Messukeskus Helsinki, Expo and Convention Centre, will take part in the WWF’s Earth Hour by switching off all its lights on Saturday 26 of March from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm. All the lights outdoors, in the exhibition halls, meeting rooms, corridors, hallways and billboards will be switched off.
As an already globally acknowledged phenomenon, Earth Hour aims at saving energy and making people more aware of their energy-consuming habits.
Climate actions and recognized energy efficiency
In the past few years, a lot of effort has been put into environmental issues at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. Work is spurted by a responsibility goal: 110% carbon neutrality by 2029. The goal will be achieved by reducing energy consumption, increasing the share of renewable energy, and recycling and making responsible purchases.
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre uses the latest building service technology: solar power, geothermal heating, district cooling, heat recovery and LED technology.
In 2019, opened one of the largest solar power plants in Helsinki on the hall roofs of the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. Solar panels produce 533 MWh of energy per year. This equals the amount of energy needed to make 6.4 million pots of coffee. The solar power plant was implemented in cooperation with Helen Ltd, and it will increase the share of renewable energy in energy consumption. At the same time, the need for cooling will decrease, as the solar panels on the roof prevent the heat of the sun from reaching the building.
All the facilities are equipped with recycling opportunities. 99 % of waste is reused and an environmental supervisor offers assistance to the customers during assembly and disassembly.
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is committed to reducing its carbon footprint as part of the Climate Partners network of the City of Helsinki and companies. It also actively participates in the Think Sustainably network of the City of Helsinki and has been awarded in the Sustainable Travel Finland programme by Visit Finland.
It was the first venue and event organiser in Finland to receive the ISO 14001 environment certificate in 2009.
