AI revolutionizes Helsinki’s property portfolio management

The City of Helsinki’s goal to reduce climate emissions requires significant investments in the energy efficiency of buildings. But where should limited investment euros be directed? This theme was explored in the EU-funded ERKKI project, where a pilot by the real estate and construction expert company Granlund Oy brought AI-based multi-factor optimization to aid portfolio-level decision-making.

The City of Helsinki, one of the largest property owners in Finland, manages a vast amount of diverse real estate. Traditionally, investment planning has been challenging due to fragmented or missing data. Granlund Oy set out to solve portfolio management challenge using AI, which helps identify the properties within a large building stock where energy efficiency measures would be the most profitable and impactful, allowing resources to be directed in the most optimal way.

Data-driven decisions for property portfolios

In the pilot, Granlund utilized its AI-based optimization tool to analyze a sample of the city’s building stock. The AI processed data regarding building age, energy consumption, technical systems, and renovation history.

By simulating thousands of different renovation scenarios, the tool was able to pinpoint exactly which buildings would provide the best “bang for the buck” in terms of CO2 reduction and long-term cost savings.

“This pilot shows that AI is no longer just a vision for the future, but a practical tool for urban planning today. It allows us to move from reactive maintenance to proactive and data-driven strategic management of entire property portfolios,” says Mira Lindholm of Granlund Oy.

Towards lower carbon emissions in Helsinki

The ERKKI project (Energy-efficient and Climate-resilient Urban Environment) aims to support cities in their green transition. The results from the Granlund pilot will be used to further develop the city’s investment processes and to help reach lower carbon emissons.

By utilizing AI, the city can ensure that every euro invested in energy efficiency produces the maximum possible climate benefit while maintaining the value and health of the city’s building assets.

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