First sort, then refurbish

Kristina Orehounig: Greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 60 to 80 percent. Image: Daniel Kellenberger - Switzerland's building stock is quite impressive. There are around 1.8 million buildings in the country, but only one percent of this building stock is renovated each year. In other words, it will take 100 years for the entire building stock in the country to be renovated - which would be too slow to achieve the energy transition. But before politicians decide on stimulating subsidies, this daunting task must first be structured: Which measures make sense for which buildings? And where to start? Heating and cooling of buildings is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions in all industrialized countries. To achieve the Swiss government's climate targets - net zero by 2050 - Switzerland's building stock must thus also make a significant contribution. But planners and decision-makers need a handout to introduce the appropriate measures in the most meaningful order.