Sustainable business is responsible business
We consider environmental and social responsibility as well as good governance in all our operations. As a local operator, we favour local services and products in our own choices. In this way, we do our part to enliven our operating environment and create well-being.
Responsibility is reflected in our daily operations
In all our operations, we are committed to considering environmental, social and economic responsibility issues as well as good governance. We operate in accordance with environmental laws and regulations. We also want to promote the efficient use of natural resources and strive to provide our customers with environmentally friendly solutions and services.
We strengthen local vitality
We are a company owned by the municipality of Nurmijärvi, and we influence locally by generating income for the municipality and employing residents both directly and indirectly. We produce reasonably priced energy for the residents and businesses in our operating area, and we are committed to maintaining a high level of security of supply in electricity and heat distribution. Nurmijärven Sähkö sponsors local sports clubs and cultural operators and supports local events.
Responsibility for environment
Environmentally friendly heat production
For several years, our district heating has been produced with almost 100 % renewable energy sources. The share of renewable energy sources in the production of other Finnish district heating companies is 69 per cent.
At our three heating plants, more than 183,000 loose cubic metres of wood fuel were burned, which enabled exceptionally low specific emissions from district heating nationwide, only 7 g/kWh. The average carbon dioxide emission from district heating production nationwide was 83 g/kWh.
We recycle all the fly ash generated in the production of heating plants. The ash is processed into forest fertilisers and earthworks products. In this way, the ash is put to good use and does not burden the environment.
Towards zero emissions
About 51 per cent of the electrical energy we sell comes from the electricity exchange. In the company’s strategy, the goal is to further increase profitable, low-emission, renewable energy production by acquiring production shares, which will also further reduce the specific carbon dioxide emissions of sold electrical energy per kilowatt hour from the current level.
Nurmijärven Sähkö has drawn up an energy saving programme that includes measures and goals to improve the energy efficiency of the company and its customers. We offer energy advice with the aim of increasing knowledge and finding savings targets for our customers.
In the coming years, we aim to further increase the share of emission-free energy production. In addition, we are involved in promoting the Nurmijärvi residents’ own micro-production in our distribution network area.
Material recycling
Last year, 458 removed electricity poles were delivered for recycling, which corresponds to 75,755 kilograms. Recycling also covers all materials containing steel, iron and aluminium, such as cables, cardboard and clear plastics. Used distribution transformers were sold for reuse, and unusable ones were recycled.
Automation controls the property
Nurmijärven Sähkö’s property, e.g. the office building, is heated with district heating, which is almost entirely produced with renewable energy sources. The electricity used in the property is produced with renewable forms of electricity production. In addition, the property has a solar panel production plant with a capacity of 47.4 KW on the roof of the hall building.
The heating, ventilation and lighting of Nurmijärven Sähkö’s property are controlled by automation. With room-specific temperature control and office lighting absence control, additional savings of 5 per cent were achieved last year compared to the previous year.
In 2023, 6 electric car charging stations were built, where 12 cars can be charged at the same time. Most of the charging points are used by the staff, but there are also charging points for customers and guests in the yard of the property.
Responsibility for personnel
A safe and healthy work community that supports wellbeing
Our goal is to be a safe and healthy work community that supports wellbeing. We are committed to promoting occupational health and safety with an emphasis on preventive measures.
In terms of employee benefits, the most significant investments have been directed to health care and the maintenance and improvement of the physical and mental well-being of personnel. Extended occupational health care and voluntary medical expenses insurance support these goals.
In addition to the lunch benefit, the staff is offered a sports/culture benefit, the costs of which are fully reimbursed by the employer. Last year, a massage benefit was also introduced. We also offer our employees a company bicycle benefit made possible by the tax authorities. The recreational activities of the personnel were more frequent and diverse than before.
In 2023, with a qualified majority of the personnel, it was decided to establish the Nurmijärven Sähkö Compensation Fund. The fund is a method of fundraising personnel performance bonuses enabled and regulated by the Act on Personnel Funds (5.10.2011/943).
To handle occupational safety-related incidents, we introduced the Toyme occupational safety software, which also facilitates and improves reporting. Last year, 9 occupational safety observations were made and 5 near misses were registered. There was 1 occupational accident and 3 0-day occupational accidents. The most common cause of accidents was slipperiness.
We are involved in the Nollis forum maintained by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. We received an occupational safety level classification from the Nollis forum, which is an indication that the good development in occupational safety is continuing. We measure employee satisfaction annually and develop our operations to promote the well-being of our personnel.
Good governance
Good governance is the foundation of our operations
Our operations are based on compliance with the laws and regulations governing the energy market. We always comply with the legislation that is binding on us, official regulations, policies confirmed by the Board of Directors and other approved guidelines.
In situations that are open to interpretation, we rely on the help of experts. Our operations are guided by legislation and regulations related to, among other things, electricity networks and markets, occupational health and safety, employment relations, environmental protection and competition law.
We are committed to the principles of fair, equal and non-discriminatory treatment of employees. We respect internationally accepted human rights, labour rights and labour laws and agreements.
Openness and ethical business conduct form the basis for all kinds of interaction. We act with honesty and sincerity in our relations with all our stakeholders. Our relationships with service and goods suppliers are based on honesty and trust. In addition to laws and regulations, we require our partners to comply with the operating principles agreed with us.
Our general policy and the guidelines drawn up to comply with it are reviewed and approved annually by the company’s Board of Directors. To manage risks, we regularly carry out risk assessments, and the threats of the identified risks were also carefully assessed last year. The biggest risks identified were those related to critical suppliers, political risks, and risks and threats to information systems.
Several projects were underway to develop information security and data protection, and investments were made in information security training for personnel. The general information security policy is still being updated.