Energy-efficient renovation of buildings: what will the subsidies look like from 2025?

Since the acceptance of the Climate and Innovation Act in June 2023, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy has been receiving queries from citizens about the impulse program and the availability of the new subsidies. In its blog, energeiaplus explains the situation and answers these questions.

On June 18, 2023, the Swiss people approved the "Federal Act on Climate Protection Targets, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security".

Without introducing bans, the law provides for financial assistance to encourage the switch from fossil fuels to more climate-friendly energies and technologies. Thus, the replacement of fossil-fuel heating systems is one of the main objectives of the new law, with the introduction of an impulse program.

What's the difference between the Buildings Program and the Impulse Program?

Already today, with the Buildings Program, the Swiss Confederation and cantons support energy-efficient construction measures in the building sector, and provide subsidies to encourage the replacement of old heating systems.

The law passed in June 2023 provides additional impetus in areas where existing cantonal support is currently not effective enough, for example for the replacement of fixed electric resistance heaters or medium- and high-output fossil fuel heaters in apartment buildings.

From January 1, 2025, the impulse program will run for 10 years, financed directly from the federal budget. Up to CHF 200 million is available each year for this program. Applications for these contributions should be addressed to the specialist departments of the cantons, as for the Buildings Program, and not directly to the Confederation.

The measures and subsidies needed to achieve the targets will be defined in the Climate Act Ordinance. The Federal Council submitted the ordinance on January 24, 2024. It is now open to public consultation until May 1, 2024.

After the consultation period, the comments received will be evaluated. The Federal Council will decide on the ordinances and bring them into force from 2025 in the second half of 2024.

Grant amounts not yet fixed

Some citizens would like to wait until 2025 to renovate their property, in the hope of receiving more support from the Confederation.

However, it's important to remember that the consultation process is currently underway, and the final subsidy amounts will be determined in part by the cantons.

The exact amount of subsidies for the new measures on medium- and high-efficiency heating and thermal insulation of buildings before the launch of the impulse program in 2025 has not yet been decided.

The report entitled "Basis for the development of the impulse program for the replacement of heat-generating facilities and energy efficiency (LCI) and for the development of the Buildings Program in accordance with Art. 34 of the CO2 Act" has provided a solid basis for discussion on the amount of the contribution rates or the performance limits of the facilities concerned by the planned incentive measures.

Sandrine Klötzli, Communication, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Image: SFOE