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Tag: Baumeisterverband

  • SBC launches election platform “For a constructive Switzerland

    SBC launches election platform “For a constructive Switzerland

    The density of regulation in the construction sector, the 2050 climate targets, security of supply and the shortage of skilled workers are key concerns of the population, the economy and politics and will accordingly also be the focus of the federal elections on 22 October 2023. The SBC has therefore chosen these key issues for its national election platform “For a constructive Switzerland”. This with the catchy slogan “We modernise, we build, we take responsibility”. Gian-Luca Lardi, Central President of the Swiss Association of Master Builders, states: “The main construction trade can and wants to contribute to constructive solutions for the future”. Until election day on 22 October, the positions on these topics, which are also at the heart of the SBC’s “Agenda 125.0”, will be presented on www.konstruktive-schweiz.ch. On the other hand, candidates will be presented on the platform whom the SBC recommends to the voters for election. Newsletters, posts in the social media, reporting in the association’s publications and construction site leaflets round off the communication support for the candidates. The SBC works closely with its cantonal sections on this.

    We modernise. We build. We take responsibility.
    Since Switzerland’s building stock is responsible for almost half of the country’s energy consumption, this is another area where we must take action, says Martin Bäumle, a member of the Zurich National Council: “Security of supply is of central importance. That’s why it’s crucial that we renovate buildings to make them more energy-efficient and enable efficient new buildings.” In concrete terms, higher incentives and the removal of barriers to modernisation could help Switzerland to increase its building renovation rate to the necessary level.

    In addition to modern buildings, Switzerland also needs a top infrastructure, says Bernese National Councillor Christian Wasserfallen: “After all, infrastructures are Switzerland’s lifeline.” Alex Farinelli, National Councillor for Ticino and candidate for the Council of States, adds: “The ecological and energy challenges require an efficient infrastructure and a modern building stock. That’s why it’s important to give the building sector the opportunity to make its contribution with faster procedures and fewer bureaucratic hurdles.” The necessary framework conditions and legal certainty are created by politics, while the construction work is done by the master builders.

    Last but not least, the shortage of skilled workers is also a topic in the campaign of the Swiss Association of Master Builders. The challenges of finding the necessary personnel are also great in the main construction trade. “I am committed to a constructive Switzerland that continues to train enough practitioners to implement Switzerland’s modernisation in buildings and infrastructure,” emphasises Isabelle Chassot, Fribourg’s Councillor of States. “We must take decisive action against the shortage of skilled workers,” adds Diana Gutjahr, National Councillor for the Canton of Thurgau. This starts with ensuring that vocational apprenticeships remain as attractive as possible, Gutjahr continues.

  • Yes to the partial revision of the Environmental Protection Act gives additional impetus to the circular economy

    Yes to the partial revision of the Environmental Protection Act gives additional impetus to the circular economy

    Construction activity in Switzerland produces around 57 million tonnes of excavated material and 17 million tonnes of excavated material per year. The term “waste” should not be used in this context, as it tempts one to confuse the statistics with the volume of rubbish that is disposed of. Rather, this total of 74 million tonnes of material is an indication of how many tonnes of excavated and spoil material accumulates as a valuable resource, much of which can be recycled. In order to make the best possible use of this, ideal legal framework conditions are needed. Such improvements are included in the partial revision of the Environmental Protection Act, which the National Council will deal with on 3 May 2023 during the special session.

    SBC already supported the goal of creating an appropriate framework in the Environmental Protection Act for a modern and environmentally friendly circular economy during the consultation process in February 2022. The chosen regulatory approach consisting of a mixture of incentives, competences for regulation and promotion instruments seems to be purposeful. However, it is important to underline that the companies in the construction industry have long since implemented many of the main concerns of the revision on a voluntary basis. In addition, important legal foundations have already been created, such as the Ordinance on the Prevention and Disposal of Waste (VVEA). This gives high priority to the avoidance, reduction and targeted recycling of waste.

    Close coordination with the construction industry is important
    With life-cycle-optimised buildings, resources and materials can generally be kept in circulation or recycled over several object life cycles without any loss of quality or functionality. The construction industry has already developed many innovative solutions in this regard and will continue to develop them. However, the choice of materials for building projects is made by the clients, architects and planners and not by the building contractors. It is important to convince them to integrate the circular economy at a very early stage in project development. SBC therefore appeals to these stakeholder groups and to politicians to coordinate closely with builders in the implementation of the Environmental Protection Act in order to make use of the know-how of the entire construction industry and to prevent inhibiting framework conditions or false incentives. Another key issue for the SBC is the compatibility of the Swiss Environmental Protection Act with international standards and regulatory requirements. It is explicitly important to take developments in the EU into account in order to prevent a Swiss Finish and the resulting trade barriers.

    Abandonment of national limit values for grey energy
    SBC suggests that national limit values for grey energy be abandoned. In practice, the correct recording of grey energy in new buildings and renovations is tantamount to a Herculean task that is likely to fail – or worse – could deliver distorting results. The end result would be a de facto ban on certain construction methods and materials, which in turn would lead to immense increases in the cost of buildings. Instead of such limit values, which are unsuitable in practice, the tendering of buildings should always be oriented towards the required or desired function and not towards specific building materials. This is determined by the demands on the building. It is important to consider not only the conservation of resources, but also overall sustainability for the environment, the economy and society.

  • Builders' Association examines Switzerland of the future

    Builders' Association examines Switzerland of the future

    Last year, the Swiss Master Builders Association ( SBV ) carried out a representative survey on the expectations of the Swiss up to 2040. According to the results, the majority of the country’s residents are in favor of densifying urban space, the SBV informed in a statement on the survey. At the same time, the need for more spacious and sustainable living space is registered.

    For the SBV, the construction industry can make a decisive contribution to the implementation of these ideas. Already today, every dismantled apartment is being replaced by two new ones with a total of three times the building area, writes the association. At the same time, however, the SBV is calling for regulatory obstacles to be removed when renovating the building stock. Specifically, the communication mentions the simplification of building permit processes and the acceleration of complaint procedures. The SBV also sees a need for action in noise protection and homeland security.

    The SBV supports the CO2 Act with its building program. When it is implemented, new replacement buildings should be promoted more intensively, as these represent the most efficient solution in terms of energy technology, writes the association. For peripheral regions and mountain areas, the SBV proposes creating framework conditions, technology and transport infrastructure that can attract working residents or keep them in the region.