Tag: News

  • The population of Freiburg wants wind farms

    The population of Freiburg wants wind farms

    The population of Freiburg is behind the cantonal wind power projects. This is shown by a survey that MIS Trend carried out on behalf of Groupe E in September. According to a statement from the cantonal energy supplier, 72 percent are in favor of building wind farms in the canton. 65 percent also have no concerns about the installation of the systems.

    Groupe E wants to set up wind farms at four locations. These locations are entered in the canton's structure plan, which has already been approved by the federal government. The four wind farms should allow an additional electricity production of 156 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. Two thirds of electricity production should occur in winter, when photovoltaics are less productive. Compensation measures for the benefit of biodiversity are planned for the projects.

  • Coop delivers with hydrogen trucks

    Coop delivers with hydrogen trucks

    In future, Coop will increasingly supply its sales outlets with hydrogen trucks. According to a media release on Wednesday, the food cooperative put one of the world's first mass-produced fuel cell electric trucks into operation. A total of seven of these will be in use by the end of the year. Because there are no other emissions besides water vapor, Coop is assuming potential savings of 80 tonnes of CO2 per truck per year. In addition, Coop is establishing additional hydrogen filling stations in Switzerland.

    As the message goes on to say, Coop is working together with the Swiss company H2 Energy AG and the Hyundai Motor Company . Hyundai is considered a world leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology. The performance, refueling time and range of their hydrogen trucks are comparable to those of conventional trucks.

    Coop has set itself the goal of being CO2-neutral in the relevant areas of the company by 2023. This is why the food wholesaler and retailer is doing “pioneering work” for electromobility with green hydrogen. In 2018, the H2 Mobility Switzerland association was founded on the initiative of Coop. It includes seven large operators of petrol stations and truck fleets.

    "The H2 Mobility Switzerland association promotes clean, CO2-free motorized individual traffic in Switzerland and implements the technology of hydrogen mobility in road traffic on a private basis," says Jörg Ackermann, member of the Coop management and president of the association. The aim of the association is to create a nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations throughout Switzerland by 2023.

  • Sustainable fuel is created from greenhouse gases

    Sustainable fuel is created from greenhouse gases

    Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich ( ETH ) are working on more sustainable fuels and plastics. To do this, they have developed a new type of catalyst. According to a press release , this catalyst could replace fossil hydrocarbons with more climate-friendly alternatives. A corresponding study has now been published in the journal "Nature Communications".

    This new catalyst developed by the research team led by ETH professor Christoph Müller and study author Alexey Fedorov enables the conversion of CO2 and methane into synthesis gas many times more efficiently than previous catalyst materials. Synthesis gas is an important raw material for the chemical industry. Liquid fuels can be produced from this, as can basic chemicals for the production of plastics.

    What is new about this catalyst is that it consists of extremely thin metal oxide carbides. Unlike conventional catalysts made from metal carbides, they do not oxidize when they come into contact with CO2. This means that the ETH catalyst retains its reactivity, says Christoph Müller, Professor of Energy Science and Energy Technology in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering .

    Since the CO2 can be extracted from the atmosphere and only the methane comes from fossil deposits that are millions of years old, such synthetic fuels and chemicals have a smaller carbon footprint than fossil fuels.

    The new reaction accelerator could possibly also replace expensive noble metal catalysts. Although there is still a long way to go before industrial application, the team hopes, according to Fedorov, “that our new catalyst material will be an attractive option for the production of synthesis gas”.

  • Blackstone Resources secures CHF 30 million

    Blackstone Resources secures CHF 30 million

    Blackstone Resources AG will receive equity capital of 30 million francs from Luxembourg- based GEM Global Yield LLC SCS . As the Zug-based battery manufacturer, owner of metal refineries and raw materials trader , announced that it has signed a three-year equity commitment with GEM.

    This funding will accelerate Blackstone's development of a commercially printed battery for mass production, according to the media release. In addition, the holding company wants to acquire important systems and equipment and expand investments in battery metals.

    "Blackstone represents the technology of the next generation of printed 3D batteries with solid-state electrolyte and their mass production," said CEO Ulrich Ernst. "This capital increase puts us on the way to realizing our vision of a leading battery producer in order to produce batteries with higher density." Their more environmentally friendly production should succeed at costs below the current market price.

    As part of this agreement, Blackstone will issue 2.5 million bonds (warrants) with an exercise price of CHF 3.00. A capital increase will be carried out in due course.

    Blackstone Resources invests in and claims to develop primarily mining projects with strong future potential that focus on battery metals. The company has taken strategic stakes in mining companies that ethically seek, develop and mine these battery metals in politically safe countries. In addition, it started trading in raw materials.

