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Latvia's State Forests Customer Centre in Dundaga among the Most Environmentally Friendly Buildings in Europe

To encourage the public, architects and decision-makers to develop architectural projects directed at controlling climate change and reducing CO2 emissions through the construction of low-energy buildings, the Architects' Council of Europe has summed up twenty best practices across Europe. JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) Northern Kurzeme Regional Customer Centre in Dundaga has been included in the prestigious report as one of the twenty best examples of energy-efficient, well-considered architectural solutions that combine modern design, the use of natural materials, low energy consumption, while providing a comfortable environment for both visitors and employees.

Today, the global construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of all CO2 emissions associated with energy consumption. Due to global demographic growth and urbanisation, construction volumes continue to increase uncontrollably. It is estimated that 230 billion square metres will be built in the next forty years. Although over the recent years the construction sector has improved and develops in a direction that encourages the construction of low-energy buildings, progress is not fast enough to compensate for the growing energy consumption. In order to reduce the construction sector's environmental footprint, the Architects' Council of Europe has developed the Manifesto for Responsible Architecture, following which the LVM Northern Kurzeme Regional Customer Centre in Dundaga was designed and constructed.

"Low-energy buildings are not only about electricity bills, water consumption or about forgetting to switch off the light in the office. The whole concept includes much more. Examples of responsible construction, such as Dundaga Customer Service Centre, will be the cornerstones that will help transform the public's perceptions of what a building, home or office should be like, and thus also the construction patterns and practices. We are satisfied that our Dundaga project stands proudly side by side with the projects developed in other European countries and has received the recognition of the Architects' Council of Europe. It confirms that it is necessary to continue similar projects and share the experience gained," says LVM President Roberts Strīpnieks.

Different wood materials were used for the construction of LVM Northern Kurzeme Regional Customer Centre in Dundaga, making the building a unique example of wooden architecture combining modern, comfortable design and care for climate change. The Centre was built in accordance with the principles of low energy consumption: heat pumps, LED lighting, solar panels, rainwater collection system, triple glazing windows; natural materials - wood fibres - were used for heating. The successful implementation of the project would not be possible without the architectural firm SIA "5. iela" and the general contractor SIA "Selva Būve".

Since its foundation in 1999, Joint Stock Company "Latvia’s State Forests" implementing sustainable forest management has paid a billion euros to state and local government budgets. LVM's economic activities are carried out by maintaining and recovering forests, taking care of nature conservation, recreation opportunities and increasing timber volumes, as well as investing in expanding the forest land and developing forest infrastructure - renovation of drainage systems and forest road construction. The volume of timber in the forests managed by LVM increases by 12 million cubic metres annually.