Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector | TEP Energy

The building sector contributes significantly to Switzerland's greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to direct emissions from the operation of buildings, so-called embodied emissions also occur. These are generated during the production, construction and disposal of buildings, parts of buildings and building materials and are a significant factor in the climate balance. A holistic view is necessary to develop targeted approaches for reducing these emissions.

As part of the "Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector" project, TEP Energy is working with partners Interface, Carbotech and ETH Zurich to develop a standardized methodology and definition for net-zero buildings. The aim is to create a basis that is accepted by all relevant stakeholders such as the federal government, cantons, label organizations and standards (such as Minergie, Ecobau, NNBS).

The project is divided into five questions and sub-projects to cover all relevant aspects:

  • F0: Methodological principles

This is where the definitions and calculation methods for net zero buildings are developed. The WLCNN method forms the basis for all further questions (lead: TEP Energy).

  • F1: Feasibility of net-zero targets

This part examines how the building sector can achieve the net-zero targets through technical and economic concepts. Scenarios for both new buildings and existing buildings are considered (lead: TEP Energy).

  • F2 and F3: Strategies for implementation

These questions deal with concrete technical and political concepts in the building sector as well as possible ways of achieving the net-zero targets in practice (lead F2: ETH Zurich, lead F3: Interface).

  • F4: Setting limits and targets

Here, existing methods and standards are compared and a transfer approach is developed to ensure comparability and enable the harmonization of existing regulations (lead: TEP Energy).

 

Project Information

Reference projects

Energy renovation rates in the building sector

Various federal and cantonal energy and climate policy measures are aimed at significantly increasing the energy renovation rate. Based on this comprehensive survey, the report shows how the energy renovation rate has developed in recent years and how high it currently is.

Low-temperature district heating networks. The basis for modernizing the heat sector.

Renewable energies and waste heat sources are to replace the coal and natural gas sources that have dominated Polish district heating networks up to now. 

First and foremost, this requires a reduction of the system temperature. The study shows the technical, regulatory and organisational measures required to achieve this
and determines the overall potential for decarbonising district heating in Poland.

Energy Policy Simulator

TEP Energy is supporting the San Francisco based think tank Energy Innovation in the expansion of its Energy Policy Simulator (EPS).

SURE - SUstainable and REsilient energy for Switzerland

Sweet - SURE analyses the impact of disruptive events on the Swiss energy system. TEP Energy is working on energy demand topics such as the development of demand for energy sources in Switzerland, the impact of shocks on the demand load and the potential use of large heat pumps.

Future of Gas Study

TEP analysed the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of buildings of residential and service sector in EU27 countries to model different pathways of fossil fuel substitution.

Ex-post analysis of energy demand 2021

Together with Prognos and Infras, TEP carries out the ex-post analysis of the energy demand of 2021 in Switzerland. TEP Energy is responsible for the services and agriculture sectors.

MEDIUS

MEDIUS bridges the gap between green finance and green projects to decarbonize buildings at scale.

Country-specific Market Reports for Buildings

Building Market Briefs (BMB) is a Climate KIC initiative within the flagship Building Technologies Accelerator (BTA) that aims to gather and promote knowledge about the buildings' and construction sector to promote low carbon investment and scaling.

Heating Initiative Switzerland

On behalf of the Swiss Heating Initiative (WIS), the decarbonization of the heating sector will be examined by 2050. Spatial potential analyzes and the Swiss building stock model (GPM) are used.

CoolCity

Assessment of the potential for lake water use for heating and cooling in the city of Zurich

Energy-Saving Contracting

Increasing energy efficiency is one of the central pillars of Swiss energy policy and energy-saving contracting contributes to this goal.