Sitra

About us

Buildings account for the largest share of energy use, and therefore have the greatest potential for improving energy efficiency.

The built-up environment – particularly the energy consumed in buildings – plays a key role in the energy consumption and greenhouse gas formation in Finland. If we are to achieve our energy conservation and reduction targets, we need extensive structural changes to new and existing buildings alike. Sitra’s Energy Programme guides the achievement of the structural changes necessary for development, both at the national level and that of the EU.

The energy regulations issued in Finland on 30 March 2011 will become effective in 2012 and change energy efficiency guidance in a historic way. Until now, building component-specific regulations have in practice dictated how to build, thus limiting creative design. In the future, requirements will focus on total energy consumption. The energy regulations for new construction will help Finland become a model country for sustainable construction. The new calculation method will enable a gradual transition to almost zero-energy construction by 2021.

Sitra’s Energy Programme also has a strong presence in the preparation of a European definition of a zero energy building. There is considerable variation between the existing national definitions, and even the units of measurement used for energy efficiency. The need for harmonisation of regulations is apparent. The definition effort is important for the functioning of the market. The transition to almost zero-energy construction some 10 years from now will be a Pan-European structural change, which will improve the energy efficiency of buildings in unforeseen ways.