Tag: Zertifizierung

New certification raises the standard of advice in the property sector

Property agent Betterhomes is increasing the quality of its advice, according to a press release. “The trainee programme is followed by a mandatory in-depth training course. All of our real estate agents complete the SAQ certification, a new quality standard for real estate marketers in Switzerland that is recognised throughout the industry,” said Cyrill Lanz, founder and CEO of Betterhomes AG in Zurich. All employees are to become certified SAQ real estate agents. The standard is an initiative of the Swiss Association for Quality(SAQ), the IREM (Institute Real Estate Management) and property marketers in Switzerland, including REMAX, Raiffeisen Immobilienmakler and Immoleague, according to the press release.

“In view of the dynamic developments and increasing complexity of the property market, it is essential for real estate agents to be up to date at all times. New laws, changing customer needs and market changes require constant adaptation and further training,” quotes Christian Brunner, the founder of IREM based in Winterthur.

The certification is valid for three years and must be renewed through regular further training, according to the press release. “The certification can also lead to the Swiss Federal Diploma in Real Estate Marketing or be recognised as part of a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) as part of a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Real Estate Management,” CEO Lanz is quoted as saying.

With over 29,000 brokered properties and around 140 estate agents, Betterhomes Switzerland claims to be the largest independent estate agent in Switzerland.

November 2024
Strüby Unternehmungen receives first certificate for realised Minergie site

Energy efficiency, energy self-sufficiency and heat protection are currently major issues and will become even more important in the future. Since 2023, not just a single house, but an entire site can be certified by Minergie, meaning that the surrounding area can also be increasingly included in the planning of residential construction projects. On 2 September 2024, the “Fischermätteli” in Burgdorf BE received the first definitive site certificate from Minergie in Switzerland and thus reached a new level in sustainable construction.

Label with high requirements
The new, comprehensive Minergie site standard is supported by the Minergie Association, the cantons, the business community and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The Minergie site is characterised by very low energy consumption, minimised greenhouse gas emissions during construction and operation and maximum self-sufficiency with renewable energies. The buildings have above-average heat insulation and controlled air exchange. The design of the outdoor space increases climate resilience and the quality of stay, for example through suitable planting and shading. The Minergie site also incentivises climate-friendly mobility.

Over 6600^m3 of Swiss wood
The Fischermätteli residential construction project was successfully completed by Strüby Unternehmungen in autumn 2023 after a construction period of around three and a half years. The ten apartment blocks with a total of 168 condominiums were built on a former commercial site in Burgdorf BE. Over 6600^m3 of Swiss timber was used in the construction, making “Fischermätteli” the largest project in Switzerland to combine the Minergie-A-ECO standard and Swiss timber.

Climate-friendly environmental design
One hundred per cent of the energy for the entire site comes from renewable sources: the electricity from the photovoltaic systems on the building roofs, the heat for heating and hot water from a heating centre supplied with Swiss pellets. The finely meshed mobility concept focuses on electromobility, car sharing, bicycles and public transport. A co-working space promotes working from home and thus indirectly relieves traffic congestion. In addition, the climate-friendly environmental design based on the sponge city principle ensures natural and efficient cooling in summer and makes the “Fischermätteli” a hotspot of biodiversity thanks to the countless native plants.

Success thanks to a climate-friendly overall concept
Pius Kneubühler, Managing Director Real Estate Development & Construction at Strüby Unternehmungen, can confirm that the climate-friendly overall concept in line with the Minergie site standard pays off not only for the residents, but also for the investor. “The success has already manifested itself in the marketing of the condominiums. Demand was so pleasing that all flats were sold by the time construction was completed.”

October 2024
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.”

October 2024
Energy City Association focuses on net zero

The Energiestadt association wants to support its 644 member municipalities and cities in the future, particularly on the path to climate neutrality. In 30 years of commitment, much of what was initially considered progressive has been established as 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 geared towards the net-zero target.

