Indicator Climate

Topic Core indicator DPSIR Main topic
Climate Responses

Energy efficiency of buildings

In Switzerland, the building sector is responsible for around one-third of CO2 emissions. This means it is a sector with great potential for reducing emissions. The federal and cantonal Buildings Programme subsidises various measures to reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of buildings. One-third of CO2 levy proceeds, and a maximum of CHF 450 million, has been earmarked for this programme annually. Cantonal subsidies are also available (approximately CHF 80 million per year).

Besides the Building Programme, Minergie® standards also improve energy efficiency in buildings. These voluntary construction standards stand for high energy efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions.

Assessment of the state
poor poor
Assessment of the trend
positive positive
Indirect measures 2022: 17.61839093 Central heating 2022: 25.9453152 New construction 2022: 24.7240585 Systems renovation 2022: 89.2324776 Building systems 2022: 139.1230439 Thermal insulation 2022: 128.194353 Indirect measures 2021: 15.92240263 Central heating 2021: 11.8467111 New construction 2021: 20.080417 Systems renovation 2021: 81.2791348 Building systems 2021: 106.1251059 Thermal insulation 2021: 125.9650117 Indirect measures 2020: 12.48274102 Central heating 2020: 16.0551906 New construction 2020: 16.104656 Systems renovation 2020: 72.7402844 Building systems 2020: 62.30814835 Thermal insulation 2020: 118.946736 Indirect measures 2019: 9.9118192 Central heating 2019: 11.4327835 New construction 2019: 12.712321 Systems renovation 2019: 59.986224 Building systems 2019: 37.68618035 Thermal insulation 2019: 132.57043 Indirect measures 2018: 6.91706042 Central heating 2018: 7.4112866 New construction 2018: 16.361979 Systems renovation 2018: 35.197532 Building systems 2018: 36.7085696 Thermal insulation 2018: 108.00419685 Central heating 2017: 8.782262 New construction 2017: 12.3962266 Systems renovation 2017: 14.747042 Building systems 2017: 36.33249645 Thermal insulation 2017: 103.58331 Central heating 2016: 9.9314986 New construction 2016: 12.797109 Systems renovation 2016: 9.682437 Building systems 2016: 35.867917 Thermal insulation 2016: 93.385955 Central heating 2015: 9.9956319 New construction 2015: 15.197399 Systems renovation 2015: 16.616778 Building systems 2015: 36.66348261 Thermal insulation 2015: 100.188335 Central heating 2014: 12.5747745 New construction 2014: 19.00882 Systems renovation 2014: 13.554108 Building systems 2014: 41.813135 Thermal insulation 2014: 152.111545 Central heating 2013: 12.300508 New construction 2013: 14.002238 Systems renovation 2013: 10.695041 Building systems 2013: 42.5086847 Thermal insulation 2013: 131.0325 Central heating 2012: 9.810502 New construction 2012: 14.817767 Systems renovation 2012: 9.61031348 Building systems 2012: 45.173855 Thermal insulation 2012: 174.03396 Central heating 2011: 8.8223795 New construction 2011: 14.802811 Systems renovation 2011: 6.531529 Building systems 2011: 44.3622601 Thermal insulation 2011: 135.491286 Central heating 2010: 11.153129 New construction 2010: 10.977986 Systems renovation 2010: 3.501873 Building systems 2010: 43.52288995 Thermal insulation 2010: 23.079794
Subsidies paid under the Buildings Programme, by category of measures

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: FOE (annual report of the Buildings Programme)
Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2022: 883.31022200848 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2021: 753.19184482243 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2020: 659.74561956329 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2019: 597.0905464583 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2018: 546.10404580585 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2017: 492.32140133551 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2016: 435.724349599 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2015: 379.64182632496 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2014: 319.60141222515 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2013: 247.14952316003 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2012: 180.78616233076 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2011: 110.27431839745 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2010: 46.879110466124 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2022: 883.31022200848 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2021: 753.19184482243 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2020: 659.74561956329 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2019: 597.0905464583 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2018: 546.10404580585 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2017: 492.32140133551 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2016: 435.724349599 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2015: 379.64182632496 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2014: 319.60141222515 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2013: 247.14952316003 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2012: 180.78616233076 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2011: 110.27431839745 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme 2010: 46.879110466124
The long-term CO2 effect of the Buildings Programme represents the emissions savings made possible by the subsidised measures since 2010 over their entire service life.

