Hinku Award
The Finnish Environment Institute has awarded Hinku achievements since 2012. Hinku achievements are selected from among the measures carried out by municipalities in the Hinku network. They can be efforts carried out by the municipality, a company, an organisation or an individual. The awardee receives a certificate and publicity.
Hinku achievements are chosen based on criteria such as:
- The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
- Other advances, such as improved energy efficiency and energy self-sufficiency, economic benefits, an increase in employment, an increased sense of community, improved comfort of use and living, positive health impacts or other improvement in well-being
- A pioneering and active approach
- Collaborative effort
- The dissemination of information and practices that reduce emissions
Hinku Awards granted throughout the years
Hinku Awards have been granted since 2012. These are all of the acts that have received the award since the beginning.
2023
March: City of Seinäjoki
‘Tarkenoo iliman palttoota ja rasoja’ project of the City of Seinäjoki was awarded for its successful and exemplary operations to reduce the energy consumption of the city owned properties by reprogramming existing building automation systems.
January: Rautajärven seudun kylät Oy
Rautajärven seudun kylät Oy was awarded for exemplary operations in utilising old log houses in a climate friendly way. The activities of the association are also a model example of a community spirit that increases the vitality and well-being of the area.
2022
April: Reka Kaapeli Oy
Reka Kaapeli Oy was awarder for several notable actions it has taken to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. Reka Kaapeli Oy has stopped its deliveries to subjecs who build new fossil energy production, improved the durability and recyclability of its products, invested in solar energy, improved its energy efficiency, switched over to using emission-free electricity and replaced its diesel powered engines with electric motors, among other actions.
2019
October: Hiiden OpistoOpens in new window
Institute was awarded for raising awareness and teaching climate friendly lifestyle. They are actively advocating for carbon neutral activities and solutions.
September: Ylöjärvi ice arena
Ice stadium was awarded for installing environmentally friendly smart cooling system that uses CO2 as the refrigerant. This new technology is predicted to consume up to 30-40% less energy than those using traditional technologies.
August: IlmastoAreena
Climate Arena -event received an award for raising climate action awareness and inspiring everyone to take part in climate work. The event is open to all and is free of charge, is produced with the lowest possible emissions, utilizing renewable energy, sustainable mobility, and reused and reusable structures.
June: Kiilto Oy
Kiilto company was awarded for energy efficiency and renewable energy usage. The company is utilising waste heat from its polymerisation process as well as ground heat and cooling to heat and cool its plant facilities at the production plant in Lempäälä.
May: Asunto Oy Tampereen Pohjolankatu 18-20
Housing cooperative received an award for emission and energy reducing actions as well as selling excess heat to district heating.
April: Porvoo’s federation of parishes
Federation of parishes was awarded for changing to geothermal heating. The Church is committed to national as well as international work for mitigating climate change. As a local actor, we wish to carry out good environmental choices in our everyday life as far as possible.
March: Municipality of Pirkkala
Municipality of Pirkkala received an award for advancing low-emission transportation. Pirkkala is investing in climate-resilient low-carbon mobility, for example by creating a sustainable mobility promotion plan. Pirkkala is also taking a climate perspective in the development of the municipality’s building plan.
January: Saimaan Pallo (SaiPa) (in Finnish)Opens in new window
SaiPa ice hockey team changed to cars that run on biogas. The team wants to set an example and show that a sports team can and should also take part in climate work.
2018
December: Utajärven Pantterit (in Finnish)Opens in new window
Cycling team was awarded for using low emission transport method. They won a cycling competition for eight years in a row and set an example how sustainable transport can be fun and good for one’s health.
November: Farmer, researcher Tuomas Mattila (in Finnish)Opens in new window
Farmer received an award for introducing nutrient and CO2 absorbing farming methods. He has actively shared these methods to fellow farmers and thus helping Finland to increase its carbon sinks. The farm also uses renewable energy.
October: Mahnala environment school (in Finnish)Opens in new window
School was awarded for using renewable energy, being energy efficient and advancing environmental education.
