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  • The most modern Swiss sawmill is under construction

    The most modern Swiss sawmill is under construction

    Tschopp Holzindustrie AG in Buttisholz is investing 75 million francs to replace its now 21-year-old and overloaded sawmill. According to the company, the most modern sawmill in Switzerland is to be built on an area of 20,000 square meters. The company is run in the third generation by the brothers Ronald and Daniel Tschopp.

    With this investment, Tschopp Holzindustrie AG is setting an important example for the domestic wood industry, according to a media release. This means that more wood-based materials made from Swiss wood could be made available to the market in the long term.

    The new plant is designed for 300,000 cubic meters of logs. They should be managed from the log yard in one-shift operation and from the sawing line, including the sorting plant and stacking systems, in a maximum of two shifts. The wood species spruce / fir from local forests would also be processed in the future. Tschopp continues to rely on the "long-term and professional partnership with the proven raw wood suppliers".

    Tschopp Holzindustrie AG specializes in the manufacture of formwork panels for the construction industry. Since 2005, pellets have been produced from the waste wood for the energy industry. Tschopp is the market leader in Switzerland in both areas.

    After the new sawmill has gone into operation, timber construction companies will also be offered products that have not yet been manufactured at home or not industrially manufactured in Germany and therefore have to be imported from abroad, such as three-layer natural wood panels.

  • Single-family houses are very popular even in times of crisis

    Single-family houses are very popular even in times of crisis

    The speed at which sellers have been able to sell their homes over the past year has varied widely across regions. While single-family houses in the greater Zurich area became even scarcer and were sold within an average of 43 days, it took 100 days longer in Ticino. This is the finding of the Swiss Real Estate Institute of the Zurich School of Economics (HWZ) and the online real estate marketplace Homegate in their biannual evaluation of real estate advertisements on the Internet.

    Accordingly, the average advertisement time for single-family houses on the leading online real estate portals in Switzerland rose by 26 percent in 2020 from 61 to 77 days. This development was driven by the regions of Ticino and Waadt / Wallis. In Ticino, advertisements were on the Internet 60 percent longer before they were sold than in 2019. In the Vaud / Wallis region, it took 25 percent longer and thus 71 days to sell a house than in the previous year.

    The authors of the study see a possible reason for the increase in the average tendering time in the uncertainty in the crisis year, which made many wait and see. Nevertheless, the demand remained high. “In some regions it took a little longer to sell a property for a short time. But we can see that the tide has already turned again and that single-family houses are very popular even in times of crisis, ”Jens Paul Berndt, CEO of Homegate, is quoted in a press release.

  • AKB Green Hypothek saves tons of CO2

    AKB Green Hypothek saves tons of CO2

    The Aargauische Kantonalbank has set itself the goal of becoming the most sustainable bank in the canton of Aargau for its strategy period from 2021 to 2024. To this end, the Green Mortgage and the Green Bond were launched in 2020. Now the AKB has had the effect of the green financing offers on the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of buildings examined.

    In the Impact Reporting of the Information and Training Center for Real Estate AG (IAZI), according to the AKB media release, the total annual savings in CO2 emissions are around 232 tonnes. According to the IAZI test report, the calculation is based on a list of 93 homes that were financed with the help of the AKB Green Mortgage in the year under review or granted as earmarked loans for sustainable renovation measures. The IAZI report was audited by EY's auditors.

    The 232 tonnes of CO2 savings in the projections of the IAZI test report correspond to the annual emissions of around 190 new, commercially available passenger cars, according to the report. Or they correspond to the average annual Swiss consumption of 16 individuals.

    The promotion of environmentally friendly construction leads to emission reductions in buildings, is stated in the AKB communication. With the Green Mortgage, AKB offers environmentally conscious property owners the opportunity to build or renovate their own home according to climate-friendly criteria. The financing takes place through a green bond that the AKB has issued.

    The Kantonalbank points out that, in addition to new buildings and individual measures to save energy, the Green Mortgage also covers comprehensive renovations to increase energy efficiency or the use of renewable energies.

  • LafargeHolcim purchases in Greece

    LafargeHolcim purchases in Greece

    LafargeHolcim has strengthened its Heracles group in Greece. The Zug-based building materials manufacturer bought Halyps Domia Ylika, namely its large aggregates business and two ready-mixed concrete plants, from its competitor Heidelberg Cement. As stated in a media release from LafargeHolcim, this acquisition will strengthen the position of the Heracles Group in the flourishing metropolitan area of Athens with its important infrastructure projects.