  • Building technology management day takes place in Baden

    Building technology management day takes place in Baden

    This year's building technology management day will take place on November 10th in the transformer hall in Baden . In addition to the lectures and the panel discussion by experts, following the joint invitation from energie-cluster.ch and pro clima, it is intended to offer the opportunity for personal networking or to establish or intensify contacts . After many events were canceled due to the Covid pandemic, direct trade between the industry is important, pro clima President Timo Alber is quoted in the invitation.

    The topic of the event is: How can companies establish themselves, distinguish themselves and, if necessary, benefit from them in individual cases? The focus should be on the management of the company and in the company. After the welcome coffee at 8.30 a.m. and the introduction by Timo Alber, André Lüthi, CEO of Globetrotter Group AG, will hold the introductory speech on the topic: Entrepreneurship as a driver of innovation and success. Which skills are particularly in demand in times of crisis?

    Other speakers include Carl Elsener, CEO Victorinox AG, and Robert Weinert, Head of Real Estate Monitoring at Wüest Partner AG in Zurich, as well as Norman Alexander, expert on reading and people influence, and Eva Jaisli, CEO and co-owner of PB Schweizer Tools AG. Participating in the lunchtime discussion are: National Councilor Jürg Grossen and Daniel Huser, suissetec Central President and owner of Huser Gebäudetechnik AG. Also Marco Waldhauser from the engineering office Waldhauser + Hermann AG and Norbert Rücker. The economist is Head of Economics & Next Generation Research at Julius Baer.

    The final lecture on “Teambuilding – Leadership – Mindset” will be given by the coach of the Swiss ice hockey team Patrick Fischer. The event ends at 4.30 p.m. with the closing speech by Timo Alber and the new head of energie-cluster.ch Christoph Röthlisberger.

  • Bike tower starts pilot operation

    Bike tower starts pilot operation

    The V-Locker bicycle parking tower is starting pilot operations together with SBB at Münchenbuchsee station. According to a media release from V-Locker AG, the parking tower will initially offer test users "the desired level of security for parking high-quality bicycles". There is also space for a helmet, rain protection and luggage.

    The pilot operation will provide first insights into user expectations and experiences. The operators want to promote the development of a comprehensive network of V-Locker bicycle parking towers. The establishment of bicycle parking towers at strategic points is intended to encourage commuters to switch to local public transport. The aim is to motivate motorists in particular to use the bike for the daily commute to the train station.

    The Swiss Climate Foundation is an important partner in this project, emphasizes V-Locker in the press release. Thanks to your support, the first milestones could have been realized on time. The fruitful discussions on the social benefit of the system were helpful in formulating a modern, future-oriented solution for current problems in micromobility.

  • Elektro-Material AG puts Hedin Automotive in the right light

    Elektro-Material AG puts Hedin Automotive in the right light

    EM Licht, a division of Elektro-Material AG , was integrated into the planning of Hedin Automotive Saturdayern AG from the beginning with regard to the renovation and expansion of its buildings, as a media release shows. In this way, the lighting design could be incorporated directly into the building design. The newly developed lighting concept was not only implemented in the showroom, BMW M showroom and mini pavilion. The workshop or the wash bays have also been given new lighting.

    In addition, new lighting was implemented for customer and outdoor parking spaces, and the petrol station and advertising lighting was refurbished. In the exhibition area, the task was to combine various requirements. There are certain requirements for BMW dealers regarding the lighting of the cars on display. However, the workplaces of the sales staff are also located in the exhibition area. EM Light has therefore mixed the light colors. And chessboard lighting has been installed for the showroom for the BMW M, which, together with the logo of the BMW M and the cars on display, creates a stylish ambience, as the message says.

  • IT companies in St.Gallen join forces

    IT companies in St.Gallen join forces

    The young company emonitor , which is active in the field of real estate technology, has brought its melon rental software into a collaboration with Abacus , as stated in a message from emonitor. On behalf of the City of St.Gallen Pension Fund , melon has been connected to the AbaImmo property management software from Abacus. This now creates software for reporting in the area of apartment rentals.

    On the one hand, software is available for a continuous letting process, from the first contact with a prospective tenant through to ancillary costs settlement. And on the other hand, thanks to the collaboration between emonitor from St.Gallen and Abacus Research from Wittenbach, reports can be created that provide real-time information on vacancies, for example.

    The City of St.Gallen Pension Fund is currently in a digitization process and would like to be a pioneer in turning interested parties into tenants even more easily, as the message says. "We are pleased that together with emonitor and Abacus we can implement our ideas of future-oriented leasing and management," Gerardo Longo from the Pension Fund Stadt St.Gallen is quoted in the announcement. "In addition to creating an overall process, we also benefit from the simple acquisition of demand and analysis data, with the help of which we will, for example, be able to better plan our projects and avoid vacancies."

  • Eniwa receives the Aargauer Strom Award 2020

    Eniwa receives the Aargauer Strom Award 2020

    The Association of Aargau Electricity Suppliers has presented this year's Aargauer Strom Award. It went to Eniwa AG for their Unterentfelden project Im Erlifeld: the future area . The prize is awarded every two years to honor particularly innovative projects by Aargau electricity suppliers.

