Collaboration forum for multifamily apartment buildings promotes energy efficiency in Lappeenranta

By project MonitorEE

Published on 19 February 2024

Finland

Etelä-Suomi

About this good practice

All private owned multifamily apartment buildings have the joint challenge: how to implement energy efficiency (EE) or renewable energy (RE) measures. So far decisions have been made individually by each board and housing association meeting. Collaboration forum brings together the decision makers in the same city/region/neighborhood and who also have similar renovation needs. Forum serves as a nexus for housing associations and experts to promote EE measures, share good practices (GP) and enhance expertise. This is achieved by inviting EE-experts to present the best solutions available and discussing with forum members. In Lappeenranta the collaboration forum was established at the beginning of 2021 by regional energy advisors of Lappeenranta City with support of Motiva (Sustainable development company in Finland) and Energiavirasto (Finnish Energy Authority). During 2021-2022 regular events have promoted and increased energy efficient way of living for the forum members, who are the main beneficiaries of this practise. Further development steps of forum have been connected as part of Interrer BSR/Renowave project, which started at 1/2023. With support of Renowave, energy audits for 13 pilot buildings were conducted between 11-12/2023. Based on the results of audits practical EE-measures will be implemented as group procurement and achieved cheaper unit prices to forum members. Group procurement is also more attractive in the service provider point of view (a larger deal).

Resources needed

For the first 6 months funding from Energiavirasto 26001,46 euros and working hours by local energy advisors totally 102 h. After that, preparations work for forum events needed approx. 4-8 h/event (depending on format: teams or onsite). Costs of energy audits for 13 buildings totally 9970 euros.

Evidence of success

Regular meeting place where housing associations can promote their energy efficiency
Number of forum meetings 1/2021-12/2023: 24 events
Total number of participants: >300 (participation on forum events is voluntary and forum has no official or legal status)
Energy audits for 13 multiapartment buildings
Readiness for piloting of group procurements as part of Renowave project: joint EE-renovations or RE-installations
Cheaper unit prices for building owners
Appealing deal for the service provider

Potential for learning or transfer

Cities and regions have ambitious climate targets defined in their road maps. To reach these targets, buildings owned by both public and private sectors are required to implement EE- and RE-measures. The attached guide for the establishing process of collaboration forums can inspire and encourage the private sector housing associations to be committed and joined to regional climate targets for example by implementing EE- and RE-measures as group procurement. For example city of Lappeenranta is providing energy advisor services as local OSS (One Stop Shop) at South Karelian region for 125000 inhabitants. The collaboration forum is an essential part of OSS activities and in line with the climate policy targets set by the city. In Finland, there are totally 18 areas, where the same service is provided by similar public authorities or other organizations. In European level cities are providing similar services everywhere. The GP can be directly utilized and copied by these stakeholders.