The Energiestadt label recognizes 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. In future, in order to receive the highest accolade of Gold City, it must be proven 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 center for local energy and climate policy in Switzerland,” said Maren Kornmann, Co-Managing Director of Energiestadt, in the press release. “Energiestadt is the only organization to offer a comprehensive package for the planning, implementation and monitoring of net-zero measures at local level.”

October 2024
Planon software receives GEFMA certification

The GFMA has once again awarded Planon ‘s software for Integrated Workplace Management and Computer Aided Facility Management certification in accordance with Guideline 444, the company for intelligent and sustainable building management announced in a press release. The recertification also applied the new catalogue of criteria for IoT data management introduced in the guideline. The Internet of Things (IoT) now plays an important role in intelligent building management due to the automated networking of building technology, writes Planon.

The two software functionalities Energy Management and Workplace Management have also been certified in accordance with the new GEFMA 445 guideline. It was developed by GEFMA’s digitalisation working group in response to technical developments in the proptech sector in order to be able to certify individual processes for building management, explains Planon. Compared to Guideline 444, more in-depth functionalities are required.

“The renewed GEFMA 444 recertification and the new certification according to GEFMA 445 underlines our high quality standards and our innovative strength as market leader for intelligent and sustainable building management software,” Stephan Mau, COO Real Estate Management & General Manager EMEA Central at Planon, is quoted as saying in the press release. The globally active proptech with headquarters in the Netherlands is represented in Switzerland with a branch in Technopark Zurich.

June 2024
Smartwindows receives eco1 certificate

The window manufacturer smartwindows, based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, has been awarded the eco1 certificate for its classico PVC window. According to a press release, it is the first and so far only window in the country to receive this certification. According to the press release, the vinyl window is the result of the company’s efforts to plan and build in a particularly sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

The advantages of the smartwindows-classico include its high proportion of 70 per cent recycled materials. Furthermore, the raw material is reused up to eight times. The window fulfils the high requirements of ecobau and Minergie-Eco and meets the first priority of ecoBKP and ecoDevis. According to the press release, the installation of the classico PVC-U window should contribute to sustainably designed, well thought-out buildings that are of better quality and have a long service life. The result is rooms with a healthy indoor climate, less CO2, grey energy and pollutant emissions. Windows play a key role in this, according to the press release.

November 2023
Wüest Partner receives Great Place to Work certification

“We are very pleased about the Great Place to Work certification. Commitment, mutual appreciation and trust have always been part of our corporate culture. The award reflects our ongoing commitment to a strong workplace culture in which our employees can develop their full potential,” says Patrik Schmid, CEO at Wüest Partner.

The Great Place to Work certification is based on the Trust IndexTM, a standardised and internationally recognised survey instrument. Between June 2022 and the beginning of July 2023, Wüest Partner employees in Germany and Switzerland were surveyed on 60 statements regarding workplace culture. The topics of the survey included trust in managers, team spirit, appreciation, respect and identification with the company. The final evaluation is based on the Trust IndexTM score, which is calculated from the average agreement with all standardised Trust IndexTM statements.

Wüest Partner Germany achieved an impressive Trust IndexTM score of 79 per cent, Wüest Partner Switzerland even 86 per cent. These excellent results underline Wüest Partner’s commitment to creating a positive and trusting working environment in which employees feel valued and supported.

“Our employees are Wüest Partner’s most important asset. In a highly competitive labour market, it is important to position ourselves as an attractive employer and to set ourselves up optimally for the future. This also includes investing in a good corporate and workplace culture. The award is therefore an additional motivation for all of us to continue on our chosen course,” says Marion Fürbeth, Head Group HR at Wüest Partner.

August 2023
Mettmenstetten receives the Energy City Gold Award

Mettmenstetten is the first municipality in the Affoltern district to be awarded the title of Energy City Gold. According to a report in the “Anzeiger aus dem Berzirk Affoltern”, the Zurich government councillor and Green Party building director Martin Neukom presented the certification at the Energy Day in Mettmenstetten to Céline Lingua, president of the Knonau-Maschwanden-Mettmenstetten secondary school, Melanie Vollenweider, president of the Mettmenstetten primary school, and Marcel Eicher, municipal councillor in Mettmenstetten.