    As stated in a press release from swisspower , Eniwa AG's energy concept for this quarter convinced the jury. The area with nine new multi-family houses and its 90 apartments is largely self-sufficient. The residents benefited in many ways, according to the jurors: from environmentally friendly electricity at attractive prices, charging options for electric vehicles, e-car sharing, transparent and simple billing and ultra-fast broadband internet.

    Due to the corona, the award ceremony took place "in a slightly different form" in the ELFA hall in Aarau.

  • PKG pension fund for SMEs – new head of real estate and member of the executive board

    PKG pension fund for SMEs – new head of real estate and member of the executive board

    Hans-Urs Baumann succeeds Gerold Moser. As of January 1, 2021, Hans-Urs Baumann will be the new Head of Real Estate and a member of the management of the PKG Pension Fund. He succeeds Gerold Moser, who was responsible for real estate matters at the PKG pension fund for 17 years.

    Hans-Urs Baumann (55), who will take up his post on January 4, 2021, is a proven real estate specialist with a sound education: He is a university of applied sciences architecture and has a postgraduate degree in business administration and management as well as a master's in real estate management from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich .

    For four years, Hans-Urs Baumann worked as a canton master builder for the canton of Lucerne. His area of responsibility included, among other things, the management of the real estate department of the canton. He is currently a member of the management team of Fundamenta Group (Schweiz) AG, an independent Swiss real estate company in Zug. Hans-Urs Baumann, who lives with his family in Lucerne, will also become a member of PKG management when he takes office.

    His predecessor, Gerold Moser (64), who will retire as Head of Real Estate and a member of the Executive Board at the beginning of 2021, has built up the PKG Pension Fund's real estate portfolio in the 17 years of his activity. It now has a volume of CHF 600 million. He attached great importance to sustainability. The “Schweighof” new building project in Kriens (jointly owned by the Lucerne Pension Fund), for example, will be the first development in Central Switzerland to be built and certified in accordance with the guidelines of the 2000 Watt Society. From the end of 2020, the entire Schweighof will also be powered by energy from lake water
    heated.

    «With Hans-Urs Baumann we were able to perfectly arrange the successor to Gerold Moser in all matters. The extensive specialist knowledge of Hans-Urs Baumann enables the continuation and further development of our real estate portfolio. I would like to thank Gerold Moser, who will train Hans-Urs Baumann for his commitment today. "

    Peter Fries, CEO of the PKG Pension Fund

    «The sustainable real estate strategy of the PKG pension fund convinces me because it also enables long-term and future-oriented further development. The PKG pension fund has an excellent reputation and is known for its far-sighted and prudent investment policy
    known. I am happy to provide impetus. "

    Hans-Urs Baumann, new Head of Real Estate at PKG Pension Fund:

    The management of the PKG pension fund is composed as follows: Peter Fries, Chairman; Romy Portmann, Head of Pensions; Peter Duft, Head of Finance and Accounting, and now Hans-Urs Baumann, Head of Real Estate.

    PKG pension fund

    The PKG pension fund, based in Lucerne, is one of the leading autonomous community institutions for occupational pensions in Switzerland. It was established in 1972 as a pension fund for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Today, the PKG pension fund, with 1,677 affiliated companies, 35,423 insured persons, 5,044 pensioners and current assets of CHF 7.8 billion, is one of the largest private pension institutions in Switzerland. It employs 32 people. The wide-ranging real estate portfolio of the PKG pension fund comprises 30 units. The majority of these are residential properties in the cantons of Lucerne, Zurich, Nidwalden, Aargau, Schwyz and Thurgau. The PKG pension fund only invests in good locations. The apartments are of an attractive standard and are in the middle price segment.
    www.pkg.ch

  • Berner Kantonalbank joins Swiss Immo Lab

    Berner Kantonalbank joins Swiss Immo Lab

    The Zurich-based investment company Swiss Immo Lab AG is to invest in proptech or fintech start-ups that contribute to the digitization of the construction and real estate industry. The investment company was founded at the end of 2019 by real estate service provider Avobis , Hypothekarbank Lenzburg and Gebäudeversicherung Bern . The Berner Kantonalbank ( BEKB ) is now joining Swiss Immo Lab as the fourth partner, the BEKB informs in a message .

    The partners want to hold the Swiss Immo Lab AG in equal shares, is further explained in the announcement. The four companies invested a total of 8 million francs in the investment company. Within two years, they are to be invested in start-ups that are active in the markets for digital marketplaces, real estate management, construction, building materials, analysis software and intelligent cities, writes the BEKB.

