City of Zurich wants to invest 37 million in buildings

The city of Zurich intends to invest over 37 million Swiss francs in replacing oil and gas heating systems with climate-friendly alternatives and in the energy-efficient renovation of properties. If the municipal council approves the two funding programs, they will start in spring 2022.

In the city of Zurich, half of the direct greenhouse gas emissions come from the building sector. 18.5 million Swiss francs should therefore fly into the heating replacement, it was said on Monday in front of the media.

There are still 21,300 oil and gas heating systems in the city. So far, 70 to 80 percent have been replaced by fossil fuel solutions when they are renewed. “We need to turn away,” said Andreas Hauri (GLP), head of the environmental department.

Die Stadt will counter this deficiency through advice, simpler heating replacement procedures and possible incentives. For example, contributions for the compensation for the residual value of fossil heating systems that have not yet been amortized should be spoken.

Die Stadt wants to use the second lever to lower the heating requirement: the energetic renovation of properties is to be supported with a further 18.7 million.

So far, most of the costs have been borne by private homeowners. The city should assume a fifth of the investment costs there, according to Hauri. In the case of buildings under monument protection, a fifth of the additional costs should be paid that arise due to design requirements.

According to the city, the goal is to double the renovation rate by 2040. The potential is there: 65 percent of the buildings in the city of Zurich were built before 1960, almost a third before 1930. 17 percent are listed buildings and account for a quarter of the direct greenhouse gas emissions from the heat supply responsible.

So that the investment costs are not passed on to the tenants, the city will make its support services conditional. So there shouldn’t be any vacant layoffs. “We want to achieve net zero,” said head of building construction André Odermatt (SP), “but not on the tenants’ backs.” Next, the local council has to deal with the matter.