This page has an average rating of %r out of 5 stars based on a total of %t ratings
Reading Time 9 Minutes Reading Time 9 Minutes
Created on 21.11.2023

Energy-saving measures: subsidies from the Buildings programme

Insulation, heat pumps or complete renovation: people who optimize energy use in their own home and equip it with sustainable technologies can receive subsidies from the public sector. The most important subsidy programme for heating in Switzerland is the “Federal and cantonal Buildings programme”. Here is an overview.

What counts as an energy-saving or modernization measure?

All measures that increase the energy efficiency of a building and use renewable energy sources are counted as energy-saving and modernization measures. Included in particular are:

  • Thermal insulation of the building envelope
  • Replacement of fossil fuel (oil or gas) or electric heating with heating that uses renewable energies (e.g. heat pumps)

Complete renovation in accordance with the two key buildings standards in Switzerland, the cantonal energy certificate for buildings (GEAK) or Minergie.

Important

Good insulation is the first and most important step in terms of energy-saving measures. Without good thermal insulation, the environmental and economic benefits of a heat pump have their limits.

The federal and cantonal Buildings programme: what is it exactly?

Through its subsidies, the Buildings programme is stimulating the implementation of energy-saving renovations and construction for heating systems. It is the most important subsidy programme in Switzerland. The aim is to increase the energy efficiency of Swiss buildings. People who are equipping facades, roofs and floors with (new) insulation or replacing oil heating with a heat pump can apply for money from the Buildings programme.

The background: according to the Confederation, over 1 million buildings in Switzerland urgently require energy-saving renovations. Around 40 percent of all energy requirements and one third of all CO2 emissions in Switzerland can be attributed to buildings. With (better) insulation, heating requirements can be reduced by over a half. In this respect, the Buildings programme is making an important contribution to climate protection and the achievement of climate targets. Dependence on oil and gas suppliers could also be reduced.

Implementation differs from canton to canton

The Buildings programme is implemented and administrated by the cantons. As of 2009 or 2015 (new format), it is implemented by the harmonized cantonal funding model (Harmonisierte Fördermodell der Kantone, or HFM 2015) and to a certain degree is consistently regulated. This means that the same basic conditions apply to all cantons when awarding a subsidy. But the cantons are also free to stipulate additional conditions. What is subsidized under what conditions and to what extent can also vary considerably from canton to canton.

What is subsidized by the Buildings programme?

The Buildings programme includes 18 specific measures (M-01 to M-18) relating to heating and energy efficiency that can be subsidized. These can be roughly divided into four categories:

Individual measures (M-01 to M-09)

Projects in this category are subsidized most frequently. Practically all cantons subsidize thermal insulation and heat pumps.

Complete renovation (M-10 to M-15)

These are packages of measures that target the improvement of building conditions in relation to energy, in accordance with GEAK classes or the Minergie standards. This type of complete renovation is usually preceded by an assessment and advice from an energy expert.

New build / replacement building (M-16 to M-17)

New builds and replacement buildings are already subject to stringent energy requirements as standard. This means that only measures and measures packages that meet the maximum standards are subsidized – either those of Minergie-P or those of GEAK class A/A. Generally, smaller subsidies are awarded for new builds than might be awarded for the complete renovation of an old building.

Heating network projects (M-18)

Heating networks distribute waste heat from waste incineration or industrial facilities or district heating from heat generation systems. Those entitled to subsidies are new builds or the expansion of heating networks if the heating comes from renewable energies or waste heat. The subsidies are paid out to the provider.

Measure numberMeasureFunding available in the cantons
Measure number
M-01
 Measure

Thermal insulation of facade, roof, wall and floor against the ground

(New windows are subsidized only as part of a complete renovation, not as an individual measure)

 Funding available in the cantons

AG, AI, AR, BL, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, LU, NW, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG, ZH
Measure number
M-02
 Measure

Log furnace or pellet furnace with day tank

 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GL, GR, JU, LU, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG
Measure number
M-03
 Measure
Automatic wood furnace up to 70 kWFL furnace thermal capacity
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GL, GR, JU, LU, NW, NE, OW, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG
Measure number
M-04
 Measure
Automatic wood furnace over 70 kWFL furnace thermal capacity
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GL, GR, JU, LU, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG
Measure number
M-05
 Measure
Air-to-water heat pump
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, LU, NW, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG, ZH
Measure number
M-06
 Measure
Brine-to-water heat pump / Geothermal heat pump / Water-to-water heat pump 
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, LU, NW, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG, ZH
Measure number
M-07
 Measure
Connection to a heating network with renewable energy or waste heat
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, LU, NW, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZG, ZH
Measure number
M-08
 Measure

Solar collector installation on an existing building

(Solar collectors convert solar energy into heating. They are not to be confused with photovoltaic systems that convert solar energy into electricity.)

