Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector | TEP Energy
As part of the Paris Agreement, Switzerland has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2050. The ZERO scenario (basis and sub-variants) of the Energy Perspectives 2050+ (EP2050+) show specific reduction pathways for final energy demand in the building sector and the associated GHG emissions. But the EP2050+ energy perspectives and Switzerland's long-term climate strategy do not or only partially cover grey GHG emissions from the provision of energy sources and the construction and disposal of buildings and their components. However, these must be taken into account in an overall view of the building sector in order to formulate targeted measures.
The aim of the overall project is to develop a common definition of "net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector" for Switzerland that is accepted by all stakeholders and can be used as a basis for setting limits and targets.
The project is divided into five research questions F0 to F4 and is being carried out in collaboration with Carbotech, ETH Zurich and an advisory group for the attention of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. TEP Energy is in charge of three of the five questions: In F0, various methodological questions are clarified and the basis for the other four questions is provided. In F1, the prerequisites and feasibility of the net-zero target of the entire building sector are demonstrated. F4 deals with setting limit and target values and demonstrating the comparability of different approaches.
Project Information
Project duration2023-2024
Contracting PartySFOE
Project PartnerCarbotech
Project websiteAramis (SFOE)
Interim Report (German)PDF
Interim Report (English)on request
Reference projects
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).
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.
Motivations for Investment in Smart Technologies and Energy Efficiency: The Case of Residential Buildings
Through the MISTEE project, we analyse how households' investments in buildings' energy efficiency and smart technologies are motivated and what impact different policies can have.
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.
Criteria for Climate-Compatible Building Financing in Switzerland
TEP Energy and Raffeisen Schweiz show clear criteria on how to invest in climate-friendly buildings.
Calculation Tool for 2000-Watt Sites II
Revised calculation tool for the evaluation of settlement areas regarding indicators of the 2000-watt society.
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.
Swiss Energy Perspectives 2050+
To update the SFOE's energy perspectives, we are preparing the scenario results for the services and agricultural sector.
IEA ECB Annex 70: Analysis of Building Energy Data with a Scalable Building Stock Model
Relationship between building park modelling and real building and energy data.
Cantonal energy indicators and CO2 emissions in the building sector
In the context of the CO2 reporting, TEP Energy is developing a methodology for quantifying cantonal energy indicators and CO2 emissions from the building sector.
Ex-Post Analysis of Energy Demand in the Swiss Service Sector
Together with Prognos and Infras, we periodically carry out ex-post analyses of the energy demand in Switzerland on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). TEP Energy is responsible for the sectors services and agriculture.
Evaluation of measures using impact and cost analysis within the "Solar Strategy” project
Review of the expansion path of solar energy in the cantons of Aargau and Zurich
From the Certificate to Physics
Ways to net zero compatible buildings in the city of Zurich
New Trends in Energy Demand Modelling
In this Horizon2020 project, the impact of new societal trends on the energy consumption are modelled and analysed.
LICS – Low-investment-cost retrofit solutions
Potentials and limitations of existing and new low-investment-cost retrofit solutions to achieve a benchmark of 6 kg CO2 per m2 in existing buildings
SeEiS - Modelling of the Substitution Effects of Renewable Energies in the German and European Electricity Sector
On behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), an analysis of the effects of fossil fuel substitution on emissions calculations was conducted.
Energy certificate data to characterise the building stock
Gaining knowledge about the energetic quality of the German building stock from energy performance certificates
Reference Values of Cooling Systems in Buildings
Compilation of cooling reference values and improvement of the data basis to have a better support for strategic building planning
Energy Law Report for the Canton of Basel-Landschaft
Development of a methodology for the periodic evaluation of the measures and goals of the canton's energy law.
sEEnergies - Cost potential curves for refurbishment strategies in Europe
Quantification of synergies between Energy Efficiency First Principle and renewable energy systems for 2050 decarbonization
Funding Programme SOKAS: System Optimisation of Industrial Refrigerating Plants
The subsidy programme SOKAS supports the sustainable system-wide energy optimisation of large cooling and refrigeration plants. In addition to lower energy costs, system operators benefit from an attractive subsidy of up to 40% of the total project costs.