    "I am excited about the opportunities and growth prospects of this acquisition in the Attica region in central Greece," said Miljan Gutovic, Region Head EMEA, in the press release. "With our leading range of sustainable building solutions such as the green concrete ECOPact, it will also support us in our pursuit of net zero."

    The acquisition will offer Heracles customers an expanded product portfolio of aggregates and concrete solutions that are suitable for all construction projects. This April, for example, the Heracles Group launched its ECOPact range of green concrete with a reduced CO2 footprint.

  • April rents rise by almost 1 percent

    April rents rise by almost 1 percent

    The homegate-ch asking rent index was unchanged in April compared to the previous month at 115.6 points. The rent for apartments to be re-let, on the other hand, rose by an average of 0.96 percent. This index is calculated monthly in cooperation with Zürcher Kantonalbank . It shows the quality-adjusted change in rental prices for new and re-let apartments based on current market offers.

    “As usual,” the rents developed differently depending on the canton, according to homegate.ch in a press release. According to this, the asking rents recorded an increase in rents, especially in the cantons of Bern (0.26 percent), Thurgau (0.52 percent) and Vaud (0.24 percent). In the canton of Geneva, asking rents have fallen by 0.93 percent. A similar picture emerges in the cities. The city of Geneva in particular recorded a decline of 1.27 percent.

    According to the company, the homegate.ch asking rent index is the oldest quality-adjusted rental price index in Switzerland. Real estate professionals use it as a reference source for determining the price of rental properties.

  • BKW, AEK and onyx are merging their networks

    BKW, AEK and onyx are merging their networks

    BKW Energie AG in Bern, AEK Energie AG in Solothurn and onyx Energie Mittelland AG in Langenthal will all operate under one roof on January 1, 2022. The merger of the three distribution network operators of the BKW Group is to be approved at the general meetings of AEK and onyx next year, according to a media release .

    The locations in the areas of Emmental, Oberaargau, Seeland, Oberland, Jura and Solothurn are to be retained, as are the more than 600 jobs in the areas of energy, buildings and infrastructure.

    The employees are to develop the largest distribution network in Switzerland in the future. For this purpose, a place for new, future-oriented cooperation models in the areas of energy and infrastructure will be created in Solothurn.

    The merger of the networks is a reaction of the companies to a changing market environment in the course of the energy transition, according to the media release. So there are increasingly high power peaks when owners of electric cars connect their cars for charging at the same time.

    In addition, more and more consumers who produce electricity themselves are feeding their surpluses into the grid. This leads to higher costs. These additional costs are to be cushioned through closer coordination, standardization and automation of the previously independent networks.

    The networks from BKW, AEK and onyx supply one million people with electricity. They include 425,000 connections and 22,000 kilometers of network along the Aare from the Grimsel to Solothurn and in the Jura.

  • Technopark Winterthur opens start-up meeting point

    Technopark Winterthur opens start-up meeting point

    Technopark Winterthur has completed the renovation of its 1000 square meter ground floor. The start-up meeting point, which was redesigned for around CHF 2 million, was opened to the public on Friday. It now offers spaces for networking, coworking, working groups and events.

    All conference, seminar and meeting rooms that were previously distributed in the building were moved to the ground floor, as was the coworking space called Workeria. According to a media release , new and significantly larger event spaces have been gained. This once again significantly increases the attractiveness for potential organizers. The offer for coworkers and for informal networking has now been significantly upgraded thanks to an inspiring interior design and acoustic measures. In addition, a bistro takes care of food, drinks and catering from morning to evening.

    "We discussed the plan for the renovation in detail with many stakeholders and optimized it several times – now it is a reality," says Managing Director Thomas Schumann. "I am convinced that the Technopark will further strengthen the business location and make it even better known beyond the region."

  • University of St.Gallen gets a house in the park

    University of St.Gallen gets a house in the park

    The University of St.Gallen ( HSG ) needs more space, according to a joint communication from the Canton of St.Gallen , the City of St.Gallen and the HSG. The canton of St.Gallen will therefore have a second campus built for the HSG on the Platztor site in the city of St.Gallen. The project had already been approved by the population of the canton in 2019.

    In the architecture competition organized by the canton, the project House in the Park by Zurich architect Pascal Flammer was able to prevail from among 59 candidates, informs the city administration. The winning project envisages a six-story building surrounded by a park. Large windows and a lot of wood made the building appear light and open, according to the announcement. On around 31,000 square meters, space will be created for around 3,000 students, lecturers and employees. The new building will significantly enhance the area “compared to the current situation”, write the authors.

    In the next step, the canton will now work out the specific construction project. The approval process is then to be started in 2023. Construction is scheduled to start in 2025. The Haus am Park should be ready for use in 2029.