    "With this platform we want to accelerate innovation in construction and real estate", Armin Brun, CEO of BEKB, is quoted in the press release. This year, Swiss Immo Lab has already participated in the developer of software for real estate analysis, Archilyse, and the Lausanne-based manufacturer of solar modules, Insolight.

  • Romande Energie buys in Valais

    Romande Energie buys in Valais

    Romande Energie is increasing its presence in Valais. As announced by the Vaudois energy supplier, it is taking over Toutelec SA in Monthey. The installer of power lines and telephone systems, founded in 1990, is not only represented at its headquarters but also with branches in Troistorrents and Vouvry in Lower Valais and in Ollon VD.

    Toutelec is now part of Romande Energie Services SA. The service subsidiary of Romande Energie is already represented in the cantons of Geneva and Friborg, in addition to Vaud, and plans to expand its range to the whole of western Switzerland. Alexandre Udry, who is responsible for the Valais at Romande Energie Services, is quoted as saying in the message that Toutelec is known for its expertise in the fields of power lines, telecommunications and security and is well anchored in the Lower Valais. "We look forward to being able to count on his professionalism in the future in order to strengthen our presence and our competencies in this area."

  • Almost all of the new apartments in Würenlos have been sold

    Almost all of the new apartments in Würenlos have been sold

    In the middle of the center of Würenlos, the new Steinhof settlement with eight apartment buildings is being built directly on the Landstrasse. They offer 85 apartments and the community is expected to have around 200 residents. The first tenants or buyers should be able to move in in August 2022. Most of the two and a half to five room apartments have already been sold, according to an article in the “ Badener Tagblatt ”. However, there should also be buyers of an entire house among the investors, so that rental offers can also be expected in the future. “We expected a run on the apartments. But we would never have thought that things would go so well, ”said architect Martin Thalmann , whose company is located in Wettingen AG.

    The settlement is close to the town center and the train station and also close to a forest, so that leisure time in close proximity to nature is possible. The client is Immopuls AG. The modern buildings also have underground parking garages.

    The settlement is named after the traditional Steinhof inn . It was closed for a long time and only reopened as a hotel and restaurant in August after modernization. “Gasthof Steinhof, founded in 1850, has always been a veteran of hospitality and conviviality in Würenlos. In the middle of the 20th century it developed into a popular excursion destination in the region, not least thanks to a huge lawn for sunbathing and the associated zoo, ”says a self-portrait on the hotel’s website. This is now run by the Lisa and Juan Rodriguez family.

  • Madulain hydropower plant is back in operation

    Madulain hydropower plant is back in operation

    Repower has put the Madulain hydropower plant back into operation. According to a press release , the company invested around 2.3 million francs in its comprehensive renovation. Among other things, the control system, the control technology, the electrical installations and the entire medium-voltage switchgear were replaced. In addition, the turbine and generator had to be overhauled.

    The Madulain hydropower plant produces around six gigawatt hours of electricity annually. This corresponds to the average annual consumption of 1,300 households.

    The hydropower plant, built in 1903, was last renovated in 1980. It uses the tributary of the Ova d'Es-cha mountain stream on a slope of around 400 meters.

  • Groupe E invests in Neuchâtel

    Groupe E invests in Neuchâtel

    The new operations center is to be built in the Sécherons II industrial area of Boudevilliers in the municipality of Val-de-Ruz, Groupe E informed in a press release . The Freiburg energy supplier has already acquired an area of 18,300 square meters. An administration building, a warehouse, a washing facility, a yard for recycling and parking spaces are to be built there within two years. The communication puts the investment volume at around CHF 22 million.

    Immediately after completion, Groupe E plans to relocate the company’s employees, who are currently based in Corcelles-Cormondrèche, Neuchâtel and responsible for the operation and expansion of the electricity network in the canton of Neuchâtel, to Boudevilliers. The new location will also be used to expand the group’s activities and as an overarching competence center, explains Groupe E. In the announcement, the company refers in particular to the subsidiary Vuilliomenet Électricité AG based in Boudry NE. Through this, Groupe E in the canton of Neuchâtel also offers services in building technology or electrical systems and home automation.

  • Matériaux Sabag prints concrete elements

    Matériaux Sabag prints concrete elements

    Matériaux Sabag is expanding its offer with a 3D printing solution for concrete elements. The company, based in Delémont, has been using a robot since the end of September that enables 3D printing using the concrete spraying process. The concrete elements can thus be tailor-made in the prefabrication. The solution allows the use of raw materials from local production, writes the company in a press release . In addition, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 30 percent. “In this way we will be able to accept urgent orders and react flexibly to customer requests so that we can meet the requirements of the construction sites,” Cédric Theubet, Operations Manager at Matériaux Sabag, is quoted in the press release.

    The Jura specialist for building materials is the first company in Switzerland to use this Mobbot solution. The start-up from Freiburg i.Ue. develops robot platforms for 3D concrete printing. His 3D printing of concrete parts means that cladding can be dispensed with and less manual work is required. Mobbot was founded in 2018 by Agnès Petit and today has eleven employees.

