Indicator Climate

In 2021, the amount of subsidies paid under the Buildings Programme totalled around 361 million (Fig. Funded measures). The annual amounts paid under the programme increased considerably in the first three years. After that, they fell somewhat. Since 2016, however, there has been an annual increase again. The majority of the subsidies are generally allocated to thermal insulation in buildings. Thus, over CHF 1.2 billion has been paid to subsidise this type of work since 2010. Work on building systems is also frequently subsidised by the programme. This work mainly involves replacing oil heating systems with heat pumps.

In terms of the effects on CO₂ emissions, when taking into account the subsidised measures since 2010 over their entire service life, the emissions savings made possible by the programme amount to over 0.6 million tonnes of CO₂ per year (Fig. Effects on CO₂ emissions). For the sake of comparison: According to the national greenhouse gas inventory, annual CO₂ emissions from Switzerland’s building stock decreased by 10.3 million tonnes of CO₂ from 1990 to 2020. With a long-term effect of now 0.6 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, the Buildings Programme is an extremely important climate and energy policy instrument.

The energy reference area of built or refurbished buildings according to the Minergie-P^® standard rose continuously until 2013 (Fig. Buildings meeting the Minergie standards®). Since 2015, these values have stagnated at a relatively high level. Since 2011, the energy reference area according to the Minergie-A® standard has also increased slightly.

In general, some consistency can be seen in the annually allocated amounts under the Buildings Programme. Since the effect of the measures extends over several years, the cumulative effect 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.

• Related indicators
• CO2 Emissions from thermal and motor fuels
• Energiebezugsfläche
• Living space

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.

 Long-term CO₂ effects of the Buildings Programme

 Energy reference area of Buildings meeting the Minergie standards®