    The communication estimates the cost of the project at CHF 207 million. The canton's population has already given their approval for the CHF 160 million allocated to the canton. The federal government and the HSG will contribute CHF 25 million and CHF 20 million respectively. The city of St.Gallen made a contribution of 2 million francs to the sale of the property.

  • Zurich is the most sustainable city in Switzerland

    Zurich is the most sustainable city in Switzerland

    The British IG Bank has compiled a list of the most sustainable Swiss cities. According to this, Zurich is considered the most sustainable city in Switzerland. Lausanne, Bern, Lucerne, St.Gallen, Lugano, Geneva and Basel follow Zurich.

    For its ranking, the bank used government data sources from the eight largest cities. She then combined the results with evaluations from international agencies. The focal points in determining sustainability included air quality, the use of public transport, the proportion of recreational areas, the population density and the proportion of populated areas.

    IG Bank emphasizes that Zurich is not only the most sustainable, but also the largest city in Switzerland. This makes the top position all the more impressive. Zurich did well in all areas. However, the use of public transport was particularly decisive. According to the bank, 67.1 percent of residents use some form of public transport. This is one of the main reasons for the good air quality in the city. As a further highlight, IG Bank highlights the fact that Zurich has its own government department for sustainable building. This focuses on creating a 2000 watt society.

    IG Bank is convinced that current and future investments will be strongly oriented towards sustainability. The aim of their ranking is to "highlight Switzerland's commitment to sustainability". In addition, the data should serve as an “indicator for future trends and show what other big cities could do to repeat Switzerland's success”.

  • Sika supports the introduction of Swiss eco-cement

    Sika supports the introduction of Swiss eco-cement

    LC3 stands for Limestone Calcined Clay Cement and was developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ). It is a sustainable cement product that has a clinker content that is up to 50 percent lower than that of traditional cement. Clinker makes a significant contribution to CO2 emissions during cement production. In LC3, a large proportion of clinker is replaced with a new additive, which means that overall less CO2 is emitted in cement production.

    The Zug-based construction chemicals group Sika wants to support the market launch of LC3, as he writes in a press release. He wants to develop and offer special cement additives and concrete admixtures that help customers adapt their materials to the properties of LC3. This should enable the water consumption, workability, hardening and durability of the LC3 concrete to remain the same compared to conventional products. According to its own statements, Sika is also ready for “comprehensive product tests with interested customers”.

    "With these new LC3 products, we are putting the goals of our sustainability strategy into practice," said Frank Höfflin, Sika's head of technology, in the press release. “Our aim is to act as an enabler for sustainability in the construction industry and to develop more environmentally friendly and more efficient products,” he emphasizes.

  • Holcim drives innovation from start-ups

    Holcim drives innovation from start-ups

    The Zug-based cement giant Holcim is teaming up with three young Swiss companies, according to a media release . The aim is to advance innovative technologies in the construction sector and promote sustainability.

    In cooperation with the Freiburg start-up Mobbot , for example, the integration of recycled building materials into 3D printing technology is to be promoted. Mobbot has developed the necessary 3D printing technology. Together with Holcim, it now wants to develop a concrete recipe that enables the use of recycled material in 3D printing.

    Holcim has entered into another cooperation with the Bern-based company Neuustark . The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ( ETH ) is developing a technology with which CO2 from the atmosphere can be permanently stored in recycled concrete. For this purpose, liquid CO2 is introduced into the demolition material. As part of the collaboration, neustark is investigating the CO2 conversion potential of the demolition concrete recycled by Holcim. In turn, Holcim is optimizing the concrete produced by Neustark. Holcim believes it is possible to integrate the neustark solution into its recycling process in the future.

    The third collaboration between Holcim and the Ticino start-up company HeatNeutral has been agreed. This has developed an innovative combustion system that is intended to promote the decarbonization of production facilities. According to the information, the heating system works particularly efficiently and achieves an almost 100 percent combustion of fuels. This means that less fuel is required for the same output. In addition, the HeatNeutral system can also burn CO2-neutral oils such as vegetable oils, used cooking oils and biodiesel. Holcim is testing the solution in its concrete plant in Birsfelden BL.

  • PSP Swiss Property has a good start to the year

    PSP Swiss Property has a good start to the year

    According to a statement from PSP Swiss Property , the Zug-based real estate company generated real estate income totaling CHF 77.4 million in the first quarter of 2021. Compared to the same period in the previous year, this corresponds to growth of 4.6 percent. Operating expenses remained at the previous year's level at 13.2 percent.

    The operating result (EBITDA) excluding real estate successes and valuation differences amounted to 78.5 million francs in the quarter under review, 23.9 percent more than in the first quarter of 2020. The profit without real estate successes rose by 28.5 percent year-on-year to 61.8 million Francs too.

