Updated on 30.8.2026
Why Carry Out a Ventilation Energy Renovation in a Housing Company?
In many housing companies, the need to improve ventilation is driven by both living comfort and energy efficiency. Older ventilation systems often no longer meet modern requirements, which may become apparent through inadequate ventilation, stale indoor air, odours spreading between apartments, moisture accumulating on windows, and unnecessary heat loss. Improving ventilation is therefore not merely a technical upgrade but an investment in healthier indoor air, increased property value, and better control of housing costs over the long term.
A key benefit of a ventilation energy renovation is improved energy efficiency. Rising energy prices have increased interest in solutions that recover heat from extract air and reduce overall energy consumption. In buildings with extract-only or natural ventilation systems, a significant amount of heat energy is lost with the exhaust air. Through renovation, however, this energy can be recovered and used to preheat incoming replacement air. Thanks to the high heat recovery efficiency of modern ventilation units, the housing company’s energy consumption can be significantly reduced, resulting directly in lower heating costs. In addition, demand-controlled ventilation further optimizes energy use by adjusting ventilation rates according to actual needs, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. As a result, the building becomes considerably more economical and energy-efficient over the long term.
How Can a Ventilation Renovation in a Housing Company Be Implemented Smoothly?
Many housing companies are looking for ways to improve ventilation and reduce energy consumption. For residents and board members alike, it can be difficult to understand what can or should be done to the ventilation system and what impact the changes will have. It is therefore useful to approach the matter as a structured process that can be divided into several stages.
1. Preventive maintenance is always a good idea
A housing company should consider carrying out a ventilation inspection every few years. FINVAC has published a guide that provides a practical framework for conducting a relatively simple assessment of how a building’s ventilation and heating systems are performing. Although the guide was primarily developed for public buildings, the same key aspects should be reviewed in both terraced houses and apartment buildings. The fundamentals of ventilation are largely the same in detached houses as well.
A ventilation inspection can reveal existing or emerging faults, component failures, and incorrect control settings. The cost is typically modest, amounting to only a few tens of euros per apartment in an apartment building, making it a cost-effective way to maintain the ventilation system. If the inspection identifies significant deficiencies, or if the ventilation system is no longer energy-efficient and is negatively affecting indoor comfort, an energy renovation should be considered.
2. Project planning is vital for a successful renovation
When a housing company begins discussing a potential ventilation renovation, it is advisable to carry out a thorough project planning phase. This does not yet mean that the renovation will be implemented. The purpose of project planning is to assess the current situation, for which a previously completed ventilation inspection provides an excellent starting point. The project planning process evaluates the building’s needs as well as the expectations of its residents, explores different implementation alternatives, identifies suitable systems and technical solutions, and reviews local building authority requirements, among other factors.
At this stage, the impacts of the various alternatives start to become clear, including effects on costs, energy consumption, indoor comfort, the scope of the renovation, and project schedules. It also becomes easier to determine how the renovation may affect other building services systems and whether it would be beneficial to combine it with other planned refurbishment projects. A well-prepared project plan provides the housing company with a solid foundation for informed decision-making.
3. A professional supervisor is a valuable asset for the housing company
If the housing company decides to proceed with the renovation, the ventilation designer will prepare the ventilation plans and any other required designs based on the selected solution. These plans then form the basis for requesting tenders from contractors.
It is advisable to appoint a site supervisor before issuing the requests for quotation, and the ventilation design work itself should also be competitively tendered. The supervisor’s experience can be invaluable when deciding how many contractors should be invited to submit bids, which companies should be approached, and what requirements should be included in the tender documents. In addition to the ventilation contractor, a renovation project typically requires several other construction and building services professionals. The supervisor can also liaise with the local building control authority whenever necessary.
4. Carefully compare the tenders
Comparing tenders is not always straightforward, which is where the expertise of a qualified site supervisor becomes particularly valuable. Tender proposals may contain deviations from the original request for quotation, especially in areas that have not been specified in sufficient detail. The lowest-priced option is not necessarily the most cost-effective solution over the long term. Reliability is also an important consideration, both when selecting contractors and when choosing the materials and products to be used.
It is advisable to compare not only the prices but also the estimated project duration and the extent to which the renovation will affect residents and everyday living conditions. Careful evaluation of all these factors helps ensure that the selected solution delivers the best overall value for the housing company.
5. Ensure Effective Communication with Housing Company Residents
Clear communication with residents throughout the renovation project is essential, as the work will affect day-to-day living conditions. Residents should be informed clearly about what will be done, why it is being done, and the planned schedule. It is also advisable to arrange an information session for residents, with the selected contractor present to answer any questions.
The contractor should be asked to provide an estimate of the work schedule for individual apartments, and this information should be communicated to residents as soon as possible. Open and proactive communication helps reduce complaints and avoid delays during the project. It is equally important to ensure that residents understand that the project may deviate from the original plan if unforeseen issues arise during the renovation.
6. Sign the Contracts and Monitor Progress with the Support of a Site Supervisor
Once the contracts have been signed, the contractors can begin work as agreed. Although contractors have qualified site managers, the role of the site supervisor is to ensure that all work proceeds in a coordinated manner, in the correct sequence, and as efficiently as possible. Effective supervision helps avoid unnecessary duplication of work and minimizes disruptions.
On larger projects, changes and additional work are almost inevitable. The site supervisor can assess the impact of such changes and provide the information needed for any decisions by the housing company. As the title implies, the supervisor is also responsible for monitoring both the quality of the work and adherence to the project schedule, while serving as the key liaison between the contractors and the housing company.
7. Ensure That the Equipment Can Be Properly Operated and Maintained
Residents should receive adequate guidance on the operation and maintenance of any equipment installed within their apartments. It is also important to ensure that the operating and maintenance instructions for equipment located in common areas are readily available to the responsible parties.
After commissioning, the performance of the new ventilation system may be verified by the installers, for example by checking and adjusting airflow rates. A follow-up inspection may also be required after the system has been in operation for some time to confirm that airflow rates and overall performance remain as intended. Such follow-up visits are typically included in the contract documentation. It is advisable to agree on the timing of these inspections in advance with the responsible parties so that residents can be informed accordingly.
Read also the articles Why is good ventilation important, Renovation of ventilation in connection with a pipe renovation in an apartment block and Responsibilities and distribution of work related to ventilation 2019.
Watch the webinar recording
To learn more on how to successfully renovate ventilation systems, watch a webinar hosted by the Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Sisäilmayhdistys ry), the Finnish Association of HVAC Technical Contractors (LVI-Tekniset Urakoitsijat ry), Sevire Oy and Vallox Oy. Webinar recording is only available in Finnish.
0:01:25 Ilmanvaihdon merkitys hyvässä sisäilmassa: toiminnanjohtaja Mervi Ahola, Sisäilmayhdistys ry
0:22:35 Taloyhtiöiden ilmanvaihtosaneeraus: koulutuspäällikkö Ali Aaltonen, Vallox Oy
0:46:40 Ilmanvaihdon kunnostuksen hankesuunnittelu: suunnittelujohtaja (talotekniikka, LVI) Kari Koivumäki, Sevire Oy
1:09:25 Onnistuneen IV-korjaushankkeen muistilista: erityisasiantuntija Juha-Ville Mäkinen, LVI-Tekniset Urakoitsijat ry