Water

High standard expertise for green construction

Buildings typically consume 30–40 percent of all primary energy used. Over 80 percent of the environmentally harmful emissions from buildings are due to energy consumption during the times when the buildings are in use.

It is against this background that Finnish actors have been involved in the development of low-energy construction alternatives since the late 1980s.

These projects have proven that simplified working models and systems. The concept of ‘simplification’ means decreasing the number of components and materials, simplifying the design of necessary components and using the same component or system for different functions and optimizing the whole building, not the sub-units.

The models will result in environmentally friendly and cost-effective buildings that can reduce energy consumption by 60–80 percent. They will also lead to improved indoor climate and air quality.

These projects have proven that simplified working models and systems will result in environmentally friendly and cost-effective buildings that can reduce energy consumption by 60–80 percent. They will also lead to improved indoor climate and air quality.

Not only does simplification lead to investment savings but it also provides a more reliable system.

Other principles include controlled ventilation and efficient heat recovery, improved thermal insulation and using structures as heat storage units.

The strengths of Finnish know-how are a systematic approach and holistic solutions.

For instance, Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, in collaboration with the City of Helsinki launched a sustainable development design competition for a carbon neutral block in the City of Helsinki in spreng 2009.

Now the block is shifting to implementation phase. When completed, it will serve as a national and international model for sustainable construction.

There are also other important low-carbon construction projects in planning phase in Finnish cities and towns.

An important milestone of sustainable development will be reached as the Finnish idea for the digital ecological city is coming reality in China.

Two model DigiEcoCities in Jiang Xi and Jiang Su provinces are planned for 100,000 people and for necessary services for a good life. In addition, a high-tech ecocity is in an early planning stage for Mentougou district near Beijing.

The model cities may not change the world, but will offer a model for the world to cope with the challenge of massive urbanisation process ongoing in developing and emerging regions, and thus provide a seed of change in urban construction.