E-services

In E-services, you will find the City of Vaasa’s digital service channels by subject area. In E-services, you can, among other things:

  • Fill out and send an application
  • Reserve facilities and materials
  • Apply for a permit or make a report
  • Give feedback on city services

Help with services

Are you looking for City of Vaasa’s contact information or need help with services?

Advice and service points

You can also get help and support from our advice and service points. Contact us or come and visit.

Search site Search
Nainen meren äärellä

Residents’ climate actions

We all have a role to play in building a shared future. Small changes can lead to big impacts. Read below for our tips on living a more sustainable everyday life.

Small Actions, big Impact

Households contribute significantly to emissions in Finland, accounting for nearly 70%. This includes emissions from housing, heating, food, and other consumption-related activities. By making changes in our everyday lives, we can significantly reduce our emissions.

Even small actions in daily life can have a big impact on the bigger picture. Individual actions accumulate as more people commit to them. Through everyday climate choices, you can:

  • Contribute to combating climate change
  • Gain personal benefits, such as saving energy and costs
  • Improve well-being through sustainable ways of getting around.

For residents

What makes up responsible daily living? Small, yet meaningful climate actions! Read our tips for more sustainable living, energy use, transportation, and consumption below.

  • Housing and energy

    Housing and building heating account for a significant portion of emissions in Vaasa each year. Small everyday actions can help save money, energy, and the environment.

  • Sustainable mobility

    About a third of our carbon footprint comes from mobility. Sustainable mobility is a service not only to the environment but also to our own well-being.

  • Food and consumption

    Food, as well as the consumption of goods and services, generates a significant portion of our daily emissions. Everyone can reduce their carbon footprint and impact the environment through their choi

Lifestyle emissions comparison

Explore the impact of different lifestyles on the environment through these examples. Each example provides a clear picture of how everyday choices affect our carbon footprint.

As a reference, we use the average Finn’s carbon footprint, which is about 10 tons of CO2e per year. The carbon footprint is a measure that represents the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, household, organization, or product, and it includes factors such as energy consumption, transportation, food consumption, and purchasing goods. This comparison is based on the Sitra Lifestyle Test.

Family Carbon Tourists

Housing: The four-person family, “Carbon Tourists,” lives in a 210-square-meter oil-heated detached house built before 1990.

Transportation: They use their car daily to commute to work, do shopping, and attend hobbies in a neighboring city. The family travels abroad once a year by plane and also takes a few ferry trips.

Food Consumption: The household eats red meat a few times a week and generally consumes other animal products.

Consumption: They mainly purchase new household goods, furniture, and electronics.

Carbon Footprint: Each family member’s carbon footprint is 21,800 kg CO2e, which is high compared to the average Finn’s carbon footprint.

Suggestions for Reducing Emissions

Transportation emissions make up a significant portion of the family’s carbon footprint, 57%. The family could reduce their emissions by opting for low-emission transport options, such as biogas or electric cars, carpooling, and considering remote work or choosing hobby locations closer to home. Favoring domestic travel could also help reduce emissions from air travel.

Housing emissions account for a quarter of the family’s emissions. Switching from oil heating to renewable options like geothermal energy or air-source heat pumps could significantly reduce the family’s housing-related carbon footprint.

The family could reduce their food-related carbon footprint by transitioning to a more plant-based diet, for instance, by introducing meat-free days. They could also consider purchasing used goods, furniture, and electronics whenever possible.

Family Balancers

Housing: The family lives in a 100-square-meter townhouse, built in 2010, which is connected to the regular district heating and electricity grid. They have completed an energy efficiency renovation, and the house is located near the city center and workplaces.

Transportation: The family has a hybrid car, which they use for less than 100 km per week. They prefer carpooling and bike to work. International trips are made by plane every other year to destinations less than five hours away.

Food Consumption: The family avoids red meat but consumes other meat and dairy products regularly.

Consumption: Their consumption of goods is at an average level.

Carbon Footprint: Each family member’s carbon footprint is 5,390 kg CO2e, which is below the average Finn’s carbon footprint.

Suggestions for Reducing Emissions

The Balancers family has already made significant changes to reduce their carbon footprint. They still have opportunities for further improvements. A third of the family’s carbon footprint comes from transportation, another third from food, about 19% from goods and services, and approximately 15% from housing emissions.

Reducing car usage even further and increasing carpooling could reduce transportation emissions. In particular, reducing the number of international trips and favoring domestic travel would help lower transportation emissions.

The family could reduce their goods-related carbon footprint by purchasing used items, such as furniture and electronics. They could also reduce their food-related carbon footprint by transitioning to a more plant-based diet, for example, by having meat-free days.

Family Carbon Hackers

Housing: The family lives in a 78-square-meter apartment in the center of Vaasa. The home is heated with green district heating and was built after 2010.

Transportation: The family walks, cycles, and uses public transport, and they do not own a car. Commuting to work is done on foot or by bike. The family prefers local travel and has not flown abroad in a while.

Food Consumption: The family primarily eats plant-based food and avoids food waste.

Consumption: About half of the household’s goods and clothing are purchased used.

Carbon Footprint: Each family member’s carbon footprint is 2,237 kg CO2e, which is significantly lower than the average Finn’s carbon footprint.

Suggestions for Reducing Emissions

Around 39% of the family’s carbon footprint comes from food, just over a third from goods and services, and just over a quarter from transportation emissions. The family’s housing emissions are minimal, covering less than 4% of their carbon footprint.

The Carbon Hackers family exemplifies how making everyday choices and adjusting one’s lifestyle can significantly reduce environmental impact, as long as the actions are achievable in daily life and motivation is sustained. The carbon footprint could be further reduced by repairing broken or worn-out items and transitioning to a fully plant-based diet.

In the Carbon Hackers’ example, the target carbon footprint for 2030, which is 2,500 kg CO2e, is already surpassed.

seniors

Calculate your carbon footprint

The Sitra Lifestyle Test calculates the climate impact of different aspects of daily life and provides personalized tips to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday activities. Do you know what contributes to your carbon footprint?

Take the Sitra Lifestyle Test

How can residents prepare for climate change?

Due to the effects of climate change, the risk of extreme weather events increases, so it's important for residents to enhance their own resilience. Visit our page on household preparedness to get tips on how to act in case of various disruptions and emergency situations in everyday life.

Read more

Travel responsibly in the Vaasa Region

Domestic travel and local tourism offer experiences and adventures just around the corner. Explore the stunning landscapes of Vaasa, immerse yourself in the local culture, and support local businesses – all while staying within a smaller budget and being more environmentally friendly!

Read more