Invest in Finland

Energy efficiency drive creates business opportunities in Finland

03/03/2009

 A third of property management companies – known as housing companies in Finland – is set to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings, according to a recent survey commissioned by Saint-Gobain Rakennustuotteet Oy and Uudenmaan Asuntokiinteistöyhdistys. Energy efficiency has also been on the agenda of 40% of the other housing companies but no decisions have been made as yet.

The results of the survey show that there is a clear readiness on the part of the housing companies to improve energy efficiency by maintenance, according to Simo Tunkelo, General Manager of the insulation business of Saint-Gobain Rakennustuotteet Oy. The survey received 775 responses from property managers, chairpersons and members of housing companies.

According to the survey results, replacing the windows, improving the air conditioning system and improving insulation are almost equally popular as methods for improving energy efficiency. Half of the housing companies say they are regularly monitoring the energy efficiency of their buildings.

As up to 40% of greenhouse emissions are caused by the heating or cooling of buildings, improving the energy efficiency of properties is one of the key ways of preventing climate change. Slowing down climate change requires a switch to passive and energy houses in new construction and the fast utilization of low energy techniques, according to Karoliina Auvinen, Head of the Climate Change Programme of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Finland.

A report published in October 2008 by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra identified the reduction of energy use to prevent climate change as a major opportunity for the property and construction industries. According to the Sitra report, “improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings provides the construction industry with an exceptional business opportunity. In fact, the most urgent challenge for companies is to adapt their business models to suit the new situation.”