September: City of Raahe (in Finnish)Opens in new window
City of Raahe was awarded for actively advocating and acting for energy efficiency and emission reduction. They are producing renewable energy more than their own need and thus lowering Finland’s energy productions emissions.
August: Regional Council of Pohjois-Karjala (in Finnish)Opens in new window
Regional council’s persevering climate work and supporting municipalities climate actions and increased sustainable business in the area.
June: Joensuu’s and Kirkkonummi’s federation of parishes (in Finnish)Opens in new window
Two federation of parishes were awarded for persevering climate work and reducing emissions coming from their property with smart technology and renewable energy.
May: Municipality of Ii
Municipality of received an award for their exemplary and long-term climate work. They are committed to reduce 80% of greenhouse gases from 2007 level by 2020, which is 30 years faster than European Union’s climate target. Municipal decision-makers are those who make possible these wise climate alignments inside the municipality.
April: Knehtilä’s organic farm (in Finnish)Opens in new window
Organic farm was awarded for their climate friendly farming methods, being a forerunner by introducing a low-carbon, nutrient and energy self-sufficient agroecological symbiosis model together with companies.
March: City of Hamina
City of Hamina received an award for installing an energy efficient LED lighting in a sports centre. Before the investment, the lighting consumed approximately 82,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year. The new lighting is estimated to consume almost 80% less electricity, making annual consumption approximately 17,200 kilowatt hours.
February: City of Hanko (in Finnish)
City of Hanko was awarded for moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy. They have installed 12 solar power plants to the roofs of their real estate.
January: City of Lappeenranta
City of Lappeenranta received an award for accelerating the usage of their cars as well as reducing transport emissions. They did this by introducing electric car sharing services
2017
December: Jorma Berg, Mika Ilvonen and Urpo Manninen (in Finnish)
Three individuals were awarded for active emission reducing actions in the municipality. They led the project to change a sports hall’s lights to energy efficient ones.
November: Municipality of Tyrnävä and NCC Suomi Oy (in Finnish)
The municipality and construction company together received an award for climate resilient construction and for being a forerunner. Together they built an innovative and energy efficient school.
October: Enon Energia Osuuskunta (in Finnish)
A local cooperation in Joensuu was awarded for reducing emissions by switching from oil heating to wood chip heating. They operate local wood chip burning facilities that employ local residents. They were also part of joint solar panel procurement.
September: Mauri Tenhonen (in Finnish)
Mauri Tenhonen was awarded for his activeness in producing information about energy efficiency and emission reducing actions in the form of a local Hinku-newspaper, advocating for carbon neutral actions.
August: City of Porvoo (in Finnish)
The city of Porvoo was awarded for emission reducing and circular economy actions in switching to renewable biodiesel in its stock of cars.
June: Hotel GreenStar, Joensuu (in Finnish)
A hotel was awarded for emission reducing actions and for taking a climate friendly viewpoint in everything they do. The hotel received a Finnish ecolabel, Joutsenmerkki, which provides them with limits for energy and water usage as well as emissions produced.
May: Valto Rantamäki (in Finnish)
An individual was awarded for actively sharing his own energy efficiency solutions to others. He actively pilots new energy saving innovations in his home.
April: Laitila Energy Day (in Finnish)
Laitila hosts an annual event for small industries as well as home or cottage owners to introduce energy efficient and emission reducing construction activities and products.
March: Porin Puuvilla (in Finnish)
Shopping centre was awarded for the smart heating systems that use geothermal heat and cold as well as waste heat. They try to be energy self-sufficient and save energy.
February: Outokummun seudun teollisuuskylä Oy (in Finnish)
Outokumpu Industry village was awarded for its active work to make companies more energy efficient. They are open to make changes and become even more energy efficient in the future
2016
November: VSV-Energia Oy (in Finnish)
VSV energy company was awarded for investing heavily in renewable energy and distancing from fossil fuels. Their investment lowers Uusikaupunki municipality’s emissions and helps it transition to renewable energy production.
