The results of the Talotenikkiliito's spring economic survey were announced. The weak situation in housing construction continues as housing starts remain at a historically low level. Environment Minister Mykkänen states in an interview with Rakennuslehti that a moderate revival of the construction industry would make sense, as the industry is exceptionally strongly reflected in tax revenues. The government increases interest subsidy powers for Ara housing production to support new construction. From the point of view of the building technology industry, it is of the utmost importance to turn the eyes of the decision-makers to the April frame row, where the means of supporting renovation construction must be thoroughly reviewed. Concrete decisions are needed to support the repair projects of housing associations.
The world is marching towards low carbon with accelerating steps. Directing subsidies exclusively to the innovation of low-carbon forms of energy leaves a lot of undone work to make existing technologies more energy efficient. By adjusting the devices and renewing the ones that are out of order, energy savings are achieved, which also lead towards the goal of sustainable development. Both operating models are needed and both also need government incentives to progress in a sufficiently efficient manner.
In the recent Energy Barometer of the Land Management Association, almost 80 percent of property managers estimate that the importance of grants for the implementation of energy efficiency projects is increasing. On the other hand, Nordea is reminded in an article in Kauppalehti that it is important for the housing company to stick to the repair plan and carry out renovations so that the repair debt does not accumulate too much.
It is certainly good that financial institutions bring out the importance of renovation construction. The problem often seems to be the gap between the availability of funding and the need for it, especially in areas with a loss of migration. The need to repair residential buildings is about eight billion euros annually. It is often overlooked that houses and housing associations, whose collateral values have fallen due to low turnover, also need maintenance and renovation. In a tightened economic situation, the risk is that building societies will postpone necessary renovations, and national climate goals will not be achieved without systematic renovation of the existing building stock to make it energy efficient.
The construction industry is already in an exceptionally challenging economic situation, and the prolonged political strikes in the spring increase the pressure even more. Political strikes can cause significant delays to construction projects. They affect all players in the industry, delay projects and weaken competitiveness. As a result of strikes, the availability of labor and materials can be substantially reduced. The common interest of operators in the HVAC industry is to get a skilled workforce into the industry. In the business cycle survey, seven out of ten respondents see the availability of skilled workers as at least moderate, and nine out of ten of the largest operators share this opinion. The continuation of this positive development must be taken care of.
Talotekniikkiliitto has proposed extending the household deduction to housing associations and continuing the energy subsidies for residential buildings that ended at the end of last year, so that the necessary energy renovations can be carried out and meet the requirements of the upcoming EU building energy efficiency directive. The government can promote the creation of new jobs in the construction industry and strengthen Finnish building technology companies' know-how related to energy efficiency. When the upswing in the construction industry starts again, HVAC expertise will take on an even more important role in implementing the requirements of sustainable development.
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