    At 88.8 million, net profit was 85.3 percent higher than in the previous year. The real estate company attributes the sharp rise to higher rental income, profits from the sale of development projects and condominiums, and a portfolio revaluation of CHF 33.2 million.

    The balance sheet value of the portfolio on the reporting date at the end of the quarter was CHF 8.641 billion, compared to CHF 8.577 billion at the end of 2020. In the quarter under review, PSP Swiss Property sold the Seestrasse development project in Kilchberg ZH and 13 floor units in the Residenza Parco Lago project in Paradiso near Lugano. The vacancy rate rose from 3.0 to 3.1 percent due to renovation work, among other things.

  • Real Estate Award 2021: These are the nominees!

    Real Estate Award 2021: These are the nominees!

    Outstanding achievements are honored, regardless of the size of a company. The presentation of the awards as part of the Real Estate Award on June 21, 2021 is then also a special occasion where the real estate and construction industries meet. In the past few years, over 2,800 people have taken part in the Real Estate Award ceremony, making the event an important fixture on the real estate industry's agenda.

    The jury of real estate experts and economists made a pre-selection from all the applications submitted: Based on criteria such as vision, strategy, pioneering spirit, originality, scalability and special service, the jury nominated three projects in each category for the Real Estate Award 2021.

    In the category management:
     – Credit Trust – "The digital alternative to the debt enforcement extract – especially for managers"
    – VERIT Immobilien AG – "VERIT thinks the tenant onboarding process digitally through to the end"
    – PRIVERA AG «Tenant concerns intelligently automated – fast, lean, smart – IMOFIX» In the category

    Project development:
     – NEST Interiors AG – "Idyllic residential area on the Fischingerbach"
    – Felix Partner Architektur AG – "West-Log"
    – CCTM Real Estate & Infrastructure AG – "Swiss Life Arena"

    In the Marketing category:
     – Tend AG – "Bear Tower"
    – Marti Gesamtdienstleistungen AG – "Schäferhöhe – Get out of the stables"
    – LIVIT AG – "Guggachpark"

    In the conversion / conversion category:
     Felix Partner Architektur AG – "From the ruin to the zero-energy balance house"
    – Credit Suisse Asset Manag. – «Transformation Schwarzenburgstr. Liebefeld »
    – Marazzi + Paul Architects AG – «Schönburg Bern»

    In the Real Estate / Construction Digital category
     SV Group AG – "Stay KooooK"
    – Price Hubble AG – "Property Tracker"
    – SBB – "Smart City Lab Basel"

    The real estate and construction industry now has the final say: From May 1 to June 15, 2021, the www. realestateaward.ch online for the nominated applications.

    The winners will then be presented with the awards on June 21, 2021 at the Real Estate Award ceremony in Zurich. If this date is not possible due to any BAG regulations, the event will take place on August 30, 2021.

    The real estate personality of the year, chosen by the jury, will also be honored on this evening.

    At the same time as the Real Estate Award is presented, the SVIT Switzerland Award "Innovation in Real Estate" will be presented. https://realestateinnovation.ch/

    Order tickets for the Real Estate Award ceremony at: www.realestateaward.ch or SVIT – https://realestateinnovation.ch/

  • Genome researchers at the Irchel campus get a new laboratory

    Genome researchers at the Irchel campus get a new laboratory

    The Functional Genomics Center Zurich (FGCZ) of the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) is getting a new building on the Irchel campus. The groundbreaking is in May. As general contractor, Implenia AG Switzerland and SAM Architects AG Zurich are responsible for the planning and implementation. With their project, they won a selection procedure from the cantonal building construction office in Zurich in March, according to a media release .

    Accordingly, a new laboratory building of 1300 square meters is planned. This offers space for 20 different room types. This should accommodate high-tech devices that have different requirements in terms of room climate, temperature, power consumption and availability.

    In addition to the laboratories, a new type of office concept is also being created, which offers different opportunities for community and privacy. This new working environment is intended to make work easier for genome researchers and external users, according to the press release. If everything goes according to plan, the 80 employees at the Functional Genomics Center Zurich could move in summer 2022.

    The old building of the genome researchers on the Irchel campus is meanwhile being cleared for temporary use. From 2023, three secondary schools in the canton of Zurich are to move in there. After about ten years, the buildings are to be renovated and handed over again for university purposes.

    Accordingly, the new laboratory building is a temporary solution. It consists of modules that can easily be dismantled and recycled. Because: After 15 years, the scientists should move back into their traditional building.