According to the report, the village municipality only started with energy policy measures at a late stage. The first certification by the Energy City Association was in 2014, but since then Mettmenstetten has “sprinted in terms of energy policy”, Bruno Bébié, member of the board and former energy commissioner of the city of Zurich, is quoted in the media report.

In the meantime, the municipality is ranked eleventh in the cantonal energy city ranking. “This testifies to energy policy commitment,” Bébié continued.

The primary and secondary schools played a major role in the certification. The Knonau-Maschwanden-Mettmenstetten secondary school, for example, is now energy self-sufficient. The Mättmi secondary school, which includes an indoor swimming pool, has been generating heat and electricity in an integrated combined heat and power plant for a few years. This is operated with bio-gas. This hybrid box solution reduces CO2 emissions by 100 per cent compared to the previous oil-fired heating system, according to the blog of the FDP Kanton Zürich.

The Energiestadt Gold certification of the supporting association Energiestadt is the highest award for cities and municipalities that “are continuously committed to the efficient use of energy, renewable energies and climate protection and meet particularly high requirements”, it says on the website of the supporting association. For the gold label, they must use at least 75 per cent of their respective scope for action.

June 2023
Consolidation in the Swiss label market

The handling of the Ecobau requirements, which sometimes formed the basis for the Minergie ECO label, has apparently not yet been finally clarified. As is well known, they have largely been included in the SNBS (Swiss Sustainable Building Standard), as they include topics that will become even more important in the future, namely the circular economy, gray energy, etc. – sustainable buildings are not just buildings that have been optimized in terms of operational energy .
And yet, this consolidation creates clarity in the market and is also a clear commitment to the SNBS, as a key benchmark in the Swiss construction and real estate market and an important instrument for implementing the Energy Strategy 2050.
Click here for the media release from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy

April 2022
First SNBS certification level platinum for timber construction in St. Gallen

On April 21, Stefanie Steiner from the certification organization SNBS presented the certificate at a certification ceremony in the Tröckneturm St. Gallen and thanked the builder Previs Vorsorge for the good work and handling of the certification.
The Waldacker development is made up of two long, kinked rows of buildings that hug the natural terrain lengthways. Together they form an interior space that serves as a meeting and communication space for the residents. From the upper edge of the basement, the buildings were almost entirely built using timber system construction with closed, rear-ventilated spruce wood formwork, including the lift shafts. The timber construction was inspired by the historic Tröckneturm, which is located directly next to the superstructure.
The living room has external areas on both sides in the form of a veranda and an integrated winter garden. The apartments are accessed via a continuous arcade; Access is via external, covered stairwells. Photovoltaic systems were installed on the roofs and the heat supply is ensured by the district heating network of the city of St. Gallen. Between the two rows of buildings, a continuously green inner space with a playground and seating areas invites you to linger. The neighborhood should be kept car-free as much as possible. There is a large number of bicycle parking spaces and charging stations for e-bikes and e-cars. There are also Mobility vehicles that can be used by tenants.

April 2022
Walo awarded by EcoVadis

According to a message on Facebook, the Dietiker construction company Walo Bertschinger AG has been awarded bronze certification in the sustainability ranking of the international independent agency EcoVadis . The company received the bronze award in its very first application. According to the statement, the certification is a motivation for further improvement in the area of sustainability.

Walo, headquartered in Dietikon, operates internationally and is a fourth-generation family business. According to the company’s website , Walo has been combining consistency and innovation for 105 years. The Walo Group employs 2,450 people at 21 locations in three countries.

EcoVadis evaluates the sustainability performance of companies in the areas of environment, working conditions, procurement and ethics. According to the announcement, over 90,000 companies have already been assessed.

March 2022