Discover the achievements of the 2014-2020 NPA projects

Seven years of cooperation between people, communities, and organisations across thousands of kilometres made a difference in the Northern Periphery and Arctic regions.

Browse the NPA map of results to discover our stories of cooperation. Pick a dot from the map and scroll down to read  about people who have met similar minded colleagues and together found solutions for their shared challenges.

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Improving Energy Efficiency in Västernorrland Schools

Sensors help students become more aware of energy consumption

The Regional Council of Västernorrland joined the SMARCTIC project and tested how energy efficiency can be improved in public buildings such as schools. The SMARCTIC project explored how sensors, IoT and the “whole-of-community" approach can help rural areas reduce their energy consumption. In Västernorrland, the project engaged with two schools, Ådalsskolan high school and Skarpåkersskolan elementary school.

Both schools utilized smart technologies to measure, monitor, and improve energy usage. Additionally, the project aimed to educate students on how much energy is used and sometimes wasted. At Ådalsskolan, sensors were installed to optimize workshop ventilation by reducing airflows when no activity is detected, better control air heaters near doors to prevent heat loss, and display real-time energy consumption on screens.

Feedback from the schools indicates that students are becoming more aware of their energy consumption and are changing their behaviors accordingly. They now turn off machines and lights when not needed, guided by real-time energy usage indicators.

 

Lars Hellström

teacher at Ådalsskolan

By participating in this pilot there was a hope of changing behaviours, making the students think long-term and reducing the amount of energy that the school uses, also creating awareness of economic and environmental consequences. One thing that was noticeable in this pilot was the students changing their behaviour in the classroom regarding the lights. They went from not noticing if the lights where on or off to automatically switching the lights off when leaving the classroom.