This article is a translation of the original Finnish article: Rakennusten energialuokat
Building energy classes
· updated
The energy classes (energialuokat) of buildings are determined by the E-value (E-luku) and the energy efficiency class table (energiatehokkuusluokkataulukko), or energy class table for short. Each use category (käyttötarkoitusluokka) has its own energy efficiency class table, and the energy class limits of a building depend on which use category it belongs to. There are ten different use categories, and you will find them, together with their energy efficiency class tables, further down in this article. For every use category, building energy efficiency classes run on a scale from A to G, where A is the most energy-efficient class and G the least energy-efficient. New buildings must meet requirements for the E-value and energy efficiency class to obtain a building permit, whereas for existing buildings it is enough for the E-value and energy class to be determined at the latest when the building is sold or let. A building’s energy class is a good way to compare the energy efficiency of the buildings themselves, because under the calculation rules for the energy performance certificate (energiatodistus) and the E-value it is always based on design and standard values, and does not depend on the occupants or on annual weather conditions. The purpose of energy consulting is to find cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency.
Small residential buildings (use category 1 a–c)
For small residential buildings, the energy class is determined by the energy efficiency class table below. Small residential buildings include, among others, detached houses, post-war veteran’s houses (rintamamiestalot) and semi-detached houses. The energy efficiency class limits for small residential buildings depend on the floor area of the building; you can read more about this, if needed, in the article E-value calculation examples.
- single-dwelling houses
- two-dwelling houses
- buildings forming part of a linked house (ketjutalo) and other detached small houses
| Small residential buildings, use category 1 a–c | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m² year) |
| Size group: 50 m² ≤ Anetto ≤ 150 m² | |
| A | E-value ≤ 110 – 0,2 × Anetto |
| B | 110 – 0,2 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 215 – 0,6 × Anetto |
| C | 215 – 0,6 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 252 – 0,6 × Anetto |
| D | 252 – 0,6 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 332 – 0,6 × Anetto |
| E | 332 – 0,6 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 462 – 0,6 × Anetto |
| F | 462 – 0,6 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 532 – 0,6 × Anetto |
| G | 532 – 0,6 × Anetto< E-value |
| Size group: 150 m² < Anetto ≤ 600 m² | |
| A | E-value ≤ 83 – 0,02 × Anetto |
| B | 83 – 0,02 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 131 – 0,04 × Anetto |
| C | 131 – 0,04 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 173 – 0,07 × Anetto |
| D | 173 – 0,07 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 253 – 0,07 × Anetto |
| E | 253 – 0,07 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 383 – 0,07 × Anetto |
| F | 383 – 0,07 × Anetto < E-value ≤ 453 – 0,07 × Anetto |
| G | 453 – 0,07 × Anetto < E-value |
| Size group: Anetto > 600 m² | |
| A | E-value ≤ 70 |
| B | 71 ≤ E-value ≤ 106 |
| C | 107 ≤ E-value ≤ 130 |
| D | 131 ≤ E-value ≤ 210 |
| E | 211 ≤ E-value ≤ 340 |
| F | 341 ≤ E-value ≤ 410 |
| G | 411 ≤ E-value |
Energy class tables for small residential buildings, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Terraced houses and two-storey blocks of flats (use category 1d)
The energy classes for terraced houses and two-storey blocks of flats are shown below. The best energy efficiency class, A, is reached with an E-value of 80 or less. For example, a building falls into the middle energy efficiency class, D, when its E-value is 151–210. The poorest energy efficiency rating is given for an E-value of 411 or higher.
- terraced house
- block of flats with residential floors on no more than two storeys
| Small residential buildings, use category 1 d | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWhE/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 80 |
| B | 81 ≤ E-value ≤ 110 |
| C | 111 ≤ E-value ≤ 150 |
| D | 151 ≤ E-value ≤ 210 |
| E | 211 ≤ E-value ≤ 340 |
| F | 341 ≤ E-value ≤ 410 |
| G | 411 ≤ E-value |
Terraced houses and two-storey blocks of flats, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Blocks of flats (use category 2)
The energy efficiency classes for blocks of flats are shown below. Energy efficiency class A is achieved with an E-value of 75 or less. A building ends up in the poorest energy efficiency class with an E-value of 241 or more.
- block of flats with residential floors on at least three storeys
| Blocks of flats, use category 2 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 75 |
| B | 76 ≤ E-value ≤ 100 |
| C | 101 ≤ E-value ≤ 130 |
| D | 131 ≤ E-value ≤ 160 |
| E | 161 ≤ E-value ≤ 190 |
| F | 191 ≤ E-value ≤ 240 |
| G | 241 ≤ E-value |
Blocks of flats, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Office buildings (use category 3)
The energy efficiency classes for office buildings can be found in the energy efficiency table below. Reaching energy class A requires an E-value of 80 or less. An E-value of 301 or more means the poorest energy class, G.