  • Walde & Partner moves into new company headquarters

    Walde & Partner moves into new company headquarters

    As of next spring, Walde & Partner will move into "the striking office building of EBP Schweiz AG at Zollikerstrasse 65 in Zollikon", as it is called in a media release . The real estate company is looking for a new tenant from the second half of 2021 onwards for the previous headquarters on Alten Landstrasse in Zollikon. The move takes place because the demand for Walde & Partner's services is increasing sharply, according to a media release.

    The new company headquarters offers space for around 100 workplaces and is to be developed into a competence center for real estate. "Today, interdisciplinary services are in demand in the development and marketing of real estate – both in the development and in the purchase and sale of investment properties and owner-occupied residential property", Gerhard Walde, Chairman of the Board of Directors, is quoted in the press release.

    For this purpose, all corporate divisions will also be merged at the new headquarters. The investment property and new construction divisions were most recently active in other locations. 60 people are currently active for Walde & Partner, 40 of them will be working at the new company headquarters in the future. "But the employees from the Baden, Lucerne, Sursee, Thalwil and Uster locations will also often be found here," says Gerhard Walde.

  • Algorithm provides information on building applications

    Algorithm provides information on building applications

    In Switzerland, the publication of planning applications is mandatory. According to smartconext , around 50,000 building applications are published every year. Many construction companies do their own research in order to win new customers. Due to the many different sources, the expenditure of time and money is disproportionately large.

    The Zug-based start-up makes building applications easily accessible to small construction companies with its platform that was launched in June. With technologies such as Robotic Process Automation, existing information on building applications can be automatically recorded from all possible sources. Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the data is processed.

    Smartconext is now expanding its platform with a new interface solution. According to a media release , this enables a cross-platform exchange of information. For example, a heat pump manufacturer who is interested in new builds and conversions is only shown building applications that are suitable for him. What is unique is that all information is available in real time.

    "Our mission is to drive the digitization of the construction industry forward," says Dominik Mahn, CEO and founder of smartconext. “We develop solutions that simplify processes, save costs and increase success,” he adds. According to Mahn, the company passes the resulting cost advantage on to customers.

  • Zurich moves into the bubble zone

    Zurich moves into the bubble zone

    UBS explains in a press release on the current edition of the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index that the euro area has the most overvalued housing markets of the 25 cities observed around the world. For Munich, Frankfurt, Toronto, Hong Kong, Paris, Amsterdam and Zurich, the analysts even identify a bubble risk. Overvaluations of residential real estate are attested in the cities of Vancouver, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Stockholm, Geneva, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Moscow and New York.

    This year, Zurich has risen to the bubble risk category for the first time, the analysts explain in the press release. You have also observed the strongest price increase of all Swiss economic regions for the metropolis. The supply on the housing market grew relatively quickly in the reporting period. If, according to the announcement, the market for owner-occupied properties has dried up, the majority of the newly built apartments will ultimately be rented out.

    The analysts put Geneva at a lower price level and a lower index value than Zurich. However, the city made up for its losses from 2013 to 2016 in the wake of the recent price hike. Despite the overvalued housing market, the city can benefit from its international orientation and its attraction to foreign nationals.

    Compared to last year's Bubble Index, prices in many European metropolises have risen by more than 5 percent, the press release explains. "At this point in time it is impossible to say to what extent higher unemployment and a bleak outlook for household incomes will affect house prices," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, quoted there. "It is clear, however, that the current acceleration is not sustainable in the short term."

  • Wolkenkratzer sollen Solarstrom produzieren

    Wolkenkratzer sollen Solarstrom produzieren

    Gebäude gehören zu den grössten Energieverbrauchen. In Europa sind sie für ungefähr 40 Prozent des Stromverbrauchs und für 36 Prozent des CO2-Ausstosses verantwortlich, wie Venture Kick in einer Mitteilung schreibt. Insbesondere hohe verglaste Gebäude verbrauchen viel Energie. Im Sommer müssen sie aufgrund der grossen Fenster stark gekühlt und im Winter stark beheizt werden. Das Tessiner Jungunternehmen iWin will diesem Problem entgegenwirken.

    Die Firma arbeitet an einer Lösung, mit der vor allem grosse Gebäude mit Glasfassaden selbst erneuerbare Energie produzieren können. Konkret entwickelt sie spezielle Jalousien, welche als Photovoltaikanlage fungieren. Die zugrundeliegende Technologie wurde bereits an der Fachhochschule der italienischen Schweiz (SUPSI) validiert und zum Patent angemeldet.

    Die Jalousien von iWin sind den Angaben zufolge in einer Isolierglaseinheit versiegelt. Ein Vorteil der Lösung ist, dass sie nicht nur zur Energieproduktion dient, sondern gleichzeitig auch einen Licht- und Sonnenschutz bietet. Ausserdem stört sie die optische Erscheinung des Gebäudes nicht und kann auf einer grossen Fläche installiert werden.

