Energy efficiency

A building’s energy efficiency, is characterized with energy efficiency value (EE-value) . It reflects the consumed energy (heating, water heating, electricity with the so-called weightning factors) per year divided by the heated area. It is expressed as kWh/m² per year.

The Regulation no. 68 (30.08.2012) of the Government of the Republic of Estonia determines the minimum requirements for energy efficiency of buildings, including for nearly zero buildings and low-energy buildings. The scope of the regulation includes construction and substantial reconstruction of buildings with indoor climate control. Minimum requirements for energy efficiency are thresholds for the total energy consumption for built and substantially reconstructed houses as well as other requirements introduced in this regulation that originate from the function of the house and take into account their technical specifications.

If a building is in accordance to the minimum requirements of energy efficiency, is evaluated during the designing phase of the building on the basis of the construction project.

Constructed buildings’ energy efficiency value must not exceed the following thresholds:

  1. in small residential houses 160 kWh/(m2 a);
  2. in apartment buildings 150 kWh/(m2 a);
  3. in office buildings, libraries and research buildings 160 kWh/(m2 a);
  4. in business buildings 210 kWh/(m2 a);
  5. in public buildings 200 kWh/(m2 a);
  6. in commercial buildings and terminals 230 kWh/(m2 a);
  7. in educational buildings 160 kWh/(m2 a);
  8. in preschool buildings 190 kWh/(m2 a);
  9. in healthcare buildings 380 kWh/(m2 a).

Substantially reconstructed buildings’ energy efficiency value must not exceed the following thresholds:

  1. in small residential houses 210 kWh/(m2 a);
  2. in apartment buildings 180 kWh/(m2 a);
  3. in office buildings, libraries and research buildings 210 kWh/(m2 a);
  4. in business buildings 270 kWh/(m2 a);
  5. in public buildings 250 kWh/(m2 a);
  6. in commercial buildings and terminals 280 kWh/(m2 a);
  7. in educational buildings 200 kWh/(m2 a);
  8. in preschool buildings 240 kWh/(m2 a);
  9. in healthcare buildings 460 kWh/(m2 a).