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The Finnish Energy Conservation Programme - The First Experiences

Panel: Panel 1: Energy Efficiency policies, programmes and their links

Author:
Mr. Jari Kostama, Ministry of Trade and Industry

Abstract

Promotion of energy efficiency has been one of the key areas of Finnish energy policy for about twenty years. In continuing its efforts, the Government launched a new energy conservation programme in December 1995.

The new energy efficiency programme is based on the current energy economic situation and the forecasted energy prices. The programme takes account of the developments in the EU energy policy. One basic assumption is that the promotion of energy efficiency cannot be based on increased state subsidies. On the other hand, increased attention and efforts will have to focus on energy efficiency throughout the authorities. The programme also takes account of the benefits by combining energy efficiency with an active employment policy. Public finance shall focus on developing and marketing new technologies. This means that research, product development and demonstration projects need to be subsidized.

The energy efficiency programme should achieve a reduction in consumption by the year 2010 about 10 to 15 % lower compared to a base case without an active energy efficiency policy change. More accurate targets have been set individually for each area of measures.

The main measures include energy taxation, grants for repairs on buildings, grants for energy conservation related RD&D, third-party financing, technology procurement, revision of the buildning code, energy auditing of industrial and commercial premises, building certificates, energy efficiency standards and voluntary agreements on energy saving.

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