  • Fundamenta Real Estate AG completes capital increase

    Fundamenta Real Estate AG completes capital increase

    Fundamenta Real Estate AG placed 5,010,472 new shares on the stock exchange as part of a capital increase. The existing shareholders exercised their subscription rights. They acquired the shares at a price of CHF 18.35 each. As a result, the Zug-based real estate company took in CHF 88.5 million and was able to successfully complete its capital increase to the maximum extent, according to a media release .

    The company intends to invest the proceeds in new and modernization of existing properties and to use them to consolidate the balance sheet structure.

    The first trading day for the new shares and the delivery of the shares against payment of the subscription and placement price is scheduled for April 27, 2021.

    Zürcher Kantonalbank acted as lead manager of the transaction and Luzerner Kantonalbank acted as co-lead manager. Fundamenta Group AG was responsible for project management and the placement of the shares.

  • Global real estate event: Run & have fun!

    Global real estate event: Run & have fun!

    There are no special requirements for participation, only the will to complete 6 kilometers within 24 hours. Alone or with the family, at your own pace or with team support. Every participant is free to run or take a walk. A welcome occasion for a chat among work colleagues, for digital socializing in what seems to be eternal times of social distancing. A pleasant side effect: Exercising in the fresh air is not only good for the soul, one or the other kilogram of body weight due to the corona lockdown can also give way.

    Anyone can take part – anywhere in the world. Those interested can register online at globalrealestaterun.com until April 28th. After registering, the participant receives access to a geotagged app. The route can be chosen freely and regardless of location. With this initiative, the organizers want to draw attention to the need for innovations to achieve sustainability goals in the real estate industry. Everyone can contribute something to this. Because sustainability is not a local but a global issue. Just like the Global Real Estate Run. Thanks to the main sponsors Homegate, SPG Intercity Zurich AG and PropTechMarket, a tree will be planted for each participant as a “green” sign.

    Registration and more at: https://globalrealestaterun.com/

  • Dietikon takes part in Zurich's image campaign

    Dietikon takes part in Zurich's image campaign

    The image campaign for Zurich's cities and municipalities starts on April 26th under the motto: There for you. Your Zurich communities. The city of Dietikon is also there, as a media release shows . The campaign is supported by the Association of Zurich Community Clerks and Administrative Experts (VZGV) and the participating cities and municipalities. It includes billboard advertising, videos and a special page on the Internet. The aim of the communication is to make residents aware of the wide range of services that city and municipal administrations provide on a daily basis. With “great commitment and a high level of quality awareness”, as it is called there.

    The campaign in Dietikon will also start on April 26th. The services are to be presented in striking motifs. For example, several symbols such as wedding rings, a voting envelope, but also a dome lid to cover a sewer pipe are shown on the online campaign page. The latter is accompanied by a video about the laying of such lines. If you click on one of the symbols, a new window opens with comprehensive information.

    The campaign is to run in three phases. After the first part, which is now starting, the VZGV wants to start the second part in autumn to present Zurich's cities and municipalities as attractive employers. The final third part of the campaign is to follow in 2022. In it, the municipalities will present themselves as companies and present their offers for training and any further training.

  • ESB promotes conversion to district heating

    ESB promotes conversion to district heating

    At the beginning of the month, ESB launched a program to promote a connection to heating networks in Biel, the energy company informed in a message . With this, ESB wants to support the Biel climate strategy, it says there. In particular, ESB wants to contribute to the city's goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

    Most of the buildings in the city of Biel are currently heated with fossil fuels, writes ESB. Switching to district heating therefore has "high potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions". In order to reach as many property owners as possible, funding for connection to a district heating network is granted regardless of the current energy source.

    Applicants must meet a number of requirements for a contribution to the connection costs, as explained in the communication. On the one hand, the property in question must be located in the area of the city of Biel and be connected to a heating network that is operated with at least 80 percent renewable energies or waste heat. On the other hand, the heating energy must be drawn from the heating network as soon as it is available. Cold connections are therefore excluded from funding. In the case of a connection also funded by the canton of Bern, the ESB grant will also be reduced by the cantonal grant.

  • Federal government plans platform for major foreign projects

    Federal government plans platform for major foreign projects

    The federal government wants to help Swiss companies to get better contracts in connection with infrastructure projects. To this end, at the end of 2019 it decided to set up a coordination office at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs ( SECO ).

    According to a statement , the Federal Council is now making a total of 7.8 million francs available for the years 2022 to 2024. The aim is to strengthen and expand the networking of actors such as the official foreign trade promoter Switzerland Global Enterprise , export risk insurance SERV and other federal agencies and interested business associations.

