The Finns started to buy flashlights, heat pumps, solar panels and natural firewood from the summer
Finns are used to finding ways to keep warm, but rising energy prices and the risk of blackouts this winter has led residents in one of the world’s northernmost countries to stockpile firewood and make adjustments to their homes to save energy.
Finland’s energy ties with neighboring Russia were severed after Moscow invaded Ukraine 10 months ago, ending energy and gas imports, while technical problems have limited output from a new nuclear plant, prompting authorities to issue warnings about power outages.
“Finland used to get a third of its energy from Russia and now we are close to zero,” said Riku Hutunen, director general of energy and climate policy at Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. “One could say that if we have minus 20 degrees Celsius in the south and possibly minus 30 degrees in the north, the risk of power shortages is very close,” Huttunen told Reuters.
Faced with the danger of the harsh winter finding them unprepared, oi Finns started to procure flashlights, heat pumps, solar panels and natural firewood from the summer, which are abundant as forests cover 75% of the country.
“It’s been three, four months without a break,” said firewood producer Yari Saari, talking about the constant calls from customers wanting to stockpile firewood and explaining that at one point there were 400 people waiting to be served. According to him, the rising costs of timber, transport and heating have driven up prices, with a cubic meter of firewood now costing 120 euros from 85-90 euros before the crisis.
Mika and Sattu Kirjavainen live in an old, wooden farmhouse outside the capital Helsinki, where winter lasts about 100 days. The couple, aged 54, used about 1,600 kilowatt-hours of electricity in December, but after their provider raised prices twice, they realized they were using too much energy.
Their farmhouse, which was built 100 years ago, has now been fitted with ‘smart’ sockets, thick curtains that keep the heat inside the house, a new stove in the bedroom and two air ducts that channel warm air from the energy fireplace to other parts of the house. home. “If the temperature does not drop (lower), our total consumption will be just over 200 kilowatt-hours this month,” Sattu Kirjavainen said.
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