Artikkelit

Vainikka, J. T., Lindfors, J., Laitinen, S.-E., Salmela, E., Kemppainen, T., Toppinen, A. & Bernelius, V. (2026). Five Finlands: A mixed-method climate attitude segmentation from a housing perspective.

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Julkaisun nimiFive Finlands: A mixed-method climate attitude segmentation from a housing perspective
KirjoittajatVainikka, J. T., Lindfors, J., Laitinen, S.-E., Salmela, E., Kemppainen, T., Toppinen, A. & Bernelius, V.
JulkaisijaGeoforum
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2026.104665
Julkaisupäivä17.4.2026
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Abstract

The climate changes faster than our collective sense of urgency for climate action. Previous research has acknowledged the diverse segments of climate-concerned publics but often without qualifying the discursive landscape within such groupings. In this mixed-methods-based paper, we first employ latent class analysis to random sample survey data representing the Finnish public to form a five-part classification. Second, we complement the segmentation with qualitative insights from online discussions and interview material. We name the segments Engaged, Aware, Cautious, Unsure, and Divergent based on their attitudes toward the changing climate and their housing behaviours. We also reflect on why the respondents tend to cluster into such segments based on socioeconomic, geographical, and ideological factors. Using this classification as a lens allows us to identify residents between more active or vocal opposites and sheds light on the overlooked mass that holds a key for more effective climate policies. While such a classification scheme can overlap at points and be contextual and shifting, it helps to place various approaches and attitudes to scale. By operationalising the created typology, we discuss why it is crucial to understand the views of the mass in the middle, i.e., individuals who recognise climate change but, to an extent, feel disempowered from climate-wise practices, why proliferating a societal change through these individuals has the best potential for successful climate mitigation and why it is necessary to understand their political agency for (in)action.

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Laitinen, S.-E., Kylkilahti, E. & Syrjälä, H. (2026). Home care process interrupted – Barriers to maintaining and repairing houses and apartments.

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Julkaisun nimiHome care process interrupted – Barriers to maintaining and repairing houses and apartments
KirjoittajatLaitinen, S.-E., Kylkilahti, E. & Syrjälä, H.
JulkaisijaConsumption & Society
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1332/27528499Y2026D000000071
Julkaisupäivä2.3.2026
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Abstract

In the current study, we examine what kinds of barriers appear with home maintenance and upkeep practices as a form of the care process. Maintaining a home can be seen as providing care for both the dwelling and its inhabitants. To investigate which barriers may interrupt the home care process and how they hinder its progress, we explored interview data (n=28) of homeowners, tenants and right-of-occupancy residents living in Finland. The findings are presented in relation to the four phases of the care process in which the barriers are hindering the process. In our analysis, we identify barriers related to the elements of practices, actions or practices of other people and time. Often, care is hindered by interlinked combinations of several different barriers. When the care process is interrupted, it affects both the comfort of the residents and the condition of the home. Our results bring forward that care, the residents, the house or apartment, and the environment are interconnected and interdependent. In addition, the residents’ possibilities to care for the home are tied to barriers. This research contributes to home maintenance literature by introducing the perspective of care in the prevailing discussions and the growing discussion on care within consumption studies. It provides a nuanced understanding of how the barriers delimit consumers’ agency in carrying out home maintenance practices as a form of care.

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Vainikka, J. & Saastamoinen, U. (2026). Decarbonising homes and the in-between: Intersections of visible and latent climate-wise housing and mobility.

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Julkaisun nimiDecarbonising homes and the in-between: Intersections of visible and latent climate-wise housing and mobility
KirjoittajatVainikka, J. & Saastamoinen, U.
JulkaisijaAmbio
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-025-02332-4
Julkaisupäivä9.1.2026
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Abstract

Effective decarbonisation must be socially equitable and attentive to the capacities of households to adopt and apply new social practices at home and in mobility spaces in-between. Understanding attitudinal landscapes and the dynamics of social recognition and interaction surrounding decarbonisation helps advance technical solutions and reduce consumption. This paper approaches decarbonisation as a “social dramaturgy” of climate-friendly practices and conceptualises the modalities and performances of climate action in public and private spaces, following Erving Goffman’s notions of “front- and backstages”. Analysing a geocoded Finnish survey from 2022 (n = 1446), we compare visible technological solutions with more latent, self-reported energy- and resource-saving practices. By examining how attitudes toward climate change shape beliefs in various solutions, we find that backstage decarbonisation practices align more with climate change concerns, while frontstage practices diffuse more easily. This novel sociospatial approach contributes to debates on the legitimacy of climate action and efforts to curb segregation concurrently.

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Rahman, M. R., Wallin, I., Toivonen R. & Toppinen, A. (2024). Local policy networks in support of wood-based construction: A case study from Joensuu, Finland.

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Julkaisun nimiLocal policy networks in support of wood-based construction: A case study from Joensuu, Finland
KirjoittajatMd. Rayhanur Rahman, Ida Wallin, Ritva Toivonen, Anne Toppinen
JulkaisijaForest Policy and Economics
ISBN/DOIDOI:10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103225
Julkaisupäivä22.4.2024
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Abstract

Wood-based construction (WBC) is considered important for climate change mitigation, as buildings provide long-term carbon storage and contribute to sustainable urban solutions. Research shows that a lack of coordination among policy actors hinders the more rapid development of WBC in many contexts. Gaining a better understanding of the characteristics of local WBC-related policy networks is critical for speeding up WBC development. We conducted an exploratory case study on one WBC forerunner city, Joensuu, Finland. The results from our quantitative social network analysis show that the WBC policy network of Joensuu is moderately dense and mostly consists of research and business organizations. However, the local hub, Business Joensuu, holds a central position in the network despite being an intermediary non-profit business and a regional development organization. Information and knowledge sharing are the most common resources distributed among the actors, which implicitly suggests that the network is primarily contributing to research and innovation around WBC. Considering the diverse policy goal priority, statements related to WBC, actors are mostly interested in climate change mitigation measured by reducing carbon emissions from construction materials, followed by creating new employment opportunities. From the policy perspective, our findings concerning the WBC policy network of Joensuu showcase the importance of national and international policies in the local diffusion of WBC and the key role of collaborative actors.

