The energy performance directive of buildings was approved by Council of the European Union in November 2002. Its local applications are now under preparation in the member countries. Local regulations necessary in adaptation of EPD will partly enter in Finland after the period of transition in the beginning of 2006 and the directive entirely in 2009.
The directive will affect new construction as well renovation. A new calculation method for energy performance of buildings shall be applied. Finland participates now in several international projects, were calculation methods and validation procedures of buildings’ energy performance will be developed. Also national and international projects are going on in order to develop the energy certificate of building and site inspection methods of heating boilers and air conditioning plants.
New building regulations of thermal insulation, indoor climate and ventilation rates in new construction came in force in October in 2003. Those give requirements for total energy efficiency and heat recovery of new construction, and will be applied also in major renovations.
Under development are authorisation of inspectors, continuation of national support to energy auditing and energy incentive schemes, voluntary energy saving agreements and other issues related to national energy policy. Issuing of energy certificates, inspection of boilers and air conditioning plants shall be fully operative by the year 2009.
