immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Umweltschutzgesetz

  • Easier building in noisy areas

    Easier building in noisy areas

    As part of the revision of the Environmental Protection Act, the UREK-N would like to simplify building in noise-polluted areas. In principle, at least half of the noise-sensitive rooms in new homes should have a window that complies with the noise limits. Relaxations are possible if controlled ventilation systems are installed or a quiet, private outdoor space is available. These regulations are intended to create a balance between densification and noise protection.

    Positions of the National Council and the Council of States
    The Council of States proposes that the limit values no longer have to be complied with at any open window in flats with controlled ventilation. However, the UREK-N considers the National Council’s version to be more balanced, as it offers a pragmatic solution to the housing shortage. The committee emphasises that building permits will only be granted if the buildings meet stricter noise protection requirements and measures to limit noise emissions are still prescribed.

    No reduction in noise protection regulations in aircraft noise areas
    The UREK-N dispenses with specific aircraft noise limits and agrees with the Council of States. This means that no further legal amendments should be necessary to allow construction near airports. The Commission does not envisage any additional restrictions for municipalities with regard to lowering the speed limit.

    Remediation of contaminated sites and VOC steering levy
    In the area of remediation of contaminated sites, the UREK-N maintains that owners must pay for the costs of investigating and remediating private playgrounds and gardens. The committee also requests that alternatives to the VOC incentive tax be examined and calls for an in-depth analysis by the Federal Council.

    Geoinformation Act and energy research
    The UREK-N has decided to refer the draft amendment to the Geoinformation Act back to the Federal Council for a thorough review. In the area of energy research, the aim is to harmonise the credit period of the SWEETER programme with the four-year period of validity of the ERI Dispatch.

    Approval of the electricity reserve
    The Commission supports the amendment to the Electricity Supply Act without a dissenting vote and emphasises the importance of a secure electricity supply even in extreme situations. It will examine the concept of the electricity reserve in depth and analyse various options in order to guarantee security of supply while minimising the environmental impact and costs.

    The UREK-N also recommends that the Federal Council provide stronger incentives for the formation of local electricity communities and relieve them of grid utilisation fees. The meeting took place under the chairmanship of National Councillor Christian Imark and partly in the presence of Federal Councillor Albert Rösti.

  • Nationalrat setzt neue Akzente für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie

    Nationalrat setzt neue Akzente für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie

    Die nationalrätliche Kommission für Umwelt, Raumplanung und Energie (UREK-N) hat beschlossen, das Beschwerderecht von Umweltschutzorganisationen bei kleineren Wohnbauprojekten einzuschränken. Die Änderung des Bundesgesetzes über den Natur- und Heimatschutz zielt darauf ab, den Rechtsrahmen für kleinere und mittlere Wohnbauprojekte anzupassen, um ungleiche finanzielle Mittel zwischen Parteien auszugleichen.

    Darüber hinaus hat die Kommission die Beratung des Bundesgesetzes über die Aufsicht und Transparenz in den Energiegrosshandelsmärkten begonnen, um eine angemessene Aufsicht und Transparenz sicherzustellen. Im Zuge der Diskussion über ein Strommarkt-Abkommen mit der EU erörterte die Kommission die volkswirtschaftliche Bedeutung einer sicheren Stromversorgung und die Notwendigkeit, die Schweizer Regelungen mit denen der EU in Einklang zu bringen.

    Im Bereich der Kreislaufwirtschaft hat die Kommission die meisten Differenzen mit dem Ständerat ausgeräumt, insbesondere bezüglich der Lockerung des Siedlungsabfallmonopols. Es bleibt jedoch noch Uneinigkeit in der Frage, ob unverkaufte biogene Produkte entpackt werden sollen.

    Weitere Diskussionen der Kommission umfassten die Teilrevision des Umweltschutzgesetzes, die sich auf den Lärmschutz und Altlastensanierungen konzentriert. Die Motion «Mit Verdichtung und gemeinnützigem Wohnungsbau gegen die Wohnungsnot» wurde von der Kommission abgelehnt, da sie der Meinung ist, dass die bestehenden gesetzlichen Grundlagen bereits ausreichend sind. Zudem wurde ein Postulat zur Optimierung der Nutzung von Energieholz eingereicht.

    Die Sitzungen der Kommission am 22. und 23. Januar 2024 standen unter der Leitung von Nationalrat Christian Imark und wurden teilweise in Anwesenheit von Bundesrat Albert Rösti in Bern abgehalten.

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

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

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

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

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

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