REFLEX Project: Flexibility and Technological Development in the European Energy System
REFLEX focuses on techno-economic learning, fundamental energy system modelling and social and environmental life cycle analysis.
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.
Heat Roadmap Europe (HRE) – Study on the European Heating and Cooling Market
In Europe, the energy system is to be decarbonised in the long term, i.e. no more CO2 emissions will be emitted. We estimate energy efficiencies cost potential curves for 14 European countries.
The Role of Gas Infrastructure in the Future Energy System
Energy policy decisions and technological developments lead to an increase in fluctuating renewable energy production. More flexibility in the power grid and storage possibilities is required to which the buildings' sector may contribute.
EEG Platform: Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings (EEG)
Through the EEG platform, the developed actions from the EEG Action Plan can be jointly further developed and implemented throughout Switzerland.
CoolCity
Assessment of the potential for lake water use for heating and cooling in the city of Zurich
EEG Workshop: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies in Buildings (EEG)
The EEG Workshop on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings (EEG) is part of the global programme "Energy Efficiency and Building Technology Accelerator" (EEB) of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Climate-KIC.
CREAM – Integrating Climate Change Mitigation, Resource Efficiency and Adaptation in Building Stock Modelling
Objectives, strategies and measures in the field of climate protection, energy planning and the further development of energy networks in cities are designed using the Building Park Model (GPM) in a cross-sectoral manner.
Study on the Subsidiary Ban of Fossil-Fuelled Heating Systems
Swiss climate policy is facing major challenges, especially in the buildings sector. The study investigated the effects of a possible ban on fossil-fuelled heating systems from 2030, if the climate targets cannot otherwise be achieved.
Energy-Saving Contracting
Increasing energy efficiency is one of the central pillars of Swiss energy policy and energy-saving contracting contributes to this goal.
INSPIRE Tool: Energetic, Ecological and Economic Renovation of Buildings
With the INSPIRE tool you can calculate energy, ecological and economic indicators as well as strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and primary energy consumption of buildings.
Mapping and Analyses of the Current and Future (2020-2030) Heating/Cooling Fuel Deployment (Fossil Fuels/Renewables) in Europe
The energy balances of statistical offices in many countries and Eurostat are often incomplete. This EU service contract maps current and future energy demand for heating and cooling.
Instruments for Implementing Efficiency Measures in Building Technology
Which instruments support the implementation of efficiency measures in building services engineering as effectively and efficiently as possible?
Extension of the Building Stock Model for the SIA Efficiency Path
Using the enhanced building stock model, the primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions of new buildings and renovation projects are compared with the target values to review the impact of energy policy objectives.
Analysis of the State of Insulation Materials in the Swiss Building Stock
With regard to energy and resource policy, we must ask ourselves how we will deal with insulating materials in the future.
Energy Supply Concept 2050 for the City of Zurich
The Energy Supply Concept 2050 used a scenario approach to show that the heat supply of the city of Zurich could meet the goals of the 2000-watt society.
Potential Assessment of Measures in the Field of Building Technology
Where are what potentials to increase energy efficiency and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in building services engineering?
Analysis of Market Opportunities and Potentials in the Heating and Cooling Sector
Evaluation of new market opportunities on behalf of a large Swiss electricity supplier.
Integration of embodied Energy into the Building Stock Model (BSM)
By 2050, the City of Zurich intends to fully meet the goals of the 2000-watt society. Energy consumption in existing buildings and embodied energy are also part of this scope.
Contributions to the ewz Energy Research Programme on the 2000-watt Society
«Energy Research City of Zurich» is a 10-year programme for applied energy research.
Economic Analysis of Measures for the Energy Strategy 2050 – Efficiency Regulations for Electrical Appliances
With the Energy Strategy 2050, the Federal Council is pursuing the goal of significantly reducing electricity consumption in Switzerland by 2050 compared with a reference development.
Pilot Study: Building Stock Model (BSM) for Office, School and Residential Buildings
In collaboration with the ETH Chair for Sustainable Building, we developed a pilot version of the building stock model for Switzerland and for the city of Zurich.