Standstill in the owner-occupied rental value debate
The abolition of the imputed rental value remains an unresolved ongoing issue. The National Council and the Council of States disagree on key points. While the Council of States insists on a compromise for primary residences, the National Council wants a complete change of system. A solution does
Switzerland on course for net zero
UBS presents its "Downhill Climb" study at the Building Bridges Conference 2024. The analysis shows that Switzerland has a strong starting position for the transition to net zero, but challenges such as electricity capacity, energy storage and negative emissions must be
Into the future with wood and clay
The "Think Earth - Regenerative Building" flagship project, which is funded by Innosuisse, is researching innovative construction methods using wood and clay. The aim is to develop efficient, scalable methods for climate-neutral construction and to strengthen the circular
Owner-occupied homes remain very popular
Four out of ten people in Switzerland would like to buy a property. When buying their first home, there is usually a problem with the financing, while there is a lack of suitable properties for second purchases. These are the findings of a study by the Institute of Financial Services Zug at Lucerne
Optimism among Swiss estate agents for 2025
The members of the Swiss Chamber of Real Estate Agents (SMK) are cautiously optimistic about the year 2025. 57 per cent of all members in a recent survey expect the property market to move sideways, while 38 per cent even expect the market to expand. Despite the positive mood, the sector remains
62. Meeting of the EEA in the European Economic Area
On 21 and 22 November 2024, the EFTA/EU delegation from Switzerland will take part in the 62nd meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the European Economic Area (EEA) in Oslo. The focus will be on European competitiveness, the EEA Agreement and relations between Switzerland and the
Over 200 projects selected for more sustainability
In the second funding round in 2024, the Swiss Climate Foundation is supporting six projects ranging from biogas reactors and fertiliser planners to the optimisation of CO2 reduction and recycling rates, natural foam and car recycling. The sponsored companies include Grensol from Thalwil ZH,
“Best of Research 2024” goes to Lisa Pantenburg
Lisa Pantenburg, a graduate of the MAS Real Estate programme at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), received the prestigious "Best of Research 2024" award from the Swiss Real Estate Institute. Her work highlights innovative approaches to decarbonising the Swiss building stock and offers
Young architects at a crossroads
The nexture association has drawn a clear picture in a comprehensive survey of students and career starters in the architecture and planning sector in Germany. Starting a career is often more difficult than expected. A toxic work culture, unpaid overtime and a lack of promotion opportunities
Trafo Baden shines under the sign of the Real Estate Award 2024
The Real Estate Award 2024 ceremony took place on 24 October in the stylish ambience of the Trafo Baden. Around 220 guests from the real estate industry were present to honour this year's award winners and enjoy the evening in an exclusive atmosphere. The award ceremony, which took place for the
CO₂ reporting obligation in the construction industry
Swiss construction companies are increasingly focussing on the topic of carbon footprints. With the amendment of the CO₂ Act, the pressure to measure and verify emissions is increasing. A decisive step for competitiveness and participation in major
Sustainable circular economy in the construction industry
The 2024 autumn event organised by Baustoff Kreislauf Schweiz will shed light on the challenges and opportunities of the circular economy in the construction industry. The focus will be on approaches to decarbonisation, optimisation of concrete, pollutant control and the use of durable materials.
Stable increase in the third quarter of 2024
Property prices in Switzerland continued to rise in the third quarter of 2024, driven by a combination of falling interest rates and sustained demand. While prices for flats rose significantly, single-family homes showed more moderate growth. However, transaction volumes remained at their lowest
Findings from the Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024
The Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024 emphasises the urgent need to put health, sustainability and resilience at the heart of construction and renovation projects. The study shows that only a holistic approach can future-proof the building sector - with clear recommendations for policymakers and
Binding Prize for Biodiversity 2025
The Sophie and Karl Binding Foundation invites applications for the prestigious Binding Prize for Biodiversity 2025. For the fifth time, we are looking for innovative and pioneering projects that set new standards in the context of the annual theme "Biodiversity and Health". Take the opportunity
Energy City strengthens climate policy with new certification standards
In future, the Energy City Association wants to support its 644 member municipalities above all in achieving net zero. Certification will be reorganised accordingly. In future, Gold cities will have to prove that their strategies and measures are compatible with achieving the
Building authorities conference Appenzell Ausserrhoden
End of September 2024, the building authorities conference took place in Walzenhausen, focusing on the topic of "Diverse habitats in settlements". Around 50 representatives from municipal authorities, building authorities and companies discussed the importance of biodiversity in residential areas
FEDRO promotes electric mobility in Switzerland
The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) is supporting the further development of electromobility in Switzerland by expanding fast-charging stations along the national roads. Five companies have been awarded the contract for the construction of charging hubs, which should significantly increase the density
Energy City Association focuses on net zero
Cities and municipalities are working towards the goal of climate neutrality with the Energy City label. Certification and strategies are increasingly being adapted to the net-zero target in order to promote sustainable energy policies. There is a particular focus on supporting smaller
Switzerland Innovation launches digital networking platform
Switzerland Innovation announces the launch of the new Innovation Community Platform - a digital tool to strengthen collaboration between companies, researchers, start-ups and industries in the Switzerland Innovation Parks at 16 locations across the country.
Strategies to combat urban sprawl and improve quality of life
In a study, Sascha Nick from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne recommends reducing the amount of living space available for each person, tighter neighbourhoods and renovating existing buildings instead of building new ones. This should improve the quality of
Relaxation of noise protection regulations in residential construction
Parliament agrees on a reform of noise protection requirements in residential construction and promotes the renovation of polluted children's playgrounds. The revision of the Environmental Protection Act brings compromises on noise limits and remediation
Expansion of electromobility in Switzerland
Swiss Post and the agricultural cooperative fenaco are planning to set up a fast-charging network for e-cars using renewable electricity with a joint venture. The first 50 should be ready to go by mid-2025. A total of 300 locations with 1500 charging stations are
ZHAW awards 77 Bachelor’s and 10 Master’s degrees
On 30 August 2024, 77 Bachelor's and 10 Master's graduates in Facility Management and Real Estate & Facility Management were ceremoniously graduated from the ZHAW at Technopark Zurich. The graduates thus embarked on a promising future as sought-after specialists and