For over a decade, ElectriCITY has partnered with residents in Hammarby Sjöstad to create a more sustainable urban district. With the DigiCityClimate project, this local engagement takes another significant step forward, in collaboration with researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the City of Stockholm.
“This project clearly demonstrates what’s possible when residents, researchers, and the city develop solutions together. It’s essential if we are to achieve our climate goals,” says Rickard Dahlstrand, CTO of ElectriCITY, who participated in the project.
Since its inception, ElectriCITY has fostered strong local collaboration with housing cooperatives and residents in Hammarby Sjöstad. This work has delivered significant energy savings – up to 30 percent in some cases – and the establishment of an energy community. However, Rickard Dahlstrand believes there’s still much more to be done.
Digital Tools Powering Collaborative Learning
“DigiCityClimate introduces new digital tools that can deepen and amplify what we’ve already achieved. The chatbot, the digital control room, and the ability to link data to concrete actions in properties give us new opportunities.”
One compelling example occurred during a test in the digital control room, where a fault in a heating system was immediately detected. The problem could be rectified straight away, resulting in immediate energy gains.
“It truly shows the power of working together in real-time,” states Rickard Dahlstrand.
During the summer of 2024, residents in Hammarby Sjöstad also participated in extensive work to map perceived heat. By reporting how warm various locations felt, researchers could connect sensor data with the inhabitants’ own experiences.
“This highlights the immense commitment present here. Many people want to be involved and contribute to a more climate-smart society. That energy fuels development.”
The Interplay of City, Research, and Grassroots Initiative
Collaboration with academia and the city has been a vital part of the project:
“We have different perspectives, but we share a common goal. It’s when we connect local initiatives with research and political objectives that we can create real change.”
The DigiCityClimate project is funded by Google.org via the ICLEI Action Fund and coordinated by KTH in collaboration with ElectriCITY Innovation and the City of Stockholm.
Text: Carina Näslundh
