First “Renewable Heat” consultation now free of charge

Now, more than ever, it makes sense to heat with renewable energies: from April, property owners and condominium owners throughout Switzerland will be able to obtain free advice on choosing the optimal heating system with renewable energies. The first consultation in the “Renewable Heat” programme will be free of charge throughout Switzerland.

In Switzerland, around 900,000 residential heating systems are powered by fossil fuels. In addition, there are 150,000 electric heating systems. In order to achieve our country’s climate targets, around 30,000 fossil fuel heating systems will have to be replaced each year by 2050. Renewable energy heating systems such as district heating, solar thermal, heat pumps and wood heating systems have many advantages: they benefit the climate and the environment, save money, use indigenous energies and maintain or increase the value of a property.

According to a study by the City of Zurich, 50 per cent of homeowners who have replaced their old oil or gas heating system have not considered a non-fossil heating system at all. The “Renewable Heat” programme aims to change this by providing targeted information and advice so that at least one renewable energy alternative is considered when replacing a heating system.

During the 2021 winter session, as part of the 2022 budget and financial planning up to 2025, the Swiss Parliament decided to make additional financial resources available to the SwitzerlandEnergy programme, including for a national promotion programme of initial advice on “Renewable Heat“. By means of uniform support contributions for the first advisory service, Parliament wants to encourage the rapid replacement of an increasing number of fossil fuel and electric heating systems throughout Switzerland.

Five new participants for “Exemplary Energy and Climate”

New website and corporate design for SvizzeraEnergia

Switzerland’s long-term climate strategy

Greenhouse gas emissions fall slightly throughout Switzerland

Free of charge for property owners and landlords

From April 2022, property owners and condominium owners can request free advice on renewable heating systems suitable for their buildings. The advice helps with the choice, makes long-term investment planning possible and thus also secures financing.

Produzione acqua calda solare — Hot water production – solar energy

Conditions for a free initial “Renewable Heat” consultation

The system to be replaced must be more than ten years old and serve as the main heating for the building. It does not matter which heating system was originally installed, and the building category is also irrelevant.

Initial “Renewable Heat” consultations are eligible for support if they

were carried out on or after 1 April 2022 (date of the first on-site consultation);
have complied with the official checklists in place at the time of the first Renewable Heat consultation;$
were carried out by authorised consultants (the list of consultants published by the FOE at the time of the first consultation is authoritative); and
are carried out without the consultants charging any fees to the building owners (ask for confirmation at the time of commissioning).

Multiple Confederation-Canton consultations or consultations for the same heat generating plant are not allowed. First consultations are free of charge if they remain within the budgeted financial means.

The “Renewable Heat” programme

Around 2.3 million buildings in Switzerland account for around 38% of total final energy consumption and are responsible for around 30% of all CO2 emissions (excluding international air traffic). This situation must change if Switzerland is to achieve the energy and climate targets it has set itself.

From 2020, SwitzerlandEnergy’s “Renewable Heat” programme will make an important contribution to this. It shows that the switch from heating systems using fossil fuels or electrical heating systems to those powered by indigenous renewable energies pays off. Heating systems with renewable energies are more economical in the long term and there is a solution for every type of house.

The Renewable Heat programme helps not only homeowners, but also installers and consultants. Switching to renewable heating systems is also a challenge for the building sector. The programme enjoys broad support: in addition to the Federal Office of Energy, with its SwitzerlandEnergy programme, all the cantons and many partners from the business sector are involved.