The building services sector economic outlook provides the first emerging signs that the construction sector may be turning towards a cautious recovery. Although challenging – and partly gloomy – times are still present, positive signals are visible, especially in renovation construction. Based on the balance figures, the outlook for growth in residential renovation construction has turned positive for the first time in three years.
However, the repair of public spaces continues to stagnate. The building stock of municipalities plays a significant role in terms of both energy consumption and environmental impacts. Municipalities have a significant number of buildings on their balance sheet: schools, daycare centers, health centers and other public spaces that are used daily by residents. It is worrying that in many cases municipalities do not have sufficient information, for example, about the condition of the building services in these buildings.
Many public buildings are old and in need of renovation. This holds great potential for both energy savings and carbon footprint reduction. Neglecting the condition of buildings is not only a budget issue, but can also endanger the health of users. Indoor air quality problems, moisture damage and energy inefficiency are significant risks that increase over time. Preventive maintenance and timely repairs can save significant amounts of money compared to allowing problems to escalate into a crisis.
Renovation projects provide work for building services professionals, for example, while also promoting the recovery of the entire construction industry. The industry as a whole has such a significant impact on our national economy that this opportunity should not be missed. Municipal decision-makers play a key role in this.
The prolonged economic crisis has led many municipalities to postpone necessary repairs and investments. Neglecting repairs and maintenance measures causes uncontrollable costs, including leaks and emergency repairs to the water and sewer network. And the longer repairs are postponed, the more expensive they become.
Energy efficiency investments are not just a cost item, they are strategic decisions that bring long-term savings and improve indoor air quality and the comfort of buildings. They also support national and EU-level climate goals. The stricter energy efficiency requirements of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will be incorporated into national legislation by summer 2026. Energy efficiency must be significantly improved in conjunction with other repairs. A significant part of municipalities' assets is tied up in buildings. Growing repair debt weakens the value and usability of municipalities' assets.
As HVAC experts, we encourage municipalities to conduct systematic condition surveys and put building maintenance and repair at the top of their to-do list. It is important that repair projects are initiated without delay, before the situation becomes unmanageable. It is in the interest of the residents of the municipality that public buildings are healthy, safe and energy efficient – now and in the future.
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