Frequent cottage visits in winter generate as much in emissions as do trips to far-off countries
According to calculations commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and made by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), frequent cottage visits in the winter by two persons can generate as much carbon dioxide as is produced by a trip to Thailand.
During a trip to far-off countries, emissions result from air travel, while the emissions generated by cottage visits largely result from the use of heating systems. In addition, driving to the cottage and back also causes plenty of greenhouse-gas emissions.
The Finns' desire to go to the countryside threatens to consume increasing amounts of energy in the future, when well-equipped holiday homes, fit for winter use, replace today’s modest cabins-in-the-woods.
More carbon dioxide emissions will be caused by recreational driving, including trips to free time activities and cultural events.
In terms of annual consumption, cottage visits consume as much energy as the planned sixth nuclear plant would produce in approximately six weeks. Some two-thirds of the energy would be used for car trips, and the rest would be required for the heating of holiday homes.
One in five cottages have a basic electric heating system in operation in the winter months, in order to keep the indoor temperature well above zero. In new cottages the share is three-fifths.
However, researcher Pekka Lahti from VTT does not regard it as sensible that cottages which are very little used are heated in the winter without any adjustment. He is involved in a project led by the Work Efficiency Institute (TTS), the aim of which is to improve the energy efficiency of holiday homes.
Measures to reduce the electricity bill include good insulation and reduced heating. Another way to create savings would be to reduce the number of cottage visits.
The Technical University of Tampere has looked into replacing the basic heating by another method, which would keep the temperature inside a building always some degrees above the outdoor temperature. According to preliminary tests, the buildings have not suffered from damp and mildew.
According to researcher Juhani Heljo from the Technical University of Tampere, the new heating method could reduce the energy consumption of a cottage almost by half.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 8.9.2008 - TODAY |
 Frequent cottage visits in winter generate as much in emissions as do trips to far-off countries |
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