Digital pathways to reach the climate target | Part 3: How innovative solutions can decarbonise the Swiss building sector

The effects of climate change can be felt worldwide, but as an Alpine country, Switzerland is particularly affected. In the study ‘Smart and Green – Digital Paths to Net Zero’, digitalswitzerland and economiesuisse, in collaboration with Accenture, analyse how digitalisation can help to close the climate gap and what concrete measures the economy can take to achieve this goal. In this blog series, we want to take a closer look at individual industries and make concrete recommendations for action. In the third part of our blog series, we take a closer look at the building sector and discuss how we can use digital technologies to advance the decarbonisation of the transport sector.

As a result of ongoing climate change, temperatures in Switzerland are rising at twice the global average. To slow down this process, urgent measures to reduce CO₂ emissions are needed. One of the biggest savings potentials lies in the building sector, which is responsible for approximately 45% of energy consumption in Switzerland. The study highlights how digital solutions such as smart homes and building management systems can be used to transform the building sector and achieve significant reductions in emissions.

In residential buildings, smart home technologies such as intelligent thermostats and lighting systems have high efficiency potential and therefore, significantly reduce energy consumption. They regulate heating and electricity use based on real-time data and usage habits, which can save up to 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year in private households. This equals the approximate emissions produced by 10 million ski tourists in Switzerland per year. By integrating smart home technologies, energy savings by up to 0.9 terawatt hours could be achieved annually. This corresponds to the approximate electricity use of all SBB services in one month. Through integrating smart home technologies, for example connecting IoT devices and automatically controlling lighting and room temperatures, the savings potential is immense.

In large buildings and commercial properties, automated management systems enable precise control of heating, cooling and ventilation. This means that building functions can be efficiently aligned with actual use. The savings potential of such systems is considerable: up to 3.9 % of emissions (approx. 400,000 tonnes of CO₂eq) could be saved in the non-residential building sector.

The Siemens Campus in Zug shows how emissions can be significantly reduced by innovative building management systems. Thanks to the comprehensive integration of measurement, control and automation solutions, the campus optimally manages its energy consumption and operates in an almost climate-neutral manner.

Another example is the residential development Rütihof in Zurich, where intelligent lighting systems with presence detectors and daylight sensors are used. Here, energy consumption in communal areas has been reduced by an impressive 95 %. The development demonstrates how effective digital solutions can be in the residential sector.

The study includes a number of experts. Lars van der Haegen, CEO of Belimo Holding AG, emphasises in the study that digitalisation is an important prerequisite for energy-efficient buildings. While new buildings are often equipped with the latest technologies, retrofitting existing buildings poses both a financial and a technical challenge. Experts Tommy Clausen and Daniela Sauter-Kohler from Climatch Switzerland, part of Swiss Life Asset Managers, explain that long-term investments into complete renovations and the switch to fossil-free heating systems will be indispensable in the medium term. However, both emphasise that digital technologies can significantly improve energy management even without major structural measures.

The study also identifies challenges, such as the need for extensive renovations of older buildings and the lack of skilled workers to implement emission-reducing technologies. To make the most of the savings potential of digital solutions in the building sector, supportive measures are therefore needed, including financial incentives and regulatory frameworks.

Overall, Switzerland can save up to 0.9 Mt CO₂eq by 2030 through digitalisation in the building sector. This corresponds to approximately 8% of Switzerland’s building sector emissions. A significant step towards achieving Switzerland’s climate targets, which would also promote the country’s technological development and competitiveness.

In the next article, we will focus on the energy sector. The topic will be the expansion of renewable energies and the challenges of electrification, which plays a central role in the energy transition.