
Sustainable products drive earnings stability in the building materials industry
Holcim kept its sales stable year-on-year at around CHF 5.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Recurring operating profit increased by 1.7 percent in local currencies. The Zug-based building materials group is sticking to its targets for


Lucerne wants to use transport infrastructure as solar power plants
The canton of Lucerne plans to increase the contribution of photovoltaics as an energy source. To this end, areas of road infrastructure are to be utilised as solar power plants. The photovoltaic potential is now being tested on the noise protection gallery in Knutwil and at the Rontal bridge near

Airport tests water reservoir under glacial channel
Zurich Airport is starting the construction of a second test well in an ice age channel under the site. It is to be used as a heat and cold reservoir to cover the heating and cooling requirements of the airport building. A first test well has delivered positive

EPFL researchers improve efficiency of solar cells with rubidium
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have found a way to reduce the energy loss of perovskite solar cells and increase their efficiency. The integration of rubidium using lattice voltage produces a more stable electronic

Historical technology meets modern research
Researchers from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are participating in the construction of a water wheel in Steffisburg. The aim of the water wheel is to continue to supply the Mühlebach stream with water and protect the ecosystem from drying

Gartenstadt Bergacker living with a future
The Bergacker housing estate in Zurich-Affoltern will be completely renovated in the coming years. Swiss Life and the Habitat 8000 housing cooperative are focusing on a new replacement building that creates modern living space, preserves the character of the garden city and fulfils the highest

Efficiency boost for hydrogen
Hydrogen production by electrolysis is considered a key technology for the energy transition. However, its efficiency has so far been inadequate. Researchers at Northwestern University have now identified a previously overlooked energy loss and found concrete approaches to

From raindrop to power source
Rain as a source of energy? What has long sounded like a dream of the future is becoming tangible. Researchers around the world are developing new processes to generate electricity from falling drops. Be it through a plug-like flow of water or through nanotechnology in solar systems. The energy

Resource-efficient building with wood
A research team from Empa and ETH Zurich is developing an innovative method for producing wood-based panels inspired by traditional shingle production. By using split wood and artificial intelligence, even low-grade hardwood becomes a sustainable building material with future

Netherlands tests recycling train for sustainable road construction
The Dutch infrastructure authority Rijkswaterstaat is using the Asphalt Recycling Train (ART) to recycle asphalt on site. The machine, which is currently in the test phase, removes worn asphalt, heats it, mixes it and rebuilds it on the

Heat from a depth of 2000 meters planned
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics is planning an exploratory borehole for a geothermal site at the National Sports Center in Magglingen. The borehole is due to be drilled at the end of 2027. The aim is to gain insights into deep water resources for geothermal heat

Minergie certificate brings measurable yield advantages
A new study by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts shows that Minergie-certified buildings offer not only ecological but also economic added value. Investors and landlords benefit from higher initial rents, while tenants benefit from lower ancillary costs and greater living

Automated production for sustainable energy use
Libattion has opened a new upcycling plant for batteries in Biberist. According to Libattion, this is the largest facility of its kind in Europe. The Opfikon-based company manufactures modular stationary energy storage systems from used batteries from electric

Milestone for modern clay construction
For the first time, the German Institute for Building Technology has issued a general type approval for load-bearing clay block masonry using the thin-bed method. The GIMA vertically perforated clay brick may therefore be used for load-bearing walls up to building class 4. In combination with the

New solar system supplies solar power for sports and leisure activities
The Basel-based electricity producer aventron has inaugurated a solar installation on the Lintharena in Näfels. It will generate 124 megawatt hours per year over an area of 660 square meters. Aventron aims to achieve a solar output of 100 megawatts by

Efficient utilization of agricultural residues
Renergon has developed a small-scale biogas plant with a fuel cell. The RDS XS can process solid manure. The efficiency of the fuel cell is up to 80 percent. The plant is designed for agricultural operations in Switzerland and is also suitable for small

Construction group focuses on growth through sustainable solutions
Holcim wants to focus on scaling up circular construction in Europe. In Latin America, industrialization trends and the demand for mega construction projects are set to drive the building materials group's growth. Holcim makes this clear in its NextGen Growth 2030


Securing the future through responsible management
Anyone who owns property bears responsibility. Not only for the preservation of value, but also for the sustainable use of resources and structures. The Real Estate Symposium 2025 organised by the Swiss Association of the Property Industry (SVIT) impressively demonstrated how strategic management

Building materials without CO₂ – the change in the industry has begun
The construction sector is facing a historic turning point. While traditional materials such as cement and steel cause enormous emissions, low-carbon and carbon-free alternatives are opening up new avenues for climate-friendly construction. Start-ups, technologies and forward-looking construction

Investing in depth saves costs and improves carbon footprint
Pistor's geothermal storage system saves the wholesaler 100,000 liters of heating oil per year. This prevents the release of 330 tons of CO2, as much as 200 direct flights from Zurich to Tokyo. The construction costs of 1 million Swiss francs are amortized through the elimination of heating oil


Digital map for storage solutions from renewable energy
The Swiss Power-to-X Collaborative Innovation Network (SPIN) is now working together with the Coalition for Green Energy & Storage (CGES) of ETH, EPFL, PSI and Empa. The aim is to create an interactive search tool that facilitates access to information on Power-to-X

Compact heat storage system wins innovation award for energy solutions
Cowa Thermal Solutions has won the Clean Energy & Storage category at the Start Up Energy Transition (SET) Award 2025. The jury praised the fact that Cowa's compact thermal storage systems with thermodynamic materials are five times smaller than water-based