

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

Investment in low-CO2 cement promotes market launch
Sublime Systems is also able to build its first commercial production plant for low-CO2 cement in the US state of Massachusetts with the help of an investment from Holcim. The start-up has developed a CO2-free electrochemical process for this purpose. Holcim will purchase the


Perovskia Solar receives investment of 2.4 million dollars
Perovskia Solar AG has received 2.4 million dollars in fresh capital to further develop its flexible solar technology. The solar cells can be integrated into IoT devices and smart systems. With new investors and resources, the company is ready for further

KohlenKraft sponsors Zurich Climathon
KohlenKraft, a young company from the Technopark Winterthur, develops climate-positive building materials. Its innovative products help to reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to the circular economy. CEO Charles Gerike-Roberts and CTO Moritz Keller have already received several awards for their

Renewable energies on the rise: Zurich city plans
The city of Zurich has approved the expansion of renewable energies with a framework credit of CHF 300 million. Investments are planned in hydropower, alpine photovoltaics and wind power, including abroad. This is intended to ensure the competitiveness of the energy supplier


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

India’s top trade fair for environmental technologies
IFAT India is the leading exhibition in India specialising in water and wastewater management, waste management and recycling. It takes place annually in Mumbai and is part of the IFAT Worldwide Cluster, which is based on the renowned "IFAT" trade fair for environmental technologies in Munich.

Electrified company fleet also for employees
The ETH spin-off Synhelion has opened the first industrial plant for the production of solar fuels. With the help of an innovative high-temperature heat storage system, solar energy is used to produce climate-neutral fuels around the clock. This ground-breaking development could change the energy

Bio-inspired building material revolution for the construction industry
A new cement material, inspired by the structure of human bones, could change the construction industry forever. It offers up to six times more resistance than conventional cement and opens up completely new possibilities for future-orientated construction



Successful return of ineltec with a focus on innovation
After a seven-year break, ineltec, Switzerland's leading electrical trade fair, returned with a new location and a modern concept. With over 162 exhibitors and more than 6,800 trade visitors, the trade fair proved to be a forward-looking meeting place for innovations in the fields of smart

Research into earthquake safety for multi-storey buildings
The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) uses a so-called shaker to simulate the vibrations of earthquakes on structural models. This should lead to greater safety in buildings. The experiment will be presented at the open day on 14



New wind turbine planned for Flumserberg
Axpo is testing the conditions for the construction of a wind farm with up to six wind turbines on the Flumserberg. In this context, the energy company will collect wind and bat data over the course of a year. A 120 metre high wind measuring mast will be erected for this



District heating pipeline between Perlen and Cham to be extended
WWZ from Zug is expanding the district heating pipeline in the Ennetsee region. In future, the pipeline will use waste heat from the Perlen waste incineration plant to supply the region with environmentally friendly heat. Construction should be completed by fall

Cities have many times more tree species than forests
A new study by the WSL shows that Swiss cities, with over 1,300 tree species, have a higher species diversity than the surrounding forests. However, this diversity carries the risk of the introduction of invasive forest pests, which requires increased controls in urban

Climate-friendly residential project in Burgdorf sets new standards
The Fischermätteli residential project in Burgdorf was the first entire site to be certified to Minergie standards. The project is characterized by sustainable timber construction, low energy consumption and maximum self-sufficiency with renewable

New findings on the stiffness of timber structures
Multi-storey timber buildings are becoming increasingly important in Switzerland. To ensure that these structures can withstand the challenges posed by wind and earthquakes, Empa researchers are conducting practical experiments with a two-tonne shaker. The aim is to measure the stiffness and