    The federal government is also planning a digital platform that will bring together the supply and demand for infrastructure projects abroad. SERV should also target general contractors and project sponsors who might be interested in Swiss suppliers.

    The federal government also assumes that the expansion of the infrastructure will increase the demand for innovative solutions for sustainable development. Therefore, employees of the external network are to receive more advanced training in the area of cleantech.

  • Homegate and MoneyPark cooperate

    Homegate and MoneyPark cooperate

    Homegate , a subsidiary of the media company TX Group , and MoneyPark have entered into a strategic partnership. The two companies are convinced that their new partnership offers property seekers added value. According to a press release , Homegate has now integrated digital tools from the mortgage provider MoneyPark directly into its real estate platform.

    If interested parties have found a suitable property on homegate.ch, they can have an immediate calculation of whether a purchase is financially feasible for them. If so, you will receive a confirmation of financing including a certificate. This is based on the award criteria of MoneyPark's 150 mortgage lenders. The price range shown also provides guidance when it comes to having to strike quickly in a potential bidding process. It also shows you how much this property would cost you per month.

    Homegate doesn't just want to support its users until they find their property, says Simon Herrmann, Business Owner Consumer Services at Homegate. Even after that, “all connection services should be available at one click”. "The fact that MoneyPark advises its customers independently and personally on such an important decision was crucial for us to enter into the partnership." a service environment that is unique in Switzerland, ”says Stefan Heitmann, CEO and founder of MoneyPark.

  • St.Gallen gets a new hotel

    St.Gallen gets a new hotel

    HRS Real Estate AG will start work on the renovation of the Villa Wiesental and a new hotel building on April 26, according to a media release . The building permit was recently received by HRS and the City of St.Gallen Pension Fund. Since the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony will not take place due to the corona situation, the initiators are planning a ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for June.

    The combination of Villa Wiesental renovation and new hotel building is an "excellent urban development solution", according to HRS Real Estate. Both the historical building and the urban development in the Bahnhof Nord district are taken into account. After the renovation, the Pension Fund Stadt St.Gallen would like to offer representative office space in the Villa Wiesental.

    After the planned construction period of two years, the new hotel will be operated by Hotel Wiesental St.Gallen AG. It will have around 100 rooms. Both the hotel's parking area and the publicly accessible ground floor should contribute to the revitalization and upgrading of the quarter.

  • Nyon builds district heating network

    Nyon builds district heating network

    Nyoner Stadtwerke and Romande Energie establish the joint venture thermorésÔ Nyon SA. This is to set up a district heating network in the city on Lake Geneva, to which up to 130 buildings can be connected, write the city and the Vaudois energy supplier in a message .

    The network is to be heated to 85 percent with wood chips from the region. Natural gas or biogas should only be used at peak times in winter. The initiators expect a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 7,000 tons.

    Stadtwerke and Romande Energie are already working together on the EnergeÔ project. This is intended to promote the use of geothermal energy from medium depths. This geothermal energy should also be able to be used in the new district heating network in the future.

  • Homeownership prices are rising sharply

    Homeownership prices are rising sharply

    In 2020, home ownership prices rose by 5 percent across Switzerland and by 4 percent in the canton of Zurich. Ursina Kubli, Head of Real Estate Research at Zürcher Kantonalbank ( ZKB ), sees one reason for this in the low mortgage interest rates. They are an important financial incentive to buy your own home, she is quoted in a ZKB press release , which summarizes the current issue of the ZKB specialist magazine " Immobilien aktuell ". On the other hand, the supply is scarce, "because the construction industry is still concentrating on rental apartments, while many older people willing to sell are hesitant to sell them." And thirdly, the personal living situation has become increasingly important in the pandemic.

    Despite the precarious economic situation and the corresponding uncertain prospects for the labor market, there are still many willing to buy when there is a shortage of supply. This allows the conclusion that the wage segments relevant for the home sector have so far been little affected by the economic slowdown.

    Because people over the age of 60 currently own more than half of all single-family houses and condominiums and even more than 80 percent of multi-family houses in the canton of Zurich, the ZKB expects an additional supply on the real estate market in the coming years and decades. Gaining more living space by reallocating vacant office space is attractive, but often proves to be a "resinous niche strategy" due to regulatory hurdles.

    As a result of the pandemic, the micro-location of a property is becoming increasingly important. Sunlight is one of the most important factors. Thanks to extensive computing power at 100 million geographical points, the ZKB real estate research team succeeded for the first time in evaluating the actual duration of sunshine at a wide variety of places. One result: the city of Zurich is clearly surpassed by other Swiss cities in the winter months.

