Planning Guidance

Decisions related to building, land use and transport systems must also take into account the energy efficiency of implementation options and life-span costs. It is important to develop planning guidance so that in addition to the investment costs in selections, attention is also paid to the future energy and other use costs of buildings.

Energy efficiency and life-span thinking can be promoted in many ways:

• Pay attention to energy efficiency solutions in the building/development. Make life-span costs and energy consumption comparisons of alternative planning solutions during the design stage.
• During city planning estimate future transport systems, use distribution and the energy solutions of buildings of areas.
• Pay attention in planning sites for building to the possible passive use of solar energy in the location and direction of buildings.
• Find out in connection with planning the possibilities of buildings to be connected to the regional or district heating system.
• In connection with granting a site purchase and building permit provide the builder/developer with information on the alternatives for renewable energy use, low energy buildings, energy auditing and the possibility to be connected to the regional or district heating system.
• Arrange training for site buyers and builders of small properties on sources of renewable energy and energy saving.