    Mit seiner Entwicklung konnte das Start-up nun die Jury von Venture Kick überzeugen. Es gewinnt einen Förderbeitrag in der Höhe von 150’000 Franken. Damit will es die Entwicklung eines anwendungsfähigen Produkts vollenden, sodass es mit dem Verkauf starten kann.

  • Urdorfer S+U Bau baut Spitalskapelle wieder auf

    Urdorfer S+U Bau baut Spitalskapelle wieder auf

    Bei Errichtung des Neubaus des Spitals Limmattal in Schlieren musste die alte Spitalskapelle weichen. Der Schlieremer Stadtrat beschloss deshalb vor sechs Jahren laut einem Artikel in der „Limmattaler Zeitung“, die Kapelle aus dem Inventar der kulturhistorischen Objekte zu streichen. Sie stand ab da nicht mehr unter Schutz. Allerdings hat der Stadtrat auch einen Vertrag mit dem Spital abgeschlossen, der dieses zu einer möglichst detailgetreuen Rekonstruktion der Kapelle verpflichtet. Es wurde sogar vereinbart, dass es auch wieder einen Teich an der Spitalskapelle geben müsse,

    All das setzt jetzt Stefan Schmid mit seinem Team der S+U Bau AG in Urdorf um. Den Bauauftrag hat sein Unternehmen von Losinger Marazzi erhalten. Das Berner Bauunternehmen hat den Neubau des Spitals Limmattal verwirklicht. Der Auftrag lautet auf originalgetreuen Wiederaufbau der Kapelle aus den 60er Jahren und alle damit verbundenen Baumeisterarbeiten. Die Bauarbeiten sollen rasch beginnen, den ersten Baukran hat Schmid schon aufstellen lassen. Bis zum Frühjahr 2021 hofft man, fertig zu sein und die Kapelle wieder allen Einkehr und Ruhe suchenden Patienten und Besuchern öffnen zu können. Bisher hatte ihnen dazu nur ein dafür freigehaltener Raum im Spital dienen können.

    Die alt-neue Kapelle soll auch wieder unter Schutz stehen. Sie werde nach der Rekonstruktion wieder ins Inventar der kulturhistorischen Objekte aufgenommen, hatte der Schlieremer Stadtingenieur Hans-Ueli Hohl beim Beschluss über den Abriss versichert.

  • Houzy gewinnt die Baloise als Investorin

    Houzy gewinnt die Baloise als Investorin

    Die Baloise investiert laut einer Medienmitteilung in das Zürcher Proptech-Start-up Houzy. Damit will der Basler Versicherer sein Portfolio an innovativen Technologien rund um das Wohnen erweitern.

    Houzy betreibt eine digitale Plattform, die Daten intelligent verknüpft und daraus Empfehlungen für Wohneigentümer ableitet. Sie kann beispielsweise errechnen, wann die Heizung saniert und wie viel Geld dafür auf die Seite gelegt werden soll. Sie kann Eigentümer aber auch mit passenden Partnern für den Unterhalt oder andere Aufgaben verknüpfen. Dabei zahlen die Anbieter eine Fixgebühr pro Jahr, um auf der Plattform gezeigt zu werden. Für die Nutzer ist die Plattform kostenlos.

    Mit der Investition von Baloise schliesst Houzy eigenen Angaben zufolge seine Serie-A-Finanzierungsrunde ab. Im Rahmen der Runde habe das Start-up „mehrere Millionen“ Franken für das weitere Wachstum in der Schweiz gesammelt. Neben der Baloise konnte sich Houzy im Sommer auch eine Investition von der Zürcher Grossbank UBS sichern. Die Aktienmehrheit halten nach wie vor die Gründer.

    „Wir haben gezielt Partner gesucht, die nicht nur in Houzy investieren, sondern als strategische Partner zu uns passen. Mit der Baloise und ihrem Home-Ökosystem werden zahlreiche Synergien entstehen, die unsere Entwicklung schneller vorantreiben, worauf wir uns alle sehr freuen“, sagt Stefan Schärer, CEO von Houzy.

  • Coop and Energie 360 ° are building charging stations in shopping centers

    Coop and Energie 360 ° are building charging stations in shopping centers

    According to a press release , Energie 360 ° will start construction work at the first Coop locations this autumn. The charging stations are built both at Coop sales outlets and in shopping centers. The Zurich-based energy and mobility service provider plans to equip 20 of the around 100 planned Coop locations by the end of the year. The other charging stations will follow by mid-2023.

    Martin Kessler, Head of Mobility at Energie 360 °, is quoted in the communication: “Our goal is to make electromobility easily and widely available. No region in Switzerland should have to wait longer than the other. ”This means that in the implementation of the joint Energie 360 ° and Coop project, all regions – from Basel to Ticino and from Geneva to St.Gallen – will be right from the start should be taken into account equally.

