Embracing frugality: Overkalix’s journey towards sustainable energy in northern Sweden

The project is dedicated to fostering a culture of frugality in energy planning by promoting best practices that emphasize restraint, sufficiency, and community cooperation. Its goal is to encourage policymakers to rethink energy usage, prioritizing lower carbon emissions by focusing on essential consumption only.

In Sweden, Energikontor Norr is partnering with the Överkalix municipality to pilot this approach. Given its northern location, Överkalix requires significant energy to maintain warmth through a district heating system built in the 1980s, highlighting the importance of resource conservation and efficient energy use.

Överkalix has already implemented various energy-efficient practices across energy supply, distribution, and consumption. Now, the municipality is set to expand its energy strategy by adopting frugality principles. This involves incorporating low-tech solutions and engaging the community in areas like localized energy production, monitoring energy-intensive sectors, and planning for future sustainable projects.

“The Överkalix Municipality in northern Sweden is committed to the Frugal City approach in energy planning, aimed at improving residents’ quality of life. (…) With a focus on involving local leaders and the community in a frugal, sufficient approach, the municipality is strengthening its path to climate neutrality,” shares Mayor Niclas Hökfors.

With the support of the FEEL project, Överkalix benefits from interregional learning alongside eight European partners, bringing new ideas to Norrbotten for enhancing climate-friendly practices.

Running from March 2023 to May 2027, the project’s final year will focus on monitoring and evaluating the progress of these efforts.

“Collaborating internationally alongside Överkalix municipality, we’re able to bring back effective strategies to accelerate climate neutrality and advance the energy transition in our region,” notes Energikontor Norr’s project manager, Isabella Katsimenis.

Source: North Sweden Energy Agency

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