Vaasa builds energy literacy from school age – making kilowatts tangible through hands-on learning

Energy is particularly important to Vaasa. The Vaasa region is home to EnergyVaasa, the leading energy technology cluster in the Nordic countries, whose companies employ around 13,000 people. Energy innovations developed in Vaasa are used in every country in the world, and the city has the highest number of green patents in the Nordic countries. 

This is why energy education in Vaasa begins early. The city’s Energy Education Pathway extends from early childhood education to higher education and aims to strengthen children’s and young people’s understanding of energy and its role in Vaasa and in society more broadly. 

Building energy literacy for the future

Rather than focusing only on individual energy-saving tips, the pathway also equips children and young people to take part in energy-related issues that affect their own surroundings.  

“Vaasa is the Nordic Energy Capital, and we want to ensure that we continue to have the enthusiasm and expertise needed to develop energy technology that benefits the whole world. The future lies with children and young people,” says Tiina Strand, Project Coordinator at the City of Vaasa. 

This work already has a strong foundation. An audit carried out in Vaasa’s Finnish-language pre-primary education groups in early 2026 found that skills for sustainable living are already being developed from an early age. Children learn, for example, to use materials responsibly, recycle, care for nature and explore their local environment. According to the audit, these practices provide a strong foundation for developing energy literacy throughout their education and into working life.

From hands-on experience to understanding

The Nordic Energy Capital (NEC) project, coordinated by the City of Vaasa, supports the city’s long-term efforts in energy education. As part of the project, Vaasa 4H Association and the City of Vaasa have developed and piloted energy-themed workshops for school pupils. 

“Vaasa 4H Association has always worked to give children and young people the knowledge and skills they need in life, and through this project we are continuing that tradition with a focus on energy,” says Katja Turpeinen, NEC Project Specialist at Vaasa 4H Association. 

The workshops are designed to spark children’s interest in energy through hands-on activities and exploration. Children may, for example, paint, do sit-ups as part of an energy workout, explore what kilowatts mean, build energy plants with LEGO bricks and explore their school building with a thermal camera. 

“There is an inventor in every child. Through playful activities, room for independent learning and content tailored to their level of understanding, we can channel children’s enthusiasm and creativity into learning about energy and help nurture responsible future citizens of Vaasa,” Turpeinen explains. 

Experiences and lessons from the workshops will be used to further develop the Energy Education Pathway.

In Vaasa, the energy transition is a shared effort

Children’s workshops are part of the NEC project’s broader goal of giving Vaasa residents more opportunities to engage with the energy transition. Building a carbon-neutral future requires more than technology: people also need to understand the transition and feel that they can have a say in it. 

The energy transition affects everyone’s daily life, from housing and mobility to costs and the local environment. That is why the project aims to bring the conversation about energy closer to residents, reaching people where they already are: in schools, residential areas, community organisations and other meeting places. 

“In the NEC project, we want to show that residents’ participation can make technical solutions for the energy transition even better. When residents’ experiences are combined with energy information and new technologies, the results are more likely to work in people’s everyday lives. We want to share this approach with other European cities as well,” emphasises Suvi Aho, Strategy Manager at the City of Vaasa.

About the Nordic Energy Capital project

Nordic Energy Capital (NEC) is an EU-funded project that is developing new ways to make Vaasa’s energy use smarter, more efficient and easier to understand. 

The project explores how electricity and heat are produced, used and managed, and how energy systems can be made more efficient. The work draws on digital models, information on energy use, and the experiences of residents, schools, companies and other stakeholders. 

The aim is to ensure that energy-related information is not limited to experts but can also be understood and used in everyday life, decision-making and learning. 

The project is coordinated by the City of Vaasa. The partners are Merinova, the University of Vaasa, EPV Energy, Vaasan Sähkö and Vaasa 4H Association. The project runs from 2025 to 2029. 

More information 

Tiina Strand
Project Coordinator, City of Vaasa
+358 40 184 2047
tiina.strand@vaasa.fi 

Katja Turpeinen
NEC Project Specialist, Vaasa 4H Association
+358 50 576 0882
katja.turpeinen@4h.fi 

Suvi Aho
Strategy Manager, City of Vaasa
+358 50 326 8877
suvi.aho@vaasa.fi 

Sanni Mullo
Communications Specialist, Merinova
+358 45 219 7050
sanni.mullo@merinova.fi