    Salome Hofer, Head of Sustainability / Economic Policy at Coop: “With the electric charging stations, we want to meet the needs of our customers for charging options at our sales outlets and at the same time promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

    The construction of the charging stations, which is now starting, was preceded by a two-year pilot phase. Then Coop decided to work with Energie 360 ° and its subsidiary swisscharge.ch .

    The charging current offered at the stations – 22 kilowatts of alternating current – comes mainly from ecological production, emphasizes Energie 360 °. Depending on the charging strength of the electric car, it charges energy for up to 150 kilometers in one hour. The electricity price is the same at all Coop charging stations. The charging stations are integrated into the swisscharge.ch network, which includes over 48,000 charging options across Europe.

  • The hotel construction site in Geroldswil has been secured

    The hotel construction site in Geroldswil has been secured

    With more than 60 percent, the Geroldswilers approved an additional loan of 650,000 francs, which increases the project planning loan, which was too tight in 2017, to around 2.6 million francs. This means that work on the project can continue. A center development with a lower level garage, a major distributor in the basement and apartments on the upper floors are to be created. According to a media release by the municipality of Geroldswil , 872 voters voted for the approval of the additional funds. In contrast, there were 559 no votes with a participation of 50.45 percent.

    The leases for the Hotel Geroldswil and the pizzeria on Dorfplatz are limited in time and will expire on December 31, 2021, the municipality announced when the project was presented . Based on an economic and feasibility study, the two floors with the hotel rooms are to be converted into apartments. As a supplement, a new building with family apartments is to be built as a so-called point building in the north-western part of the property. The current community hall is to be demolished and a new, modern and well-equipped community hall will be implemented as a connecting wing between the current Hotel Geroldswil and the apartment building. There should be space for one or two restaurants on the village square, it said.

    The independent mayor Michael Deplazes is quoted in an article in the “Limmattaler Zeitung”: “The voters recognize the necessity of the project and understand why we are investing in age-appropriate apartments and in new buildings.” According to Deplazes, the planners and architects can now do their work again record: "We put a project freeze until the additional loan was approved because we cannot spend money that we don't even have."

    The next ballot will take place on June 13, 2021. Then the people should decide on the building loan. "We expect an estimated 26 million francs," said Deplazes.

  • Federal government specifies requirements for wind energy

    Federal government specifies requirements for wind energy

    "Since 2018, the Energy and Spatial Planning Act explicitly oblige the cantons to define areas in their structure plans that are suitable for the use of wind energy," the Federal Council explains in a press release . At its meeting on September 25th, it approved the necessary adjustments to the wind energy concept. All planning and project sponsors must orient themselves to this concept.

    In the wind energy concept, usage and protection interests are weighed up against each other. From this consideration, the federal government derives areas that it believes are suitable for the use of wind energy. The interests of the federal government in nature and landscape protection areas as well as military and civil technical systems of the federal government must be taken into account by the cantons when designating areas for the use of wind energy. The adapted concept stipulates that under certain conditions wind turbines can be erected in landscapes of national importance. In biotopes of national importance, however, the construction of wind turbines is excluded.

    The cantons continue to have the authority to determine the specific areas that come into question for the use of wind energy. In the structure plans already approved by the federal government for the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Bern, Freiburg, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, St.Gallen, Waadt and Wallis, more than 50 such areas have already been defined. In addition, the communication points to a number of wind energy projects that are already well advanced in the planning stage.

  • Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Stierenmatt school pavilion

    Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Stierenmatt school pavilion

    The new construction of the Stierenmatt pavilion on the Hunziker area in the Limmatfeld area is scheduled to begin on October 1st. A temporary school building for the Stierenmatt school unit will be created. According to the city of Dietikon , this should offer space for nine primary classes. The creation of classrooms in the Limmatfeld district has been planned for some time. "Due to outstanding cantonal plans, the construction of the planned school building on the Stierenmatt area belonging to the city is delayed and will probably be completed in 2028 at the earliest," said a message from the city of Dietikon on the occasion of the vote on the loan financing of the project to justify a temporary solution .

    In the vote in June, according to the city, 2,056 voters were in favor and 735 were against the loan. This approved the submission for a loan of CHF 15.2 million.

    Construction work for the temporary school is expected to be completed in August 2021. The entire population is invited to the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, October 1st at 5.30 p.m. Registration is not necessary. Due to the current pandemic, however, there are no tables, benches and no toilet facilities available. Every visitor is legally obliged to register on an attendance list for contact tracing, the invitation draws attention to.

