Welcome to GreenZone 2.0
A model for sustainable urban development
GreenZone is a project that wants to demonstrate that it is possible to build sustainably. And inspire more people to build in a resource-efficient and energy-smart way, with respect for both people and the planet. We are not selling anything. Except the idea that a sustainable future is possible.
About GreenZone
GreenZone is an example of how it is possible to build smartly and sustainably, regardless of the type of property or business. In collaboration with several commercial actors, we have created a model for the sustainable district of the future, where the idea of minimal environmental impact and optimized resource consumption shows the way forward. By protecting biodiversity and becoming part of the local ecosystem, we are showing how it is possible to create a place where both people and nature can flourish. We are now expanding GreenZone and further refining the concept.
Today, cities account for over 70% of global carbon emissions and continue to be a source of air and water pollution, high resource consumption and land degradation. While progress is being made to reduce this impact, it is clear that we need to accelerate the transition to more sustainable cities. Change has to come from many different directions, and we aim to be part of the puzzle by demonstrating efficient and sustainable system solutions that work in practice. And we are convinced that the journey towards more sustainable cities starts locally, at the neighborhood level.
You’ll find GreenZone in Umeå, one of Europe’s most ambitious eco-cities. We broke ground on the project over 25 years ago, and now we’re taking it to the next level with the new GreenZone 2.0. We’re taking all the lessons we’ve learned along the way and shifting up a gear by focusing on the big challenges of today – the lack of renewable electricity and power. In this new phase, we are integrating smart electricity solutions into our infrastructure to reduce power loads and lower power peaks.
The Sustainability Quarter is constantly evolving and over the years we have tested and
refined a number of innovative system solutions. This work continues to attract attention, even far beyond Sweden’s borders. We encourage everyone to get inspired for their next building project – or why not steal some of the ideas straight off the bat?
Greenzone is founded and developed by the Carstedt family;
GreenZone is not pioneering any particular technology, but we are here to show how you can combine different parts and thus create sustainable system solutions, already today. If we can, so can you.
25 January 2025
Great turnout at the inauguration of GreenZone 2.0
On September 4, we gathered over 200 participants for a full day of inspiration, insights and future thinking when we inaugurated GreenZone 2.0 under the theme “Model for sustainable urban development”.
Together with our partners, we shared experiences and visions on how to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society. The day offered wise reflections on the future of urban development and concrete examples of innovative system solutions in smart energy management – such as microgrids, battery storage and solar cell integration.
A warm thank you to everyone who participated and made the inauguration an inspiring and memorable start to the next chapter of GreenZone’s journey.
Study visits
Get inspired by today’s sustainable neighborhoods
Book a study visit to GreenZone with sustainability guides from Esam by emailing greenzone@esam.se.
Since its inception in 2000, we have welcomed over 10,000 documented visitors to the GreenZone. From schoolchildren and architecture students to environment ministers and EU commissioners, they have visited the area and learned about our sustainable system solutions.
News on GreenZone
As we take GreenZone to the next level, we are welcoming seven new businesses to the area while accelerating our sustainability efforts by focusing on one of the major challenges of today: the lack of renewable electricity and power. We are proud to be able to produce more electricity on an annual basis than the combined output of the businesses. The surplus electricity will be used to charge electric cars, among other things.
- Chop Chop Asia Express has made its Umeå premiere and moved in with us.
- Besikta bilprovning has established itself in Umeå for the first time and chooses GreenZone.
- Ryds bilglas, the biggest car glass company in Sweden, has moved in.
- 4car (formerly Ditec), which is Sweden’s largest car care chain, will join in the fall of 2025.
- Däckpartner is establishing itself in Umeå and will offer space for 15,000 tires.
- Worksystems, which offers interior design and installation of equipment for transportation vehicles, is on its way here.
- McDonald’s has expanded to a double lane drive-thru and expanded both the restaurant and the outdoor seating area.
- Circle K has installed four Hyper Charge fast chargers.
- In addition, we intend to gradually install about ten new fast chargers for electric cars on the site.
