

Expansion of the district heating network strengthens the energy supply in Baden and Ennetbaden
Regionalwerke AG Baden is commencing work on the expansion of the Ennetbaden district heating network. The aim is to ensure a long-term, climate-friendly heat supply as part of the journey towards the net-zero target. Two construction phases are planned between 20 April and 31

District heating project boosts energy supply in Adligenswil
EBL Energie Rigi has broken ground on the connecting pipeline between the Haltikon energy centre and the Adligenswil district heating network. The pipeline is the first phase of construction for the expanded heating network. It will enable the outdated heating plant in Adligenswil to be

The Swiss market for battery storage is growing rapidly
In Switzerland, around 555 new battery storage systems were installed in 2025. This brings the total number of storage systems connected to the grid to 1,451. This is according to Swissolar’s Battery Monitor 2026. The association expects this figure to rise to 2,461 installed systems by

Major contracts are boosting the building construction business both at home and abroad
The construction group Implenia has secured several building contracts in Switzerland and Germany with a total value of 310 million Swiss francs. These include the Jardins en Ville development in Vevey (VD), projects for sustainable housing, and contracts in the justice, education, research and

Sawdust is said to keep the fire at bay
Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology are developing an insulation material made from sawdust that can be used for fire protection. The material, which is mixed with minerals, is intended for use in fire-resistant interior

Renovation project focuses on the circular economy and reducing CO2 emissions
Sika is supporting the HIL Living Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) during the first three phases of the project. The teaching and research building for architecture and construction sciences (HIL) is being renovated and extended as a real-world case study for circular

Proptech in the life cycle
Today, digital technologies accompany properties through all phases of their life cycle. From the initial investment idea through construction and operation to refurbishment, decarbonisation and demolition. Proptech solutions make data usable, reduce costs and emissions and open up new services for

New district heating network makes efficient use of waste heat and water from the Rhine
AEW Energie AG has begun construction of a district heating network in Augst. With an investment of 8 million Swiss francs, AEW aims to ensure a sustainable heat supply for the region from the 2026/2027 heating season onwards. The plant is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,200 tonnes per

District heating networks are becoming increasingly important for urban energy supply
Researchers at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) are working on the development of thermal networks. In the face of global warming, these are becoming increasingly important for cooling densely built-up cities. In this context, the university held a seminar with participants

Swiss construction project focuses on sustainable earthen architecture abroad
The new Swiss Embassy in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, is being built using locally sourced clay in an environmentally friendly way. A mineral activator from Oxara transforms the clay into pressed bricks. In this way, Oxara makes circular, low-carbon clay construction faster, simpler and

The circular economy is gaining in importance in the construction and civil engineering sectors
INDUNI has developed a three-stage approach to the reuse of reinforced concrete. This approach takes into account the future use of concrete elements right from the demolition stage. The company is also supporting the 10th anniversary of the Matériuum association, which is committed to the

Partnership drives smart urban development in the region
The City of Thun and the Smart Regio Thunersee association have agreed to collaborate. The aim is to promote sustainable urban and regional development through innovative means. This includes initiatives such as cargo bikes and the circular economy in the construction

Climate project establishes CO2 storage within the building materials cycle
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has registered zirkulit Beton AG’s climate protection programme for the permanent storage of CO₂ in circular concrete as a project aimed at increasing domestic carbon sequestration capacity. It comprises several CO₂ storage facilities operated by

The city is exploring new approaches to reducing waste and resource consumption
The Government Council of Basel-Stadt is considering launching a pilot project with Pretty Good to facilitate the drop-off of used items at recycling points. In doing so, it is following the example set by Bern and Zug. It intends to involve the local second-hand and repair sector in the

New building standard defines climate neutrality across the entire life cycle
Climate-friendly buildings that can demonstrate net-zero status over their entire lifecycle are to be awarded the Minergie Net Zero standard. The new label was unveiled by Minergie and is intended to accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral construction. The aim is for Switzerland to achieve

Local energy cooperatives are driving the expansion of solar energy
ewz has attracted 6,000 customers for its new product, ewz.solarquartier. Around 130 local electricity cooperatives feed their locally generated solar power into the grid, which is then consumed within the neighbourhood. The Zurich-based energy supplier is thus providing incentives for the use of

Who pays, who lives, who benefits?
How social are Swiss real estate portfolios really? Until now, this question has remained a contentious issue without a data basis. The SOSDA Benchmark 2025 fundamentally changes this. For the first time, an empirical framework provides reliable figures on the social performance of residential real

Data partnership transforms decision-making processes in the property portfolio
The Zurich-based proptech start-up OPTIML is combining its decision intelligence platform with the sustainability data infrastructure of Scaler, a New York-based company that also operates in Europe. This is intended to make it easier for institutional property investors to manage their assets in a

Wind measurements provide the basis for new energy projects
Zürich Wind will begin taking measurements in Zünikon during the week of 16 March. The 125-metre-high measurement mast will be used to collect data on wind conditions and bat flight patterns. Two further masts in Ossingen and Rickenbach (ZH) are set to

Intercantonal development project focuses on mobility and efficiency
Voters in St. Gallen have approved the sale of two plots of land owned by the Canton of St. Gallen to the Canton of Thurgau as part of the WILWEST land deal. The project envisages a business park with a new motorway junction and is intended to facilitate coordinated regional spatial


Wind and solar power ensure a stable electricity supply in the regional energy system
In 2025, the Swiss Energypark generated a total of 134 gigawatt hours of electricity. This represents 81 per cent of regional demand. While wind and hydroelectric power generation fell sharply, solar power generation rose

How researchers are turning concrete into a climate saver
Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world and one of the biggest climate offenders. A European research team with Empa and ETH Zurich wants to change this. The goal is not less concrete, but a printed, cement-free and even CO₂-negative building material that can be repaired


Digital tool assesses sustainability of events
The Swiss Association for Sustainable Events is launching the Eventkit platform. This provides event organisers and authorities with a standardised tool for planning and evaluating sustainable events. It also integrates the KITmanif platform of the city of Lausanne and the canton of

Decarbonisation will rely on heat pumps in the future
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics is shelving the planned project to use deep geothermal energy for the National Sports Centre in Magglingen. The costs of deep drilling are higher than expected. Instead, geothermal energy closer to the surface and heat pumps are to be

“Insieme” education centers in Sursee
With the "Insieme" project, the joint location of the health and social services and business, IT and technology education centers in Sursee will receive a new seven-storey building along the railroad line. The Lucerne cantonal government is thus strengthening a central educational location for

Four axes that are reorganizing the real estate industry
Data and AI, decarbonization and ESG, user experience and flexibility as well as platform ecosystems are currently shaping the digital transformation of the real estate industry. From land acquisition, development and construction to ongoing operations. Along the entire life cycle, these four axes
