immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: klimapolitik

  • Energy City strengthens climate policy with new certification standards

    Energy City strengthens climate policy with new certification standards

    The Energiestadt association wants to support its 644 member municipalities and cities on the path to climate neutrality in future. In 30 years of commitment, much of what was initially considered progressive has become the standard, writes Energiestadt in a corresponding press release. In order to continue to act as a pacesetter, certification and support for members should be consistently focussed on the net-zero target.

    The Energiestadt label recognises cities and municipalities for their sustainable energy and climate policy. In future, the certification process will place particular emphasis on net-zero relevant strategies and measures. The press release cites the phasing out of natural gas for heating and the promotion of electromobility as examples. To receive the highest accolade of Gold City, in future it will be necessary to prove that strategies and measures are being consistently pursued and are compatible with the net-zero target. At the same time, Energiestadt wants to simplify the certification process for smaller municipalities.

    “With the new instruments, Energiestadt is strengthening its role as a leading competence centre for local energy and climate policy in Switzerland,” said Maren Kornmann, Co-Managing Director of Energiestadt, in the press release. “Energiestadt is the only organisation to offer a comprehensive package for the planning, implementation and monitoring of net-zero measures at local level.”

  • Additional loan for administration building at Seetalplatz Lucerne

    Additional loan for administration building at Seetalplatz Lucerne

    In 2021, the people of Lucerne voted in favour of the construction of an administration building on Seetalplatz and approved a special loan of CHF 177.4 million. Due to staff growth and unexpected construction requirements, the cantonal government is now requesting an additional credit of CHF 14.25 million. In particular, the increased number of employees in the cantonal administration, especially in the Asylum and Refugee Service, requires an expansion of office space.

    In addition to the increase in space, structural adjustments will be made in order to fulfil the ecological requirements of Lucerne’s climate policy. These include an extension of the photovoltaic system from the roof area to the building façade as well as a possible extension of the building in the inner courtyard, which will lead to an improved utilisation of the property. In addition, further cost increases will arise due to building permit requirements.

    Central point of contact for the population
    Once completed in 2026, the administration building will house more than 2,000 cantonal employees and offer centralised services for the population at an easily accessible location in Lucerne North. The ground-breaking ceremony took place in September 2023 and construction work is progressing according to plan.

    The Cantonal Council will decide on the additional loan in the October session.

  • The renovation rate for buildings is still too low

    The renovation rate for buildings is still too low

    In 2019, the federal and cantonal building program paid out around CHF 265 million in subsidies, a quarter more than in the previous year. This emerges from the 2019 annual report of the building program. This program is an important pillar of Swiss energy and climate policy. It is based on Article 34 of the CO2 Act .

    According to a press release from the building program, applicants received a total of around CHF 265 million in funding in 2019 (2018: CHF 211 million). Most of the funding last year went to thermal insulation projects with CHF 133 million. The greatest growth was recorded in subsidies for system renovations; they rose by 70 percent to 60 million francs. Solar and ventilation systems were funded with 35 million francs. 4,100 fossil fuel systems have been replaced with renewable energy heating systems, most commonly a heat pump.

    According to the announcement, the measures implemented in 2019 thanks to subsidies will save 5.4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 1.2 million tons of CO2 over their entire service life. But the renovation rate is too low to achieve the Swiss energy and climate targets for buildings. In order to offer a greater incentive, higher funding rates have been granted since 2019. This has reduced the effect achieved: While in 2018 159 francs were used per ton of CO2 saved, it was 205 francs in 2019. The increase in the more cost-intensive system renovations also reduced the effect per Swiss franc granted.

    The employment effect of the building program is positive: it is 2100 full-time equivalents and around 82 million francs of additional domestic added value.