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: FOE (annual report of the Buildings Programme)
Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2022: 122776 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2022: 941749 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2021: 127172 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2021: 923057 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2020: 80101 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2020: 783473 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2019: 115289 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2019: 436119 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2018: 53718 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2018: 749724 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2017: 92237 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2017: 740318 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2016: 98011 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2016: 636870 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2015: 134045 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2015: 661915 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2014: 109288 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2014: 425251 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2013: 38408 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2013: 586546 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2012: 50836 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2012: 557755 Minergie-A®  (including Minergie-A-Eco®) 2011: 6910 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2011: 481444 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2010: 334240 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2009: 241363 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2008: 184373 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2007: 59035 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2006: 42687 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2005: 20379 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2004: 23445 Minergie-P® (including Minergie-P-Eco®) 2003: 25485
Energy reference area in new and renovated buildings with Minergie-P® or A® standards

Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Minergie®
Comment

In 2022 around CHF 425 million was paid out in subsidies under the Buildings Programme. Payments were therefore even higher than in the previous record year of 2021. Since funding began in 2010, almost CHF 3.1 billion has been paid out for six areas of measures in the Buildings Programme. Payments for indirect measures have been available since 2018.

While payments for thermal insulation projects remained constant at a high level, building services projects increased by a further +31%. In most cases, these involve replacing oil heating systems with air source heat pumps. Heating system replacements form the largest category (33%), ahead of thermal insulation projects (30%) and system renovations (21%). The strong momentum in this area lead to a record CO2 impact in 2022.

Thanks to the measures supported by the Buildings Programme since 2010, 0.88 million tonnes of CO2 can be saved each year, calculated over the lifetime of the systems in question (Fig. CO2 impact of the Buildings Programme). To provide a comparison: According to the national greenhouse gas inventory, annual CO2 emissions from the Swiss building stock decreased by around 5 million tonnes of CO2 between 1990 and 2022. With a sustained impact of 0.88 million tonnes of CO2, the Buildings Programme plays a major role in the energy and climate policy instrument mix.

The energy reference area of buildings constructed or refurbished to the Minergie-P® standard rose continuously up to 2013 (Fig. Minergie® standard buildings). Since 2015, energy reference areas have stagnated at a relatively high level. The Minergie-A® standard energy reference area has also increased slightly since 2011.

The amounts paid out each year under the Buildings Programme have been rising continuously since 2017. Since the impact of the measures extends over several years, the cumulative impact increases every year. The trend is therefore assessed as positive. However, because the great potential for reducing emissions in the buildings sector is far from being achieved, the state is assessed as negative.

Method

The CO2 effect of the Buildings Programme has been calculated since 2017 based on the cantons’ harmonised funding model (ModEnHa 2015). It takes the energy and CO2 savings generated per subsidised measure into consideration. These savings are significantly higher than the effect represented here and directly attributable to the Buildings Programme. Some project owners have actually implemented certain energy measures without a subsidy (deadweight effect). The represented effect of the Buildings Programme corresponds to the energy or CO2 savings of subsidised projects, minus the deadweight effects.

Data for buildings carrying Minergie-P® and -A® certification are surveyed and published by Minergie®. Minergie® is a registered association whose membership includes the Confederation, the cantons, trade and industry and numerous individual members.

Basis for assessment of the trend

 Long-term CO2 effects of the Buildings Programme

Targeted trend Initial value Final value Variation in % Observed trend Assessment
Growth Average 2010-2012 Average 2020-2022 579% Growth positive

 Energy reference area of Buildings meeting the Minergie standards®

Targeted trend Initial value Final value Variation in % Observed trend Assessment
Growth Average 2010-2012 Average 2020-2022 108% Growth positive

 

 
Last updated on: 21.03.2024

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