  • New NEXPO leadership advertises state exhibition

    New NEXPO leadership advertises state exhibition

    Instead of concentrating on one region, the next state exhibition is to take place across the country until its climax in 2028: in all language regions, in cities, agglomerations and in the countryside. It should be sustainable and future-oriented. That is the vision of an initiative to which the ten largest cities in the country belong. Now, according to a media release , the specially founded association “ NEXPO – the new EXPO ” has given itself a new management. She should now promote a corresponding application to the federal government.

    The new board of directors consists of Christina Hanke, Fredi Fischli and Niels Olsen. Hanke, who has been the commercial director of the Zurich Film Festival since 2019, will also take over the commercial management of the association. Fischli and Olsen direct the gta exhibitions at the Architecture Department of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ). You teach at the ETH as well as at the HEAD art academy in Geneva and the Zurich University of the Arts .

    As stated on the initiative's website, the residents of Switzerland should use a digital NEXPO platform to develop new ideas and projects for living together in times of globalization, digitization, climate change and migration. "The best will be chosen as the new landmarks of Switzerland for the 21st century and should endure."

    The new management will discuss these and other ideas with interested parties in an online conversation on May 10th at 5.30 p.m. It is broadcast from the vacant Le Plaza cinema in Geneva. Registrations are possible by email .

  • There are great price differences in real estate

    There are great price differences in real estate

    Homegate.ch finds big differences in the purchase price of residential properties within Switzerland. Geneva and Zug are proving to be the most expensive cantons to buy a home, as the real estate platform belonging to TX Markets AG writes in a press release. Interested parties can only buy a 1.5 room apartment there for CHF 500,000. The same amount of money can be used to buy a three-room apartment in the canton of Zurich. In the cantons of Uri, St.Gallen and Jura, the budget is even enough for a 4.5 room apartment.

    Homegate.ch also detects major differences in property prices within the individual cantons. In some municipalities in the canton of Zurich (Elgg, Gossau or Mönchaltorf), a 3.5-room apartment can be purchased for CHF 500,000. In other municipalities (City of Zurich, Horgen or Männedorf) the money is only enough for a 1.5-room apartment.

    Overall, the purchase prices for real estate have risen in all cantons over the past ten years. Real estate has risen most in price in the canton of Zug. There the prices for a 4.5-room condominium rose from CHF 900,000 in 2010 to CHF 1.3 million in 2020. That corresponds to an increase of 45 percent.

    The rental prices are also very different depending on the canton. And here, too, Geneva and Zug prove to be particularly expensive. The city of Zurich also has comparatively high rental prices. Appenzell Ausserrhoden or Jura are considered cheaper. In the past ten years, rental prices have increased less than purchase prices.

  • Dietiker city council presents new energy and climate strategy 2050

    Dietiker city council presents new energy and climate strategy 2050

    The Dietikon City Council has approved the new Energy and Climate Strategy 2050 with seven specific fields of action. The strategy focuses on the expansion of renewable energies, energy efficiency and security of supply, according to a media release .

    Among the seven goals named in the new strategy, the intention to reduce the city administration's energy-related greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2030 stands out. For the population and companies, the goal of freedom from greenhouse gas emissions then applies to 2040. And by 2050, non-energy-related emissions, such as in agriculture or waste recycling, should be offset with zero emissions or with so-called negative emissions. The concrete implementation should begin immediately. The municipal energy planning will be revised by the end of the year.

    "The strategy allows us to implement climate protection and the energy transition in Dietikon in an even more targeted manner," said City Councilor Anton Kiwic, Head of Building Construction and President of the Energy Commission. Dietikon is thus making its contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for the future quality of the location for the population and the economy.

    A small six-page brochure on the new strategy with many links on climate policy is available on the website of the City of Dietikon. There it says: Dietikon will be climate neutral. To do this, we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest. In addition, we remain committed to the goals of the 2000-watt society and, as the energy city of gold and smart cities, play a pioneering role in national energy and climate policy.

  • Schaffhausen receives new data center

    Schaffhausen receives new data center

    The Geneva data center operator Safe Host is investing in the Schaffhausen community of Beringen. He wants to build a data center on the site of the former SIG tennis club. According to a press release, the building application was submitted on April 9th. There are two projects to be approved: On the one hand, the data center itself with its ancillary buildings. On the other hand, a new substation for the electricity company of the canton of Schaffhausen ( EKS ). The latter should, among other things, enable the feed-in of larger amounts of renewable energies.

    The data center will generate solar power itself. Photovoltaic shelves will be installed on all free roof areas and on the south facade. In addition, the office complex is heated with the waste heat generated by the data center itself. The rainwater is also stored where possible and processed for cooling.