July: Ilosaarirock festival (in Finnish)
Ilosaarirock Festival, held annually in Joensuu, has comprehensively taken greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts into account and taken actions to reduce them as much as possible. Remaining emissions are compensated by donating to local nature destinations.
May: Gasum Oy (in Finnish)
Gasum was awarded for advancing availability of renewable and domestic biogas, helping push Finland towards carbon neutrality. The company has also shown exemplary collaborations between companies to build sustainable future together.
April: Raaseporin Energia Oy (in Finnish)
Raasepori’s energy company was awarded for exemplary activity and devotion to increase the use of renewable energy and sustainable transport such as electric cars.
March: Marjala school, Joensuu (in Finnish)
Marjala school’s exemplary work on advancing environmental education and decreasing the school’s environmental load.
February: City of Rauma (in Finnish)
Rauma’s central kitchen was awarded for reducing food waste by collaborating with the Finnish Red Cross to donate the left-over food to those who need it.
January: Municipality of Parikkala (in Finnish)
Parikkala’s wood pellet district heating facility replaced oil heating. The facility provides all the heat required for district heating. This action reduces the municipality’s emissions by 250 000 kg/a.
2015
November: Polar Spring Oy (in Finnish)
The bottled water company installed a 190 kW solar power system onto their roof. It was the sixth largest in Finland at the time. They are planning to add more panels later.
October: Hangon Satama Oy (in Finnish)
Hanko harbour renewed their lighting to be more energy efficient and reduce light pollution in addition to emissions. The new lights create a safer work environment for harbour employees.
June: Kuittila Farm, Nurmes (in Finnish)
Kuittila farm installed a combined heat and power system that works by making gas from wood chips. This system covers all their heating needs and most of their energy needs as well. They also installed solar panels, bringing them close to being fully self-sufficient in terms of energy.
May: Fredrik Ek (in Finnish)
Awarded for his activism in climate issues as well as taking part in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
April: Skaftkärr’s energy efficient residential area (in Finnish)
Innovative new residential area that is planned to be energy and climate efficient in every step of its lifecycle, from planning and construction all the way to residents’ everyday life.
March:
Company that makes energy and fertilizer from organic waste received an award for examplary work. They also provide expert and training services about biogas.
January:
The private clinic is heated with waste heat from a telecommunications company. This innovative collaboration brings great energy and cost savings.
2014
December: City of Lappeenranta (in Finnish)
The City of Lappeenranta was awarded for its exemplary advocating of renewable energy. Lappeenranta uses bio-based district heating, wind and solar energy, and hosts a university that excels in energy technology and its development.
November: Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas (in Finnish)
Beverage factory changed from oil to liquid gas and wind power as well as did circular economy actions for example giving malt waste to local bakeries to use. This shows comprehensive emission saving.
October: Kindergarten Pikkulauri, Mynämäki (in Finnish)
Kindergarten installed 18 kW solar panels on their roof. Energy efficiency was also considered already during the construction phase.
September: Lehmonkärki travel inn and rental cottages (in Finnish)
The travel inn and rental cottages use renewable energy solutions, lake heat, they collect heat from sewage and discharge air. Buildings are energy efficiently built and made from wood.
June: Karjaan Puhelin Oy (Karjaa phone company, in Finnish)
The factory’s machine hall changed from oil to district heating and added heat recovery system to cooling system.
April: The municipality of Ii
The municipality of Ii invested in five electric cars for their staff to use for work purposes. The introduction of electric cars aims to encourage others in the region to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and driving costs, and to promote the development of an electric charging system in the area.
March: Tuki-Areena LED-Lighting (in Finnish)
The ice arena changed to LED lights that are easily adjustable and energy efficient. The new lighting can be adjusted for different purposes thus saving even more energy.
February: Jukka Gustafsson (in Finnish)
Jukka Gustafsson took part in Finland’s biggest solar panel joint procurement and was the first to receive the panels.
