Sustainable wall elements dehumidify interiors
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) have developed a moisture-retaining and climate-friendly covering for walls and ceilings. This could replace indoor air conditioning systems in the future. The construction elements are made from reusable
Findings from the Canton of Zurich’s “Fokus Standort” programme
Around 150 stakeholders from business, science and administration discussed the future of the business location at the Canton of Zurich's "Fokus Standort" event. The focus was on skilled labour, technology, regulation and mobility - with concrete solutions for sustainable
More clarity for building lines in the canton of Zurich
The Government Council of the Canton of Zurich is proposing amendments to the Planning and Building Act in order to eliminate ambiguities regarding building lines. The amendments affect balconies, bay windows and small buildings, among other things. The aim is to increase legal and planning
Cost rent and rising land prices
The cost rent is calculated from the total investment costs of a property. However, rising land prices and construction costs are causing the difference to the market rent to shrink. An analysis based on the example of Zurich Altstetten shows which factors influence affordability and how subsidies
Preparations begin for harbour railway relocation in Basel
At the end of January, Basel-Stadt will begin preparatory work for the relocation of the harbour railway in order to create space for the urban development of the Klybeck and Kleinhüningen districts. The construction work will last until 2026 and is part of a comprehensive urban development
Concrete as CO₂ storage
The "Mining the Atmosphere" research initiative shows that excess CO₂ from the atmosphere can be permanently stored in building materials such as concrete. With a storage capacity of up to ten billion tonnes of carbon per year, this approach could help to reduce CO₂ levels to a climate-friendly
New management team for American construction business presented
Holcim has appointed its Chairman of the Board of Directors Jan Jenisch as President and CEO designate of the planned company in the USA. The head of Danfoss, Kim Fausing, will be proposed in his place as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Innovative wind turbine enters test phase
VentoStream is about to start trial operation of its compact, efficient and quiet wind turbines. They combine modern aerodynamics with flow and turbine technology. The beta version of the prototype will be tested in 2025 in the Basel region and at a high alpine
Record sales of Swiss multinational speciality chemicals group
At CHF 11.76 billion, Sika exceeded its record sales of 2023 by 4.7 per cent in the 2024 financial year. All market regions, synergies from the integration of the construction chemicals group MBCC and regional acquisitions contributed to this
Life cycle assessment calculator supports sustainable building
The life cycle assessment calculator from Baustoff Kreislauf Schweiz enables the environmental impact of concrete to be calculated in a comprehensible manner. The online tool provides a basis for optimising environmental product declarations (EPD) and supports sustainable construction methods in
Bio-inspired “Solar Gate” regulates buildings in a climate-neutral way
A research team from the universities of Freiburg and Stuttgart has developed an innovative façade system that adapts automatically to changes in the weather without the need for energy. Inspired by pine cones, the "Solar Gate" offers a resource-saving solution for sustainable building
Expansion of the power supply in Graubünden
Graubünden-based Repower AG will be supplying additional municipalities with electricity from 2027. It wants to reduce the particularly high costs in the Moesa region before the energy supply contracts expire. From 2026, electricity purchases should become noticeably
AI solution optimises solar systems
SmartHelio's Autopilot analysis software, which was launched at the beginning of 2024, has optimised the performance of more than 200 solar systems over the course of the year. It is designed to extend their service life by eight years, increase production by 10 per cent and predict faults and
Mushroom batteries the energy source
The novel mushroom battery does not need a charging station, but nutrients to generate energy. Developed by Empa researchers, it is based on a microbial fuel cell that combines two types of fungi for the first time. Yeast fungi on the anode release electrons, while the cathode is colonised by the
ESG targets with REMMS integration
With the integration of REMMS, Reamis is sending a clear signal in favour of sustainability. The extended software suite enables the efficient evaluation of properties according to economic, ecological and social criteria and thus specifically supports the achievement of ESG
A success story of balcony power plants in Germany
Balcony power plants are booming in Germany like never before. by 2024, the number of systems will have doubled to over 780,000. New laws, falling prices and strong demand are driving this sustainable trend forward. Germany is thus becoming a pioneer in the use of plug-in solar
Climate Charter Zug : Support for SMEs in the canton of Zug
The Zug Climate Charter actively motivates companies in the canton of Zug to implement concrete measures to reduce CO2 emissions and thereby strengthen their competitiveness. Supported by an alliance of businesses and the canton, the Zug SME initiative offers customised advice and expertise to make
Climate-neutral industry – Vision 2026
The Association for the Decarbonisation of Industry has set itself the goal of reducing industrial emissions through innovative processes such as methane pyrolysis and even generating negative emissions in the long term. The ambitious project is set to go into regular operation by 2026. The members
Leading global industry clusters
The economy of the Zug region is diverse and includes both internationally active and local companies. The entrepreneurial landscape is characterised by clusters in which companies exchange knowledge and resources, benefit from each other and at the same time compete with each