Support Measures for DHC

Country

Finland

#

Name and reference of measure

Type of measure

Responsible organ

Existing or planned?

1

Energy subsidies

Incentive scheme

Housing Fund of Finland

Existing

Quotations from the measure

Residential buildings receive a 10 % investment subsidy by joining to the DH. Qualified costs include joining and equipment. Grants are awarded by the local authority that gets the money from the Housing Fund of Finland. The subsidy was introduced in 2006.

The Purpose of the measure

The purpose is to improve the energy economy of residential buildings. Grants are aimed at reducing both energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases.

Eligibility Criteria

Grant is awarded to the owner of minimum of three apartment residential building. One and two apartment buildings are eligible in case of being owned by a collective. Apartments have to be in use through out the year.

Impact of Measure

Effectiveness of the measure

Energy subsidy covers improving the ventilation and heating systems and for implementing renewable energy sources in general and sets DH in line with other heating efficiency measures. Due to strong hold of DH energy subsidy doesn’t have significant impact on promoting DH but it helps the renovators to make an impartial choice if DH is a possibility in principal.

III. SUPPORT MEASURES FOR DHC

Country

Finland

#

Name and reference of measure

Type of measure

Responsible organ

Existing or planned?

2

Domestic work tax deduction for households

Incentive scheme

Finnish Tax Administration

Existing

Quotations from the measure

Households are eligible for tax deduction of max. 3 000 Euros per person when they switch heating from oil boiler to DH. Deductible costs are 60 % of the work costs exceeding 100 Euros when joining DH network. Equipment or machinery costs are not deductible and the work has to be done by a registered company. DH joining costs were included into system in 2009.

The Purpose of the measure

The main purpose is to encourage households to use services and improve the employment. Deduction system includes also cleaning and other household work, renovation work etc.

Eligibility Criteria

Deduction is taken from the state income tax paid by a natural person. Measure is aimed at single family houses. Heating systems of the apartment buildings are the responsibility of the collective unless otherwise decided.

Impact of Measure

Effectiveness of the measure

Deduction includes also switching heating system to solar panels or heat pumps. Including DH into system is important when different systems compete against each other.