Energy Efficiency Agreements

The voluntary energy efficiency agreements aim to increase the efficiency of energy consumption in the industrial sector, the energy and service sectors, the property sector, the municipal sector and in heating oil properties. The agreements are a means, selected by the government in cooperation with different industries, to meet the international energy efficiency obligations imposed on Finland without legislation or other new mandatory means.

Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities 2017–2025

The Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities, which took effect in the beginning of 2017, is an agreement between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Energy Authority and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities on the more efficient use of energy in the municipal sector.

The municipalities, cities and joint municipal authorities signed signatory-specific energy efficiency agreements in which they agree to the measures and goals of the Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities.

In accordance with the agreement, the signatory’s stock of residential buildings is included primarily in the operational programme concerning rental housing communities under the property sector’s energy efficiency agreement.

Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities and the municipal sector’s energy programme 2008–2016

The Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities and the municipal sector’s energy programme 2008–2016 supported the improvement of energy efficiency. In addition, they included measures and goals related to the promotion of renewable energy use. The essential goal of both the agreement and the programme was a nine per cent energy conservation during 2008–2016.

The Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities 2008–2016 was composed of two agreement models:

• The energy efficiency agreement for small and medium-sized municipalities.
• The energy programme for small municipalities.

The scope of the Energy Efficiency Agreement for Municipalities and the municipal sector’s energy programme, which concluded in the end of 2016, covered more than 77 per cent of Finland’s residents, a total of 117 municipalities and 15 joint municipal authorities.