City of Helsinki joins energy efficiency agreement

The European Union’s Energy Efficiency Directive obliges each Member State to make its energy use more efficient. To achieve the targets, the Finnish Government and its administrative branches have chosen voluntary energy efficiency agreements as a way to meet EU requirements. In practice, the agreements will guide the public sector, property sector, energy and service sectors and industries towards more efficient energy use.

The main advantage of the voluntary energy efficiency agreement scheme for the City of Helsinki is the freedom to choose the most effective and economically viable means of promoting energy efficiency, based on the City’s own criteria.

Typically, an energy efficiency investment pays for itself in well under 10 years. The Finnish Government offers incentives, such as higher levels of government support for energy efficiency investments, to those who sign up to the agreement, provided that certain conditions are met.

“The first step is to ensure that we consume energy only when necessary. The energy needed will then be produced and purchased as renewable energy, where possible”

The 10-year agreement, which starts in 2026, will be the fourth of its kind. The City of Helsinki has been involved since the first agreements. 

During the 2017–2025 agreement period, the City achieved the most significant energy savings by investing in solar energy and replacing light sources with LEDs in service buildings, on streets and in parks. The City is set to achieve its energy savings target of 117 gigawatt-hours for the 2017–2025 agreement period.

In the new agreement period, the City will continue its ongoing measures and also develop ways to exceed the national energy efficiency standards for renovations and new buildings. The aim is to achieve an even lower energy performance reference value, or E-value, for buildings. The City of Helsinki is committed to making its buildings carbon neutral in terms of their energy consumption by 2030.

Sectoral efficiency agreements

In addition to the City of Helsinki itself, several City of Helsinki operators will also be joining the energy efficiency agreements in their own sectors. 

The City and its notable subsidiaries in terms of energy consumption are joining the Energy Efficiency Agreement for the Public Sector JETS. Helsingin kaupungin asunnot Oy, Helsingin kaupungin asumisoikeus Oy and Kiinteistö Oy Auroranlinna are joining the Energy Efficiency Agreement for the Property Sector. Meanwhile, Helen Ltd and Port of Helsinki Ltd are currently preparing to join the Energy Efficiency Agreement for Industries.

“Helsinki and its subsidiaries are major energy consumers. Through the agreements and various energy efficiency measures, we are showing the EU that we are prepared to meet the targets set by the EU,” said Sevander.