Study: Reliability of Heating Method Outweighs Price and Climate Friendliness

Finnish district heating users value reliability in their heating method, while climate friendliness is the least important feature, according to a study conducted by Helen in the spring. Up to 93 percent of respondents considered reliability to be a fairly or very important feature of a heating method. District heating has been a very reliable heating method year after year, and for example, Helen's district heating delivery reliability was 99.98 percent last year, which means only 2.3 hours of non-delivery throughout the year. In the turmoil of the world, reliability seems to be emphasized in the minds of respondents.

"The value of heat is clearly recognized, and especially in uncertain times, safety and reliability are further emphasized in people's minds. We are proud of our delivery reliability and work every day of the year to ensure it," says Timo Aaltonen, Helen's director of heating and cooling.

Somewhat surprisingly, price (85%) or climate friendliness (67%) did not make it to the top three most important features for respondents, but in addition to reliability, ease of use (93%) and convenience (92%) were more important. Helen has announced three reductions in district heating prices over the past year, made possible by cleaner heat production. The latest example of Helen's cleaner heat production is the complete abandonment of coal in its energy production this past spring.

"In recent years, we have introduced new clean heat production solutions, such as electric boilers and heat pumps, which have significantly cleaned our heat production at a rapid pace, and our emissions have plummeted by about 80 percent from 1990 levels in a short time. Our clean transition has also made it possible to reduce district heating prices three times in 12 months, the latest being a more than 6 percent price reduction announced in May," says Aaltonen.

Climate is not insignificant

It seems that at the moment, other features than climate friendliness are emphasized in the minds of respondents. However, Aaltonen estimates that climate issues have not disappeared from people's awareness, quite the opposite.

"It seems that climate friendliness is already seen as a given for all products and services, and in addition, the cleaning of district heating has been prominently featured recently, so it is possible that the climate does not stand out in the responses," says Aaltonen.

Aaltonen also points out that only 6 percent of respondents saw climate friendliness as a little or not at all important feature.

"It is likely that the responses reflect people's increased awareness of the clean transition of district heating rather than cynicism," Aaltonen estimates.