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Ruokamo, E., Savolainen, H., Seppälä, J., Sironen, S., Räisänen, M., & Auvinen, A.-P. (2023). Exploring the potential of circular economy to mitigate pressures on biodiversity.

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Julkaisun nimiExploring the potential of circular economy to mitigate pressures on biodiversity
KirjoittajatEnni Ruokamo, Hannu Savolainen, Jyri Seppälä, Susanne Sironen, Milja Räisänen, Ari-Pekka Auvinen
JulkaisijaGlobal Environmental Change
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102625
Julkaisupäivä6.12.2022
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Abstract

The effects of circular economy on biodiversity are poorly understood. This study provides observations on approaches for assessing circular economy and illustrates, with a Finnish case study, the potential of circular economy to mitigate pressures on biodiversity. The case study focuses on the construction and real estate sectors, as well as the forest industry. The findings imply that circular economy actions that reduce the extraction of virgin raw materials and relieve land use pressures are effective. Improving material efficiency, increasing the cascading use of wood, and optimizing the use and reuse of materials and products, as well as extending the lifetime of buildings and optimizing space use, have good potential for mitigating pressures on biodiversity in Finland. However, as forest utilization has a major impact on Finnish biodiversity, certain actions that possibly increase the use of forest resources (e.g., replacing fossil-based, concrete, or steel materials with wood-based solutions) may impair biodiversity if biodiversity-enhancing forest management practices are not utilized. Assessing the biodiversity impacts of circular economy is challenging, and the need for further research and the development of indicators and assessment methods is clear.

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Ruokamo, E., Meriläinen, T., Karhinen, S., Räihä, J., Suur-Uski, P., Timonen, L., & Svento, R. (2022). The effect of information nudges on energy saving: Observations from a randomized field experiment in Finland.

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Julkaisun nimiThe effect of information nudges on energy saving: Observations from a randomized field experiment in Finland.
KirjoittajatEnni Ruokamo, Teemu Meriläinen, Santtu Karhinen, Jouni Räihä, Päivi Suur-Uski, Leila Timonen, Rauli Svento
JulkaisijaEnergy Policy
ISBN/DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112731
JulkaisupäiväFebruary 2021
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Tiivistelmä

Pienentääkö energianeuvonta sähkönkulutusta? Havaintoja Suomessa toteutetusta satunnaiskokeilusta.

Kokeilut ympäri maailmaa ovat osoittaneet, että tiedolla tuuppaaminen (engl. information nudging) voi auttaa kotitalouksia pienentämään sähkönkulutustaan. Toisaalta vaikutuksissa on havaittavissa eroja maiden välillä ja myös neuvonnan sisältö tai toimitustapa voivat vaikuttaa tuuppauksen tehokkuuteen. Tässä tutkimuksessa arvioidaan energianeuvonnan ja sosiaalisen normin vaikutuksia kotitalouksien sähkönkulutukseen Suomessa. Näiden tuuppausten vaikuttavuutta tutkitaan satunnaiskokeilulla, jossa tutkittavat kotitaloudet jaetaan satunnaisesti tuupattaviin ja verrokkiryhmiin. Tuuppauksien toteutuksessa käytetään kuukausittaisia energiansäästövinkkejä sisältäviä sähköpostiuutiskirjeitä ja sähkönkulutuksen seuraamiseen tarkoitettua verkkopalvelua. Tulosten perusteella energiansäästöön kannustava neuvonta toimii sähkönkulutuksen seurannasta lähtökohtaisesti enemmän kiinnostuneiden (eli verkkopalvelua käyttävien) kotitalouksien joukossa. Talvikuukausina nämä kotitaloudet vähentävät sähkönkulutustaan keskimäärin 10 % neuvonnan seurauksena. Lisäksi tulokset paljastavat, että vertaisvertailut yhdistettynä monipuoliseen energianeuvontaan voivat kannustaa kotitalouksia vähentämään sähkönkulutustaan. Toisaalta energianeuvonnalla ei havaita vaikuttavuutta niiden kotitalouksien joukossa, jotka eivät käytä sähkönkulutuksen seurantaan tarkoitettua verkkopalvelua.

Abstract

Field experiments have shown that information nudging can help households to save energy, however, the effectiveness varies depending on aspects such as information content, delivery mode and study area. This article evaluates the impacts of information nudges on residential electricity consumption with a randomized field experiment. This opt-in experiment was conducted in Finland. Information was administered via monthly email newsletters and an online energy service platform. The aim is to find out whether i) energy saving tips combined with and without online energy service platform providing electricity consumption information, and ii) peer comparisons (i.e., social norm) influence households’ electricity consumption. The results show a high seasonal variation in the treatment effects within the groups who were registered users of the online energy service platform. Those with access to usage feedback and versatile energy savings tips (without the social norm comparisons) reduced their electricity consumption around 10% in wintertime. The results imply challenges in encouraging energy saving behavior among households less interested in following their electricity consumption.

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