 Funding available in the cantons

AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, LU, NW, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS
Measure number
M-09
 Measure
Apartment ventilation with heat recovery
 Funding available in the cantons
AI, BE, GE, GR, SG, SH, TG, VD
Measure number
M-10
 Measure
Improvement of GEAK class for the building envelope and overall energy efficiency by at least 2 levels
 Funding available in the cantons
BE, FR, GE, NE, SH, TG, TI, VS
Measure number
M-11
 Measure
Reduction of heating and heating energy requirements
 Funding available in the cantons
GE
Measure number
M-12
 Measure
Comprehensive complete renovation with Minergie certificate (without staggering)
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BL, BS, FR, GE, JU, LU, NE, SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, VD, ZG, ZH
Measure number
M-13
 Measure
Comprehensive complete renovation with GEAK (without staggering) conditions as for M-10 (additionally M-14).
 Funding available in the cantons
AI, BE, BS, GE, SH, TG, VD
Measure number
M-14
 Measure
Building envelope efficiency bonus (in complete renovations without staggering) to achieve GEAK class B/B or higher
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, GE, GR, OW, SH, TG, VD
Measure number
M-15
 Measure

Overall energy efficiency bonus

(see above)

 Funding available in the cantons
BE, GE, VD
Measure number
M-16
 Measure
New build/replacement building to Minergie-P
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, AI, AR, BE, BL, BS, GE, GL, GR, JU, NW, NE, OW, SG, SH, SO, TG, TI, UR, VS
Measure number
M-17
 Measure
New build/replacement building to GEAK A/A
 Funding available in the cantons
AI, GE, NE, VS
Measure number
M-18
 Measure
New build/expansion of heating network, new build/expansion of heating generation system
 Funding available in the cantons
AG, BE, FR, GE, GL, GR, JU, NE, SH, SO, TG, VD, VS

Sources: gebäudeprogramm.ch and individual canton websites

Detailed information and application forms for the relevant subsidy programme can be obtained from the energy advice service in the canton where you live.

What other subsidy programmes are there for sustainable renovation and modernization?

Besides subsidies from the Buildings programme, there are various heating subsidy programmes from other providers. Sometimes the cantons subsidize further measures that go beyond those of the Buildings programme. Municipalities and energy companies also award subsidies for energy-saving renovations.

The Confederation has launched a similar subsidy programme for electricity. This subsidizes photovoltaic systems (PV) with a one-off payment of around one third of the investment costs. In addition, you receive remuneration for any unused PV electricity that you feed back into the grid.

In terms of electricity efficiency, there is the ProKilowatt subsidy programme. This supports measures to optimize electricity efficiency in industry and business, as well as in private households.

Tip

To find out which subsidies you can apply for in your place of residence, go to energiefranken.ch. Simply enter the postcode for your place of residence to see a list of the subsidy programmes in all energy sectors.

Questions and answers

  • It is important that you apply for the subsidy before you start the building work.

    Ideally, the process proceeds as follows:

    1. Advice from an expert (e.g. a certified GEAK energy expert). The expert can offer comprehensive advice about whether measures are appropriate and how the project should best be carried out.
    2. Application for subsidy
    3. Approval of subsidy
    4. Implementation of energy-saving measure
    5. Verification of professional and proper implementation of energy-saving measure
    6. Payment of subsidy

    Please note: approval of a subsidy does not constitute a building permit. This must be obtained separately and is required for most measures. 

  • For your energy-saving project, it’s best to contact an energy advisor (e.g. a certified GEAK advisor) or the energy advice service in the canton where you live. You can find contact details for your nearest energy advice service quickly and easily on the SwissEnergy website.

    The link will open in a new window Go to SwissEnergy at energieschweiz.ch

  • No, that is not possible. You must always apply for a subsidy before building work starts.

  • Yes, investments in energy-saving measures minus the subsidies received can be shared across up to three tax periods and deducted from income.

Capital for your home

Looking to raise capital for a new home or renovation project? PostFinance will help you find a suitable financing solution to purchase your dream home. 

More on the subject

This page has an average rating of %r out of 5 stars based on a total of %t ratings
You can rate this page from one to five stars. Five stars is the best rating.
Thank you for your rating
Rate this article

This might interest you too