  • Primeo Energie is building a new heating center in Allschwil

    Primeo Energie is building a new heating center in Allschwil

    According to a media release , Primeo Energie is building a new underground heating center for the existing heating network between the indoor swimming pool and the music school in Neuallschwil. The foundation stone was officially laid on Wednesday. The system is operated with two wood-burning boilers with an output of 840 kilowatts each. In addition, a heat pump uses the environmental heat and waste heat from the indoor pool. This generates 80 percent of the energy required. The plant will go into operation in early summer 2021.

    "The community and Primeo Energie are setting another example for a renewable, CO2-neutral heating supply", said Nicole Nüssli-Kaiser, President of the City Council. "With this central heating system, we not only heat the school building, but also enable the entire district to rely on renewable thermal energy."

    This new heating center is another piece of the puzzle in the heating network, the message goes on to say. It will be connected by a pipeline to the heating network, which is also primarily fired with wood chips, at the old people's center at Bachgraben. This enabled synergies to be used between the two district heating networks. Further properties are to be connected to the network. By merging several centers, security of supply will also be increased.

  • Elderly apartments in Bergdietikon are to be modernized

    Elderly apartments in Bergdietikon are to be modernized

    The Foundation for Age-Appropriate Living in Bergdietikon (AGW) built the facility in Schlittental 25 years ago according to the then modern standards of equipment and technology. The Bergdietikon municipality made the area available at the time. Today demands and needs have evolved. That is why the Board of Trustees wants to analyze the situation by examining not only the mix of apartments and the standard of construction, but also the question of pricing and, last but not least, the individual types of housing that are particularly suitable for handicapped people, as stated in a communication . A proposal for the renovation of the building to meet contemporary needs should be available by the end of the year.

    The rental apartments, which, unlike in old people's homes, are offered without services, are "a little old" and no longer meet today's standards. Some of the total of 18 apartments could therefore no longer be rented out despite the overall clear demand.

    In order to determine the real needs, residents and interested parties should be asked about their ideas. But one thing is certain: services such as those offered in old people's homes or larger institutions are not economically viable.

    The residential building for age-appropriate living is located directly in the center of Bergdietikon. The post office, the center, the Volg store, the cemetery and the bus stop can be reached in a few minutes, the foundation describes the property. And adds: With a distant view of the Limmat Valley and a view of the hilly landscape on the mountain side.

  • Helvetia invests in the RhyTech quarter

    Helvetia invests in the RhyTech quarter

    The RhyTech quarter, which consists of two high-rise buildings, an apartment building and the converted historic Hall 22 of the former Alusuisse area, is intended to combine public and private uses, said Halter AG in a press release . The Zurich-based construction company will implement the RhyTech quarter as a general contractor. Construction work is scheduled to begin in November this year. Completion and occupancy of the quarter are targeted for the first quarter of 2024.

    The general contractor Helvetia Versicherungen was able to win over an investor for the smaller of the two high-rise buildings. The insurance company will realize the planned apartments as rental apartments and also market the restaurant on the 17th floor, explains Halter. "The project is perfectly tailored to the market environment and offers a sustainable investment in an up-and-coming community in the Schaffhausen region", Daniel Wehrli, the responsible project manager at Helvetia, is quoted in the press release. According to her, a tenant has already been found for the restaurant in the high-rise.

    The second high-rise and the apartment building are designed as condominiums. Of the 96 condominiums in the high-rise building, 39 and around a quarter of the apartments in the multi-family house are already taken, writes Halter. In view of the reference date, which is around three years away, this is "a very good reservation status", says Halter CEO Markus Mettler. In addition, Halter has already been able to win Migros as anchor tenant for Hall 22.

  • Zurich's real estate fund is now in the top 3

    Zurich's real estate fund is now in the top 3

    In just two years, Zurich Invest AG has become an important provider of real estate investments, the company writes in a press release . With the capital increase in September and a future total volume of CHF 1.3 billion, your fund “ZIF Immobilien Direkt Schweiz” will become one of the largest unlisted Swiss real estate funds. Zurich Invest Ltd launched the fund in October 2018. The first capital increase took place last year.

    The real estate fund's rapid growth is possible "because Zurich , as a global insurer, is one of the most important property owners in Switzerland and has been able to build up a portfolio of attractive buildings over a long period of time," the press release said. The changed range of life insurance companies also accounts for the 80 percent share of first-class real estate in the Zurich fund. Since they now contain fewer guarantee products, less real estate is required to guarantee the obligations. "This is why Zurich has the opportunity to transfer properties in the most desirable locations to a fund."

    As it is said, the second capital increase will run for around 340 million francs and will take place on October 21. The subscription period is from September 21st to October 2nd. The new tranche comprises a total of 20 properties. "In addition to their prime location, the buildings are characterized by the fact that we are pursuing the goal of operating them in a CO2-neutral manner in the future," said Martin Gubler, CEO of Zurich Invest AG. The first two tranches of the fund in 2018 and 2019 were heavily oversubscribed. He is "extremely satisfied" with his performance.