Energy Agency of Southwest Finland is a regional energy management agency, accordant with the SAVE II programme of the European Union. Officially, the activity started in March 1999. The EU start-up funding ended in February 2002. Nowdays the funding consists of regional self-financing, project funding and the selling of services. The regional self-financing comes from both public and private sectors.

The region consists of 52 municipalities.

Specifically RES aims include:

• to increase use of RES in Southwest Finland
• to update energy and emission balance every 5th year

Specifically RUE aims include establishing:

• community energy conservation agreements
• energy expert training in real estates
• energy conservation at schools
• Energy Saving Week annually in October

The Energy Agency of Southwest Finland was established with both regional and EU funding (1999 to 2001). The regional self-financing comes from both public and private sectors. Their aim was to establish the status of the agency so that it can continue its operation after the EU start-up funding ends.

The agency is also active on climate change control and adaption, especially in the public sector.

Target audience: communities, companies, NGOs and citizens, real estate

Areas of expertise: energy auditing, energy efficiency in buildings, renewable energy (wind, bioenergy), dissemination of information, energy teaching at schools, advice on specific energy issues.

Further information about the region can be found online at: www.valonia.fi