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Energy class A apartment buildings are gradually emerging in Lithuania. Although there are only a few such houses and they do not even make up 1 percent of the entire new construction housing market.
In Lithuania, energy class A apartment buildings are gradually emerging. Although there are only a few such houses and they do not even make up 1 percent of the entire new construction house market, there is no shortage of discussions in society about their advantages and disadvantages. The quality of housing is increasingly being assessed according to the energy consumption of the building, and not only according to the tightness of the building, the type of construction or the thickness of the insulation materials.
Although new houses currently under construction must be at least energy class B, from 2016 all newly built apartment buildings will have to be of energy efficiency class A. Some of the main requirements for such buildings are tightness, insulation, efficiency of the heat source used and mechanical ventilation with a heat exchanger, also called recuperation. Without the application of the latest technologies, these requirements would be difficult to implement. Class A buildings must be tighter than class B, with more insulated facades, and heat loss through the joints of building structures must be reduced in these buildings.
As the requirements for real estate developers become stricter, the knowledge and needs of home buyers themselves are gradually growing. The purchased class A home must be properly maintained, because an improperly operated class A house will not save energy, which means that additional investment in a higher-quality building will not pay off.
Starting in 2016, buyers of new apartments can expect lower heating bills and a higher level of comfort in their living space, but at the same time, higher housing prices. But will the European Union directives also change Lithuanians’ priorities when choosing housing – will economy and a healthier home environment be more important than price?
Energy class A apartments will be more expensive
The main barrier preventing a greater growth in the supply and demand for Class A apartments is the higher construction cost. New generation apartments are up to 15 percent more expensive than lower class new construction houses. The higher construction cost of Class A apartment buildings is determined by stricter requirements for the construction of housing of this class, and the largest part of the additional investments falls on the building’s insulation, increasing its tightness and the ventilation system.
The price of an apartment in a class A house can be from 300 to 800 litas per square meter higher than in a class B new-build house, depending on the technologies that improve the building’s parameters that are installed in the house. This means that a two-room apartment in a 60 square meter class A house can cost from 20 to 50 thousand litas more expensive than in other new houses.
In class A buildings, the walls, foundations and roof structures of the house are additionally insulated with a thicker layer. Also, in energy class A houses, engineering solutions are required to prevent thermal bridges. In higher class apartment buildings, extremely tight windows and doors are necessary, which are qualitatively superior, but their price is higher. When certifying class A houses, a tightness test is mandatory, which shows the effectiveness of the above-mentioned additional investments. A class A apartment building also requires a mechanical ventilation system with a heat exchanger (recuperation) and a duct system, which is necessary for air circulation in a tight building.
Real estate developers also carefully calculate investments in Class A homes, because higher construction costs make apartments with higher energy classes more expensive, and buyers are not always willing to pay a higher price for additional benefits.
What are Class A apartments?
Although the generation of people who value new technologies is growing, a higher energy class is not yet the most important priority when choosing a home. Some buyers consider class A a priority and pay more for higher-quality housing, but a larger proportion of home buyers are willing to pay more for a beautiful view from the windows. The greatest benefits from class A are obtained by savvy buyers who know why they choose class A and how to maintain such an apartment.
Class A apartments are chosen not only by pragmatic families who rationally assess heating costs. No less important factors are the quality of life and concern for one’s own health and that of loved ones. Lower heating bills are just one of the advantages. Everything else – the comfort of the premises, silence, warmth, a healthy environment – is not directly expressed in financial terms.
Energy class A apartments are equipped with a ventilation system with a heat exchanger (recuperation), which allows fresh air to constantly circulate in all rooms. Constantly ventilated premises also have a healthier environment, as harmful bacteria, moisture or mold do not form. This is especially important for people who raise small children or are allergic to various dust, pollen or other allergens.
Heat recovery ensures that most of the heat from the air removed from the room is returned to the ventilation unit and used to heat the incoming air. This also saves on heating costs. In summer, the reverse process occurs – the cool air leaving the room also cools the returning air flow.
It is true that a heat recovery system means that electricity costs will increase slightly. A properly selected ventilation system consumes little electricity – just a few or a dozen litas per month, and the savings on heating bills are much greater.
Although heat recovery offers many advantages, it must be properly operated. If the new residents ventilate by opening windows or turning off the ventilation system, such housing will not be superior to a class B apartment. You need to be able to live in a class A house and use its advantages. For example, by saving electricity consumption and turning off the ventilation of the room, the apartment can become like a preserved one, and moisture will accumulate here. Every advantage of a class A apartment will remain only an advantage “on paper” if it is not properly utilized.
About the Eika group of companies
Founded in 1992, the company “Eika” is one of the largest real estate development and construction groups in Lithuania. The group of companies consists of: UAB “Eika” – a leader in the real estate market, valued for its innovation, reliability and responsibility; UAB “Eikos statyba” – a construction company with extensive experience in the construction and renovation of administrative, public, commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
More information:
Vitalija Roče
Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: +370 698 56273
Fax: +370 5 2514 256
Email: [email protected]
Comparison of requirements for energy class A and B apartment buildings
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Newly built apartment buildings
until 2016
Class B
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Newly built apartment buildings
after 2016
Class A
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Wall insulation
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U=0.2 W/sq. m K
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U=0.12 W/sq. m K
40% more efficient
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Roof insulation
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U=0.16 W/sq. m K
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U=0.10 W/sq. m K
37.5% more efficient
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Insulation of partitions that border the ground and unheated basement
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U=0.25 W/sq. m K
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U=0.14 W/sq. m K
44% more efficient
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Thermal bridges
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Existing solutions are sufficient
Ψ=0.18 W/mK
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It is necessary to recalculate and evaluate new solutions
Ψ=0 – 0.05 W/mK
72% more efficient |
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Windows
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Standard
U=1.2–1.4 W/sq. m K
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3-glazed, 6-8-chamber windows meeting class A requirements
U=0.8-1.0 W/sq. m K
More efficient by 28.6% |
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Doors
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U=1.6 W/sq. m K
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U=1.0 W/sq. m K
37.5% more efficient |
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Ventilation
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Natural
(one shaft in the kitchen and bathroom – air circulates freely)
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Mechanical with heat exchanger (recuperation). forced ventilation system with additional equipment and ventilation ducts
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Leakage measurement
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Optional
Theoretically accepted < 1.5 h-1
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Required
< 0.6 hours-1
60% more efficient |
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Energy source
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Unimportant
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The energy source must be efficient, emitting as little CO as possible2 to the environment. Renewable energy and biofuels are encouraged.
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