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The Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Climate and Energy, and the Latvian Association of Civil Engineers announce the annual competition "The Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia 2024."
“Energy efficiency is the primary way we can approach the European Union's goal of climate neutrality. In a sense, it is the most effective method because it does not require energy production in any form, but rather saves it. Therefore, it is gratifying that the competition for the most energy-efficient building has become an established tradition that allows us all to remember the importance of energy efficiency in achieving the EU Green Deal goals, as well as creating innovative energy-efficient materials and solutions as a promising business niche in Latvia,” emphasized the Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
The Minister of Climate and Energy, Kaspars Melnis, stated, “Energy efficiency means investing today to gain more in the future. If we use energy wisely, we can enjoy greater comfort while using less energy! By optimizing our energy consumption, we can reduce our bills, lessen the negative impact on the environment, and enhance the competitiveness of our businesses. Building energy efficiency is not only a socially responsible choice but also a practical investment in the future of every individual and company.”
Helēna Endriksone, the First Vice-Chair of the Board of the Latvian Association of Civil Engineers, said, “The aim of the competition ‘The Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia’ is to promote best practices in energy efficiency and to raise public awareness about quality and energy-efficient construction. Let’s learn from the best examples!”
For the 14th year, the competition "The Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia" is announced within the framework of the campaign "Live Warmer" to promote best practices in building energy efficiency and sustainability, implementing the construction, renovation, and reconstruction of energy-efficient buildings, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting public understanding of well-being, building thermal insulation, indoor climate, and the importance and possibilities of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to create a high-quality, architecturally expressive living space.
Applications for the competition are traditionally invited in five categories:
- The most energy-efficient renovated multi-apartment building;
- The most energy-efficient multi-apartment building – new construction;
- The most energy-efficient public building;
- The most energy-efficient single-family house;
- The most energy-efficient industrial building.
The rules for the competition "The Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia 2024" are published on the competition website www.energoefektivakaeka.lv. Applications for the competition are invited to be submitted by June 18, 2024, by sending them electronically to the email address dzivosiltak@em.gov.lv. It is planned that by the end of August this year, the competition jury will decide on the buildings that will be selected for the second round of the competition – on-site inspections. The award ceremony for this year's competition winners is planned for September this year.
The competition regulations were prepared in collaboration with the partners of the "Live Warmer" information campaign – the State Construction Control Bureau, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the European Commission Representation in Latvia, AS “Sadales tīkls”, the Elektrum Energy Efficiency Center, the Rural Support Service, the Riga Energy Agency, Riga Technical University, Riga Stradiņš University, the Latvian Association of House Managers and Administrators, the Latvian Window and Door Manufacturers Association, the Building Materials Manufacturers Association, the Latvian Mineral Wool Manufacturers Association, the Latvian Heat, Gas, and Water Technology Engineers Union, the Financial Industry Association, and SIA “Publisko aktīvu pārvaldītājs Possessor”.
The supporters of the competition are SIA “Paroc”, SIA “Saint-Gobain Celtniecības produkti”, SIA “Knauf”, SIA “Rockwool”, the Development Finance Institution “Altum”, AS “Latvenergo”, VentSys, AS “Rīgas siltums”, SIA “Robert Bosch”, SIA “Innovation B&G”, Proclima, and Enervent. The informational supporters of the competition are the magazine "Būvinženieris", the newspaper “Latvijas Avīze”, and the construction portals www.abc.lv, https://archidea.lv/, and www.building.lv.
We remind you that in the 2023 competition "The Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia," a total of 23 applications were received; the competition winners can be found on the competition website.