2013
December: Pekonen farm, Parikkala (in Finnish)
Farm was awarded for changing from oil to pellet heating and investing in a new efficient tractor.
November: Olli-Pekka Mäkelä (in Finnish)
Old barn was turned into wood chip heating facility to produce their own heating. This action shows that with farm’s energy solutions, the emissions can be reduced fast and cost efficiently.
October: Municipality of Asikkala (in Finnish)
The Municipality of Asikkala took systematic energy efficiency actions in their real estate with the help of an external service. The outsourced service is great for municipalities that don’t have an expert of energy saving solutions working for them.
September: Municipality of Ii
The municipality of Ii fights to reduce oil heating, having taken systematic actions to reduce the use of oil heating and change to geothermal heating and wood chips in their real estate.
May: Lohjan Biolämpö Oy (Bio-based heat company in Lohja, in Finnish)
Bio-based heat company company’s large-scale investment in renewable energy with new biogas boiler. The emission reduction of this action is equal to half of the city’s transport emissions in year 2007.
April: Asunto Oy Villagatan, Raasepori (in Finnish)
Villagatan housing company changed from oil to geothermal heating. The investment was estimated to pay itself back in 4 years.
March: Kivistönmäen rivitalohuolto Oy (in Finnish)
Semidetached housing company changed from oil to geothermal heating. The emission reduction is the same amount as the emissions produced if someone drove around the Earth 4 times with a car.
February: Helmi Säästöpankki (in Finnish)
Helmi bank was awarded for its green loan with lower interest for funding climate actions. It is available in several municipalities and encourages people to make climate actions.
January: Heikki Vanhanen (in Finnish)
Mushroom farm changed from oil to pellet heating. The farmer has also suggested that he would share the excess heat with nearby real estate.
2012
December: Petri and Kirsi Pitkäranta (in Finnish)
Petri and Kirsi Pitkäranta were awarded for installing a remotely controlled heating system in their winter cottage that saves electricity and heating costs.
Noveber: Meteco Oy (in Finnish)
Meteco Oy production facilities changed from oil to pellet in their heating system. They also made the facilities more energy efficient and recover wasteheat from air conditioning.
October: Uusikaupunki technical department (in Finnish)
Awarded for installation of geothermic heating system installed in sports hall. Heat production and electricity usage are monitored for best results.
September: Veikko Nieminen (in Finnish)
Veikko Nieminen halved his oil consumption by installing solar panels.
July: Routi farm, Uusikaupunki (in Finnish)
Routi’s farm strives for energy- and environmental efficiency in everything they do. Their exemplary work also inspires others to take action.
June: Onnenmyyrä Inn, Padasjoki (in Finnish)
Onnenmyyrä Inn swapped from oil to briquette heating. The investment pays itself back in less than a year.
May: Oras Oy, Housing company Santtionranta (in Finnish)
Santtionranta housing company saved water by changing their water fittings to better and more efficient ones.
April:
Petri Lehmussaari (in Finnish) : Greenhouse changed from oil heating to air circulating wood chip heating. This action reduced not only the farm’s carbon footprint, but also the end products such as cucumbers and other produce.
Hannu Hartman (in Finnish) : Detached house changed from oil heating to geothermal heating. Hannu has actively shared information about changing from oil heating to a more sustainable form of heating in his area.
Keskitalonpiste Puutarha Oy (in Finnish) : Garden changed from oil to wood chip heating and invested in LED growing lights for their plants. These actions reduced the garden’s & municipality’s emissions by several percent and reduced the carbon footprint of the produce.
Tarnalan Koululaiset ky (in Finnish) : Village house changed from oil to wood chip heating. This action showed community spirit toward more sustainable solutions.
Ruukki Metals Oy, Uusikaupunki branch (in Finnish) : Ruukki Metals Oy carried out energy efficiency actions such as investing in an automized district hearting distribution center and air conditioning frequency converter that makes it more efficient and energy saving.
