Energy-efficient apartment building
Improving energy efficiency in your housing company
The aim of property maintenance is to preserve the condition, conditions and value of the property. It is advisable to be prepared for various maintenance and repair measures, which is called planned property maintenance.
These objectives are achieved through maintenance and property management. In practice, this means:
- damaged or worn parts are repaired at the right time and in the right way,
- maintain heating and other systems so that, for example, the indoor temperature of the property is maintained at the level the building society wants.
Energy efficiency measures should be integrated into the design and long-term planning (PTS) of renovation projects, so that they do not remain isolated but form a technically and economically sound whole. Renovation involves upgrading the building’s technology to meet today’s requirements.
At what stage should energy efficiency be tackled?
Smaller and quicker actions can and should be done as part of the regular maintenance of the property. For example, controlling lighting, adjusting heating and ventilation systems, checking and replacing radiator thermostats when necessary are often very cost-effective and relatively inexpensive measures.
Improving energy efficiency is always a sensible thing to consider when a building is about to undergo renovations, such as line renovation, façade renovation, window replacement or ventilation renovation.
Repairs may include
- use the same steps and save costs
- combine several measures
- plan the whole package on the basis of the energy audit and the energy certificate
Examples of improving energy efficiency during renovation projects
- additional thermal insulation of external walls,
- replacing windows or installing additional glass, replacing exterior and balcony doors,
- upgrading the ventilation system to a mechanical supply-exhaust ventilation system with heat recovery.
Roof renovation
- additional thermal insulation of the upper floor.
Plumbing repairs
- the installation of individual water meters for each apartment,
- water-circulated underfloor heating of wet rooms in district-heated buildings,
- new water fixtures, pressure levels in the water mains,
- improving the insulation of the water supply network,
- upgrading the ventilation system to a mechanical supply-exhaust ventilation system with heat recovery,
- heat recovery from exhaust air by means of heat pumps,
- renewal of lighting.
Heating system
- changing the type of heating (e.g. district heating, geothermal, pellets),
- supplementing the heating system (e.g. heat pumps, solar heating).
Modernisation or retrofitting of lifts
- new lifting machinery, efficient lighting, energy savings during stationary periods.
The starting point for systematic property maintenance is a clear understanding of the building’s condition and repair history.
When the current condition is known, a maintenance plan for future repairs and major servicing can be prepared with the help of an expert.
Gather information and assess the building’s current energy performance
Energy efficiency is not a single project, but part of an ongoing process of building maintenance. Planning and setting energy efficiency targets requires good knowledge of the current state of the building.
- the distribution of energy consumption: what proportion is used for heat, electricity and water
- the energy performance class of the building (energy certificate)
- the condition of structures and systems (condition assessment and condition surveys)
- previous repairs and maintenance status
These will be used as the basis for an energy audit or energy report, which will show which measures are most cost-effective and what savings can realistically be achieved. At the same time, the measures can be sensibly timed and expanded into a comprehensive long-term plan (PTS).
An expert’s assessment of the repair and energy efficiency improvements ahead should be updated every five to ten years. It is also a good idea to update the energy certificate after major renovations.
Energy efficiency measures often have a short payback period, especially when combined with other renovation projects. Other benefits include better conditions, more even temperatures, better air quality and more modern building services technology that supports the value of the property.
Steps to systematic property maintenance
1 – Review the current condition with an expert
- Determine the energy and water consumption of the property.
- Monitor indoor climatic conditions, for example temperatures in common areas.
- Collect other baseline information on the condition of the building and future renovations. This information is obtained from sources such as the condition assessment, the energy audit and the maintenance book. If no surveys have been carried out, it is recommended that the necessary expert reports are commissioned to identify maintenance needs.
- If necessary, more detailed studies will be commissioned, for example to check the condition of the plumbing, ventilation or façade.
2 – Create a plan for future improvements
- A maintenance book and a maintenance plan are drawn up, taking into account the expert’s recommendations and setting targets.
- Consider energy-efficient maintenance of the buildings in the housing company in the plans: for example, the correct functioning of systems and possible energy efficiency improvements in the context of renovations or separate energy efficiency improvement projects.
3 – Turn plans into action
- Implement energy efficient maintenance and renovation in accordance with the maintenance manual and PTS.
- Encourage residents to save energy and water.
4 – Monitor results and update your plans
- Property management is an ongoing process, i.e. monitoring the achievement of objectives
- Updating the maintenance plan at regular intervals and considering new ways to improve energy efficiency.
- If necessary, experts will be called in to help.