- office building
- health centre
| Office buildings, use category 3 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 80 |
| B | 81 ≤ E-value ≤ 120 |
| C | 121 ≤ E-value ≤ 170 |
| D | 171 ≤ E-value ≤ 200 |
| E | 201 ≤ E-value ≤ 240 |
| F | 241 ≤ E-value ≤ 300 |
| G | 301 ≤ E-value |
Office buildings, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Commercial buildings (use category 4)
The energy efficiency classes for commercial buildings, a category covering several different building types, can be checked below. Energy class A requires an E-value of 90 or less. A building ends up in the poorest energy class with an E-value of 391 or more.
-
commercial building
-
department store
-
shopping centre
-
shop building
-
retail hall
-
theatre, opera, concert and congress building
-
cinema
-
library
-
archive
-
museum
-
art gallery
-
exhibition hall
| Commercial buildings, use category 4 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 90 |
| B | 91 ≤ E-value ≤ 170 |
| C | 171 ≤ E-value ≤ 240 |
| D | 241 ≤ E-value ≤ 280 |
| E | 281 ≤ E-value ≤ 340 |
| F | 341 ≤ E-value ≤ 390 |
| G | 391 ≤ E-value |
Commercial buildings, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Accommodation buildings (use category 5)
The energy efficiency classes A–G for accommodation buildings are shown below. Accommodation buildings include hotels, dormitories, service housing, old people’s homes and care institutions. Class A is reached with an E-value of 90 or less. A building remains in class G with an E-value of 451 or more.
-
hotel
-
dormitory
-
service housing
-
old people’s home
-
care institution
| Accommodation buildings, use category 5 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 90 |
| B | 91 ≤ E-value ≤ 170 |
| C | 171 ≤ E-value ≤ 240 |
| D | 241 ≤ E-value ≤ 280 |
| E | 281 ≤ E-value ≤ 340 |
| F | 341 ≤ E-value ≤ 450 |
| G | 451 ≤ E-value |
Accommodation buildings, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Educational buildings and day care centres (use category 6)
Educational buildings and day care centres need an E-value of 90 or less to reach class A. A building ends up in the poorest energy efficiency class with an E-value of 361 or more.
| Educational buildings and day care centres, use category 6 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 90 |
| B | 91 ≤ E-value ≤ 130 |
| C | 131 ≤ E-value ≤ 170 |
| D | 171 ≤ E-value ≤ 230 |
| E | 231 ≤ E-value ≤ 300 |
| F | 301 ≤ E-value ≤ 360 |
| G | 361 ≤ E-value |
Educational buildings and day care centres, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Sports halls, excluding swimming halls and ice rinks (use category 7)
The best energy efficiency class for sports halls, A, is achieved with an E-value of 90 or less. A building falls into energy efficiency class G if its E-value is 281 or more.
| Sports halls, excluding swimming halls and ice rinks, use category 7 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 90 |
| B | 91 ≤ E-value ≤ 130 |
| C | 131 ≤ E-value ≤ 170 |
| D | 171 ≤ E-value ≤ 190 |
| E | 191 ≤ E-value ≤ 240 |
| F | 241 ≤ E-value ≤ 280 |
| G | 281 ≤ E-value |
Sports halls, excluding swimming halls and ice rinks, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Hospitals (use category 8)
In the hospital use category, an E-value of 150 is enough for the best energy efficiency class, A. The building is rated energy efficiency class B if its E-value is 151–350. The poorest energy efficiency class applies when the E-value is 801 or more.
| Hospitals, use category 8 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 150 |
| B | 151 ≤ E-value ≤ 350 |
| C | 351 ≤ E-value ≤ 450 |
| D | 451 ≤ E-value ≤ 550 |
| E | 551 ≤ E-value ≤ 650 |
| F | 651 ≤ E-value ≤ 800 |
| G | 801 ≤ E-value |
Hospitals, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5
Other buildings (use category 9)
The “other buildings” use category includes the buildings listed below. The best energy efficiency class, A, is reached with an E-value of 90 or less. The poorest energy efficiency class, G, applies when the E-value is 281 or more.
-
warehouse building
-
transport building
-
swimming hall
-
ice rink
-
grocery store unit under 2000 m²
-
relocatable building
-
other building not included in the use categories listed earlier in this annex
| Other buildings, use category 9 | |
|---|---|
| Energy efficiency class | E-value, kWh/(m²year) |
| A | E-value ≤ 90 |
| B | 91 ≤ E-value ≤ 130 |
| C | 131 ≤ E-value ≤ 170 |
| D | 171 ≤ E-value ≤ 190 |
| E | 191 ≤ E-value ≤ 240 |
| F | 241 ≤ E-value ≤ 280 |
| G | 281 ≤ E-value |
Other buildings, energy class table, 20.12.2017/1048, Annexes 1–5