This reduces energy consumption without compromising indoor air quality.
Areim reduced energy consumption by 250 MWh and CO2 emissions by 36 tons annually across three properties
The FlowHero system was first implemented at Areim’s Aallonharja property in Espoo during the spring of 2023. Following a successful pilot, Areim expanded the system to its other properties.
Areim now saves 250 megawatt-hours of energy and reduces CO2 emissions by 36 tons annually across three properties. As a result of demand-controlled ventilation, heating and ventilation costs have decreased by €17,500 per year, with the investment paying off in less than three years.
Results:
- Energy consumption reduced by 250 MWh annually
- CO2 emissions decreased by 36 tons annually
- Energy cost savings of €17,500 annually
- Payback period of less than 3 years
Recognition for a financially sustainable energy solution addressing a globally significant challenge
The award jury highlighted that demand-controlled ventilation for commercial kitchens sets an example for other property owners by demonstrating how the energy efficiency of existing buildings can be significantly improved through technical system upgrades. This can be achieved without extensive renovation projects and with a quick return on investment. Moreover, the solution is easy to replicate across new sites.
In Finland, there are over 10,000 commercial kitchens, which consume 5–7 times more energy per square meter than other commercial spaces. The issue is also significant globally: buildings account for approximately 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption and 36% of its energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Effective measures are crucial to achieving a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.
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See also:
FlowHero Case Study: Mandatum Niittytaival 13
In Mandatum’s office building, the kitchen ventilation was a compromise between energy efficiency and indoor air quality. It was upgraded to FlowHero’s demand control ventilation,
Aallonharja’s ventilation savings exceed expectations – Expanded to other Areim properties
In 2023, Areim upgraded the restaurant kitchens at Aallonharja with the FlowHero system, achieving significant energy savings and reducing the carbon footprint. Due to its