    According to the announcement, the municipality of Beringen sees the project as a "further milestone in the development of the industrial quarter". The local council is convinced that such a “high-tech building” has a “signal effect” in Beringen.

    The architectural office Schmidli Architekten + Partner from Rafz ZH is responsible for the planning. This has already been entrusted with the planning of Safe Host's data center in Rafz, which is currently still under construction.

    The Beringer data center is already the fifth owned by Safe Host. In addition to the new data center in Rafz, the company also has three centers in the greater Geneva area.

  • Switzerland needs 87 million tons of material a year

    Switzerland needs 87 million tons of material a year

    Researchers at the Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute ( Empa ) investigated the question: How much does Switzerland consume? The basis was the mass and energy flows for the year 2018. According to the press release , this means that domestic material consumption is 87 million tonnes net per year. That is the mass of material needed to keep the Swiss economy running. This includes, for example, buildings, streets, cars and electricity.

    As an example of outflowing masses, the announcement mentions that 12 million tons end up in the final disposal. The export in the research year 2018 amounted to 18 million tons. A large part of the incoming material remains in the system and allows the "warehouse" to grow by 52 million tons per year (as of 2018). The total weight of the “material warehouse” in Switzerland is around 3.2 billion tons.

    The study is the fourth part of the MatCH project. The abbreviation stands for "Material and energy resources and associated environmental impacts in Switzerland". The project was launched in 2013 on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and extended over several stages. The first part recorded all material and energy flows in the construction sector; the second covered mobility. And part three was devoted to the production and consumption of the other goods that are imported, obtained domestically and exported.

    The work now presented is part four, which brings a synthesis of the findings from the three previous ones. The team also analyzed how the behavior of the population affects greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to per capita consumption data, the researchers also analyzed personal behavior. The message states that if all residents behaved like the fifth of the population with the most exemplary lifestyle, Switzerland's total greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 16 percent. If, on the other hand, everyone behaved like the fifth with the least ecological lifestyle, emissions would rise by 17 percent.

  • Axpo wants to produce hydrogen

    Axpo wants to produce hydrogen

    Axpo wants to produce green hydrogen from the hydropower of the Rhine in the future. For this purpose, a hydrogen production plant at the Eglisau-Glattfelden power plant is to be put into operation as early as autumn 2022, according to a media release . This should produce 350 tons of hydrogen annually. According to Axpo, this can save over 1.5 million liters of diesel per year in road traffic.

    The new hydrogen production plant will have an output of 2.5 megawatts. However, it can be expanded to 5 megawatts. Axpo is also planning to implement additional systems at other locations. The company has already set up its own department for the hydrogen business area.

    Axpo works with Opfikon-based Hydrospider AG to transport the hydrogen to the filling stations. This is a joint venture between H2 Energy , Alpiq and Linde GmbH . Both Axpo and Hydrospider see great potential for hydrogen in the mobility sector. There are already more than 50 trucks with fuel cells in Switzerland today. According to the partners, it should be more than 1,600 by 2026.

    Axpo had already planned a hydrogen production plant for the same power plant in 2015. At that time, however, the project was not pursued because the sales volume of hydrogen remained below the company's expectations. "Since then, the fight against climate change has gained significantly in importance and hydrogen has proven to be a suitable energy source for the decarbonisation of mobility and industry," said Guy Bühler, Head of Hydrogen at Axpo, quoted in the press release.

  • Office floor in NEST is being built so that it can be recycled

    Office floor in NEST is being built so that it can be recycled

    The office unit in NEST called Sprint is intended to set new standards for circular building. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place in mid-April. It should be finished in summer. Sprint is located on the first floor of NEST in Dübendorf. The three-storey modular building is the research and innovation center of the Federal Materials Testing and Research Institute ( Empa ) and the water research institute of the ETH Domain ( Eawag ).

    As stated in a press release by Empa, those involved in the planning concentrated on finding the most general solutions possible for a later dismantling. In doing so, they follow a design approach that facilitates future changes and dismantling to recover systems, components and materials. Today's buildings have to be built in such a way “that their components can be fed back into cycles”, says Kerstin Müller, managing architect at baubüro in situ and managing director of Zirkular GmbH .

    Your colleague Oliver Seidel points out that reusing materials is often associated with lower costs. “But the added value lies in another area: Re-use is more sustainable. And in terms of quality there is no loss. ”On the contrary. For example, the aesthetics of an old wooden parquet floor represent added value.

    "For the first time, Empa is combining the approach of reuse and the market requirements of fast and flexible construction," Enrico Marchesi, innovation manager and project manager at NEST, is quoted as saying. "With the new 'Sprint' unit, we want to show that these needs can be met together."