Resources, tools and services
The energy audit will identify cost-effective and potentially larger energy efficiency measures for your housing company. The more extensive the energy renovation is, the more useful a separate energy efficiency survey will be. The purpose of an energy efficiency survey is to provide a housing company with sufficient information to start their project. It can include elements such as a comparison of heating methods and an energy performance analysis (E-value), depending on the customer’s needs. It also serves as a project planning tool for energy renovations.
An energy efficiency survey should be carried out by an independent company specialising in this field. However, before commissioning a survey, you should contact Helsinki’s energy experts to choose the most suitable survey method.
What should you consider in an energy effiency survey?
For tips and basic information on commissioning an energy survey, see our article (in Finnish), or contact The energy specialists of the City of Helsinki.
Propose an energy efficiency survey at your general meeting
If you are not on the board of your housing company, your best opportunity to advocate for an energy renovation is at your housing company’s general meeting. At your general meeting, you can propose commissioning an energy efficiency survey, conducting a less intensive inspection, or contacting the energy advice service. On this page, you can find ready-made templates for submitting a proposal to your general meeting.
Tender template for energy effiency survey
You can get a preliminary template for requesting energy efficiency survey tenders by contacting the energy advice service or by requesting the template via email directly from energiaremontti(at)hel.fi. The tender template must always be tailored to each individual housing company. Below you will find an example of how to fill in the tender template.
The attached tendering templates are intended for housing companies that want to improve the climate resilience of their property and plot through landscaping. Read about the benefits of climate-proof yard design here. The tendering template must always be adapted to the needs of each individual housing company. Choose the tendering template that suits your situation best: (available in Finnish)
How do I know if geothermal heating is a viable option for my housing company?
Geothermal heat is rapidly becoming popular as an energy source for housing companies in Helsinki. Read the article (in Finnish) on our website to find out how a Helsinki-based housing company can start investigating the suitability of its property for geothermal heating. Geothermal heat is often an energy- and cost-efficient solution for heating and cooling even larger residential buildings.
Use the comparison tool to identify the differences between the geothermal offers you receive. The tool also serves as a checklist for processing offers. Request a customisable version from the energy advice service at energiaremontti@hel.fi.
Energy advice for housing companies
The City of Helsinki’s energy experts offer free and impartial advice to Helsinki-based housing companies interested in finding out how to improve their energy efficiency and carry out a cost-effective energy renovation. Advice is available at every stage of the renovation process, from concept to implementation. For example, you can invite an energy expert to your board meeting or general meeting. The experts can also educate the housing company on different energy renovation options or share successful examples from other housing companies.
Contact the city’s energy experts using this page.
Lift Project Advisor
The City of Helsinki’s Lift Project provides free advice to Helsinki-based housing companies on issues related to purchasing retrofit lifts. Invite the City of Helsinki’s Lift Project Advisor to visit your housing company. Together, you can survey the various options for retrofitting a lift and consider individual solutions and preliminary purchase cost estimates for each option. The Lift Project Advisor has extensive experience with retrofitting projects in Helsinki, both completed projects and those in the planning stages. Contact Lift Project Advisor Simo Merilä by phone at +358 9 310 36122 or by e-mail (firstname.lastname@hel.fi).
Infill construction service
The City of Helsinki’s free infill construction service provides advice and support during the infill construction process. Housing companies may even be able to finance major renovation projects through infill construction. Read more about the options for your housing company on the infill construction website: taydennysrakentaminen.hel.fi and contact us by email: taydennysrakentaminen@hel.fi.
Building control services
Here you will find the Helsinki Building Control Services’ instructions for renovations and alteration work. The instructions will also state which works require a building permit.
Energy-related online courses
HSY has held several high-quality and completely free courses for housing companies. You can find all the online courses on the HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services) website. These include the following courses for housing company boards on energy issues:
- Housing company energy expert
- Energy communication for housing company boards
- Solar electricity for housing companies
The housing company board’s communication guide on energy efficiency
Communication is an essential part of a housing company’s energy efficiency and functionality. HSY has produced a dedicated energy-efficiency communications guide for the boards of housing companies. You can download the guide in PDF format from this HSY page.
You should also consult other material on communicating about energy efficiency for housing company boards.
From energy losses to energy smartness – a guide for housing companies
Energiahukasta energiaviisauteen (From energy losses to energy smartness) is a comprehensive guide to improving the energy efficiency of your housing company and taking energy issues into account all year round. You can download the guide here (in Finnish). The guide was produced as part of the project ‘Climate-friendly Housing Companies’.
A guide to setting up a block garden
The guide to creating block gardens shows how housing companies and residents can work together to develop their yards and ultimately create lush, green block gardens. The guide is the result of a collaboration between the Korttelipihat takaisin! (Bring back the block gardens!) residents’ movement, FEMMA Planning and Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division. The guide is available at: https://korttelipihat.hel.fi/en/ (opens in new tab).
Guide for preparing for extreme weather events
The changing weather affects buildings and their users in many ways. The Finnish Real Estate Federation’s guide helps housing companies and property managers prepare for changing weather conditions and extreme weather events. The guide explains the effects of changing weather conditions and the different solutions available to housing companies. You can download the PDF guide (in Finnish) by clicking here (opens in a new tab).
Traffic noise and homes
This guide by the City of Helsinki contains the guideline values for noise levels in residential areas and advice on noise abatement in residential buildings. Measures to improve noise abatement can be implemented as part of renovation work. Some measures will also improve the home’s energy efficiency at the same time and mitigate the effects of extreme weather events. Open the PDF guide here (in Finnish, link opens in a new tab).
Housing company’s flood plan
Housing companies, especially those located in a flood risk area, should create a flood plan. The plan sets out measures and guidelines to prepare for floods and minimise the damage they cause. You should ask your property manager for help in drawing up a flood plan. Information on flood risks and protection measures can be obtained from the National Land Survey of Finland. The plan can be based on Flood plan template for housing companies available on the vesi.fi website (in Finnish, link opens in a new tab).
Read how to promote electric car recharging points in a housing company and how the acquisition of recharging points proceeds from the article on our website in Finnish. At the bottom of the page, you will also find links to other good materials related to electric car charging stations.