This graduate study was done for Mittakodit Oy, a contractor mainly concentrated on building terraced houses. The original objective of this study was to create a handbook where all the operational principles, construction methods as well as the materials used by this company are presented. At the same time the new regulations of energy efficiency taken effect at the beginning of 2010 influence the structures used in the production and these changes were needed to clarify. These two main subjects were connected with each other by concentrating on structural matters e.g. air-tightness when clarifying the influences of new regulations in energy efficiency and on the other hand the framework of the separated handbook consists of instructions of how to realize these energy efficient envelope structures in practise. More detailed research in building physics was not done except for the thermal insulation.

The study was started by getting acquainted with the regulations and the guidelines that relate to the energy efficiency of the buildings. The energy consumption of the model building was estimated according to the structures designed in accordance with the new energy efficiency regulations. In addition to these some costefficient suggestions of how to improve the energy efficiency value were researched. This part of the research was done by focusing on heat recovery of ventilation, air-tightness and energy losses through envelope structures. In this research the air-tightness of all the envelope structures was found essential when decreasing the energy consumption of buildings. On the other hand it is a well-known fact, that improving the air-tightness doesn’t cause any bigger additional costs. Suggestions for realizing air-tightness structure solutions are presented in this study by using the structures in the model building as an example. Researching new energy efficient structures created the basis for assembling the handbook of construction methods.

As a result of this graduate study a clarification for realizing the model building according to the energy efficiency regulations valid in 2010 was made. Solutions that improve the energy efficiency value were also proposed in this study. The project in its entirety created a handbook for the construction firm, where the building process as well as materials and fastenings are presented by using the progress of the model building as a frame.