BUILDINGS
24 % direct emissions in Switzerland
Energy consumption during building operation
Photo: Adobe Stock
Residential buildings, office buildings, public buildings and other infrastructure generate significant greenhouse gas emissions over their entire life cycle. The high energy requirements for heating, cooling and electricity generate direct emissions. Construction activity contributes to indirect emissions – for example, through concrete and steel production and waste disposal. Across the entire value chain, buildings account for almost two-fifths of global greenhouse gas emissions.
With a growing world population and increasing housing needs (e.g., Switzerland, 2024: 46.6 m² per person), resource consumption and thus emissions in the housing sector are rising steadily.
WHAT DOES NET ZERO LOOK LIKE IN THE BUILDING SECTOR?
- Renovating instead of building new extends the life of a building and saves building materials.
- Energy-efficient renovations using renewable, CO₂-storing insulation materials (e.g., straw, hemp) reduce energy consumption during operation and store CO₂.
- Operating buildings (heating, cooling, electricity) with renewable energy reduces emissions. Efficient processes and appliances (e.g., washing machines, cookers) reduce energy consumption.
- Compensation areas such as green roofs or shade-providing plants help to bind CO₂ and cool buildings.
- ‘Smart buildings’ not only consume less energy but also interact intelligently with the electricity grid. They store energy and feed it back into the grid during peak loads.
NECESSARY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MEASURES
- Legislation for sustainable building standards (e.g., ban on new oil heating systems) reduces emissions.
- Institutional investors use global standards (e.g., Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, GRESB) to make their real estate portfolios sustainable.
- Climate-friendly construction and alternative forms of housing with lower space requirements are socially accepted.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY
- Property owners save money by switching to technologies that generate fewer emissions and lower operating costs.
- Innovative building technologies are researched and new jobs are created (e.g., solar technicians ).
- New forms of housing such as tiny houses and residential projects with communal areas, greenery and natural, low-pollutant materials improve quality of life.
HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
- Reduce your space requirements, pay attention to your household energy consumption and opt for green electricity.
- As a tenant: heat and cool sparingly and encourage your landlord to carry out sustainable renovations (e.g., replacement of oil/gas heating, well-insulated windows).
- As a homeowner: heat your home using renewable energy, use sustainable and recycled building materials, and insulate your home with materials that have stored CO₂.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF BUILDINGS
Graphic: UK Green Building Council (modif.)
NEST HiLo – High Performance, Low Emissions
Empa’s research project combines attractive architecture with energy- and resource-efficient construction and operation. Examples include lightweight vaulted ceilings and self-learning building technology that ensures a healthy and energy-efficient indoor climate.
Photo: Roman Keller (Empa)
MOVABLE SOLAR FACADES
Solar panels mounted in front of windows move automatically to capture as much sunlight as possible. This improves energy efficiency while also providing shade for the interior.
Photo: Roman Keller (Empa)
BUILDING MATERIAL EXCHANGES – REUSE
84% of waste in Switzerland is construction waste. Building material exchanges allow used parts to be reused, thereby reducing waste. They are an important step towards a circular economy.
Photo: Adobe Stock
INSULATING WITH RENEWABLE RAW MATERIALS
Building materials made from renewable raw materials (e.g., wood, hemp or straw) store CO₂ in the building. They are used for insulation, which can lead to emission reductions of up to 87%.
Photo: Atelier Schmidt
THINK EARTH – REGENERATIVE CONSTRUCTION
This ETH Zurich project is developing construction methods that are not only sustainable but also regenerative. The aim is to use materials and methods that protect the environment and contribute to the restoration of natural ecosystems – with wood and clay as the main building materials.
Photo: Chair of Sustainable Construction, OST – University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland
Interactive exhibit
Photo: Nicola Pitaro
BECOME A BUILDING DOCTOR
Like other buildings, this hospital reacts to vibrations, e.g., from traffic. The vibrations cause the building to oscillate, or sway slightly in a way we cannot see or feel, but which can be measured with a sensor. Just as you can determine a person’s health by measuring their pulse, you can monitor the health of a building using these oscillations.
Damage to a building can change its oscillation pattern. We can measure it like a doctor measures your pulse and compare it with the original oscillation pattern. This allows us to detect structural damage early, locate it precisely and repair it in a targeted manner. This maintains the safety of a building and extends its service life. Not only does this avoid the need for new buildings, it also saves large amounts of CO₂.
- Place the metal weight on one of the floors of the hospital to simulate damage. The building now oscillates differently than before.
- Observe the measurement data on the screen. Does the software detect where the damage is located?
- Tap ‘Learn more’ on the screen to find out how the measurement data is evaluated.
By the way: the hospital that this model is based on is located in an earthquake zone in Greece and is monitored with the same sensors as here in the exhibit.