Development of National Energy Audit Programme through training and transfer of knowledge and experience - Motiva Oy/OPET Finland, Finland

Summary
Energy auditing in buildings and industrial enterprises has proven to be one of the most effective means of promoting energy efficient building technologies. Motiva, Finland has comprehensive expertise and several years of experience in the auditing sector following its co-ordination of the Finnish National Auditing Programme: training and authorising auditors, developing standard auditing procedures and managing a follow-up system. DEA is a central agency in the Danish auditing activities and has experience in energy audit activities in Baltic States.

The aim of the task was to provide the participating countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - with knowledge and experiences on efficient building technologies as well to establish a national auditing programme.

The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian OPETs invited the relevant national authorities and government bodies to participate in the work. The project resulted in Draft proposals for National Energy Auditing Programme in all three countries.

End-user area	Legal initiatives (municipal regulations, directives, etc) New buildings Planning issues Refurbishment of buildings
Target audience	Decision makers Local and regional authorities Property owners
Technical scope	Cooling Energy efficiency Heating Lighting

Context
Energy auditing in buildings and industrial enterprises has proven to be one of the most effective means of promoting energy efficient building technologies. Motiva, Finland has comprehensive expertise and several years of experiences in the auditing sector following its co-ordination of the Finnish National Auditing Programme: training and authorising auditors, developing standard auditing procedures and managing a follow-up system, consisting of a computer programme MOTICOP, which contains all essential energy related information from the audited enterprises and buildings.

DEA is a central agency in the Danish auditing sector and has experience in energy audit activities in Baltic States.

The aim of the task was to provide the participating countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - with knowledge and experiences on efficient building technologies as well as to establish a national auditing programme.

Objectives
The objective was to enhance the penetration of auditing procedures in Baltic countries via the transferring of knowledge and experiences on energy auditing and energy efficient building technologies from Finland and Denmark to Baltic States. Furthermore, the aim was to exchange information and experiences on other measures enhancing energy efficiency in buildings.

The task comprised the following topics:

• Energy-efficient HVAC technologies
• Other efficient building technologies
• Training and authorisation of auditors
• Financial schemes
• Administrative questions
• Various auditing types
• Monitoring of results

Process
The aim was to provide the participating countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - with knowledge and experiences of efficient building technologies, as well as develop procedure and prerequisites for the establishment of a national auditing programme. A review of the existing situation in each country, potential authorities to be involved, and areas of emphasis was undertaken. Motiva evaluated the existing materials and information, together with the relevant partners.

At the project kick-off meeting, general outlines as to how to proceed were agreed. OPET Finland planned a training programme and realised training workshops in 2 phases. It was emphasised that each partner country would be well represented by relevant actors and decision-makers in the field (ministries, housing foundations, etc.) in each of the workshops. Both workshops had good representation from the Baltic States (A total of 17 representatives in the first; 11 representatives in the second workshop).

In the first workshop (Tallinn, Estonia on 16-17 October, 2000), the Finnish Energy Auditing Programme and related operating agent activities (including training and authorisation of auditors, management and development of auditing procedures and monitoring and follow-up) were presented. The participants were provided with material and advised as to how to proceed with the development of the national EAPs. During the 'homework' period, advice and comments were given upon request.

In the second workshop (Riga, 12-13 February, 2001), drafts for national energy auditing programmes were presented and analysed. For further development of the EAP, common measures and technologies for the implementation of EAP were introduced. The Finnish follow-up tool, Motiwatti (an Excel-based calculation tool for auditors) was also presented.

OPET Denmark contributed with experience from the Danish energy auditing programme and activities, mainly concerning the organisation of the Danish training programme for energy auditors, as well as experience from the energy labelling scheme initiated via a Governmental decision in 1996.

As a support action, OPET Estonia organised a CTI Training Course: 'Climate Technology and Energy audits as Tools for Improved Energy Efficiency in Eastern Europe' (Tallinn, Estonia, 26-29 September, 2000). The seminar focused upon experiences and different elaborated energy audit systems in EU countries, including auditing results and drawn conclusions - i.e. success stories. Selected country presentations on energy auditing from Eastern European Countries were presented, in order to give an overview of the current situation and achievements in the region. The seminar had some 80 participants. The seminar summarised results of potential interest for the participating key persons, both through the presentations, the discussions and through the distributed proceedings.

Actions
- Workshop
- Seminar
- Technical Handbook

Financial resources and partners

Partners: OPET Finland (Motiva), OPET Denmark, OPET Estonia, OPET Latvia and OPET Lithuania.

Results
OPETs from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania each prepared a draft for national energy programme. The Estonian plan focused on the implementation of the national energy conservation target programme, the emphasis being on the energy efficiency of buildings. OPET Estonia also prepared a guidebook Energy Audit Guide for Buildings.

OPET Latvia's objectives in the draft for national energy auditing programme were:

• Energy auditing in buildings helps to estimate the energy consumption of client's site and possibilities to increase the efficiency of heat energy and electricity use.
• In Latvia, energy auditing of buildings is mainly directed to monitoring of specific energy consumption of different kinds of buildings (shops, offices, education, warehouses, etc.). During auditing it is necessary to direct attention to efficient use of heat and electric energy in all kinds of buildings.

A Draft of National Energy Auditing Programme was to be included as a Section in the National Building Programme of Latvia.

OPET Lithuania focused upon residential multifamily buildings and public schools. In the Energy Efficiency Housing Pilot Project (EEHPP) in Lithuania, energy auditing is only a component of the project aimed at boosting energy consulting services in the country. More general objectives of the programme were to: (a) support private initiatives to improve residential energy efficiency, (b) support public initiatives in improving energy efficiency in schools and (c) support the privatization of housing, enabling increased private initiatives in housing maintenance.

The project deliverables included:

• 2 Workshops
• 1 seminar
• 3 National Energy Audit Programme drafts
• 1 technology match
• meetings with market actors and decision makers
• 4 pilot audits

Lessons learned and replication potential
Common approach and interest in developing national drafts of EAP was very positive. The OPETs managed to involve and commit relevant authorities and government agencies in their countries in the development work.

The project lasted only one year and, at the time, seemed too short for thorough preparation and development of programmes. Also, it was felt that more time and resources should be allocated for commenting and further development of different parts of the programme.

This kind of procedure could be replicated in local and national level. Well established and successful sectoral (policy) and development programmes, such as Energy Audit Programme, in some countries could be applied to others.