Helen’s national energy survey: Rest of Finland more active than Helsinki in saving electricity
According to Helen’s nationwide energy survey, traditional energy-saving measures such as turning off lights (88%) and using energy-efficient light bulbs (83%) are widely adopted by Finns. However, there are significant regional differences in how these measures are used.
The study shows that Helsinki stands out as a region where several active energy-saving measures are less commonly used than elsewhere in Finland. For example, about half of respondents in Northern and Eastern Finland already time their use of household appliances, whereas in Helsinki the share remains at just over one third.
Differences can also be seen in simple everyday choices. The use of smart plugs and timers is three times more common in the rest of Uusimaa (28%) than in Helsinki (8%). Reducing water consumption is also less common in Helsinki (53%) compared to Southern Finland overall, where the share is highest (72%).
According to the study, Finns consider using an electric sauna less frequently to be the most effective energy-saving measure (83%). In particular, reducing sauna use as a way to save electricity is emphasized in Western Finland (49%), whereas in Northern and Eastern Finland the highest share of respondents (30%) do not see reducing sauna use as a saving measure at all.
Young and older people save energy differently
The study shows that there are also differences between age groups in the use of energy-efficient solutions. More than half of those aged over 60 report that they continuously monitor their energy consumption, whereas 39% of those under 30 say they use continuous monitoring as an energy-saving measure.
In the case of energy-saving light bulbs and LED lighting, the gap between older and younger people is more pronounced: around 92% of those over 50 report using them, compared to about 64% of those under 30. The same applies to the use of energy-efficient appliance programs, which becomes more common with age according to the results. Less than one third of young adults use them, while nearly half of middle-aged respondents do.
“The study shows that Finns use energy in very different ways in their daily lives. We have also observed this in the demand for different types of electricity contracts. Recently, fixed-term contracts have been in higher demand, but as summer approaches, spot-priced contracts typically gain popularity,” says Eliisa Puska, Helen’s Director responsible for consumer customers.
About Helen’s national Energy Survey
The data were collected by Verian through an online panel survey in March 2026. A total of 1,010 people responded, and the results represent the adult population of mainland Finland (margin of error ±3.1 percentage points).