Finland : Building Services Communications Forum promotes energy efficiency through communication and advice more than 1.5 million contacts in two years

For two years, the Building Services Communication Forum has been providing building owners and maintenance managers with information on how to improve the energy efficiency of buildings by adjusting the technical building systems correctly and keeping them in order. In total, the actors participating in the forum have already had more than 1.5 million customer contacts.

Ministry of the Environment and Motiva provide information

The key message of the forum is that the energy efficiency of a building should be systematically taken into account as part of its annual service and maintenance activities. Tips and instructions have been compiled in annual clocks, from which building owners and administrators can check the actions taken at different times of the year, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the systems and maintaining good indoor conditions.

In two years, the actors involved in the Communication Forum have carried out more than 600 counselling and communication activities, such as organising webinars and other events, communicating on social media and publishing articles on websites, media and newsletters.

The communication forum provides information on detached houses, terraced houses and blocks of flats as well as service buildings.

"Energy efficiency is created in Finland through voluntary actions. This has been recognised both in terms of national energy efficiency contracts and consumer energy savings. When you have up-to-date information, practical instructions and the freedom to take the right actions for yourself, you can achieve big things. The same has also been seen in the "One step lower" energy saving campaign," says Expert Kirsi-Maaria Forssell from Motiva.

Building services communication forum includes the key actors in the field

The Building Services Communication Forum is made up of 16 real estate and construction operators representing both building owners and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning sectors.

The activities of the forum are coordinated by Motiva on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment.

Property owners in the forum are represented by:

Property owners and developers Rakli ry

Finnish Real Estate Association

Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Finnish Association of Independent Homes

Property Management Association

Ventilation, air conditioning and heating systems in the forum are represented by:

Bioenergy Association

Energy industry

Heating Energy Association

Central Union of Chimney Sweeping

Indoor Air Association

Association of Finnish Refrigeration Companies SKLL

Finnish HVAC Association SuLVI ry

Finnish Heat Pump Association SULPU ry

Association of Electrical Contractors and Telecommunications Contractors STUL

Building services industry and trade Talteka

VVS Freningen i Finland rf

Enhanced communication and advice implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

The Building Services Communication Forum implements nationally the obligations of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive concerning the energy efficiency of ventilation, air conditioning and heating systems. The advisory procedure is an alternative to mandatory energy efficiency audits of technical building systems.

"Energy efficiency advice and communication aimed at building owners and operators has worked well, and EU Member States want to retain the possibility of using the advisory procedure also in the future," says Maarit Haakana, Senior Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of the Environment.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is currently being revised. The final content of the directive and the timetable for its entry into force are still open. Trilogue negotiations between the Commission, Parliament and the Council will start this spring.