The Swiss energy certificate for buildings
Two letters that summarise what a building consumes and how it is heated — issued by an accredited expert after a site visit.
What it tells you, and what it does not
The certificate rates two things separately: the quality of the envelope, and overall efficiency, which takes the heat source into account. A well-insulated building with an oil boiler can score well on the envelope and badly overall. That separation is the real value: it shows where an intervention actually works.
The certificate is an assessment, not a project. It says where the building stands, not what to do — that is what the advisory version adds, with costed refurbishment options, their effect on consumption and class, and the subsidies each one unlocks.
Not regulated the same way everywhere
Four things vary from canton to canton: the event that triggers a certificate; the building categories concerned; how it is tied to subsidies; and the submission procedure. We check those points for the canton concerned rather than assert a national rule that does not exist.
How it runs
- Documents
- Drawings, year of construction, details of windows, insulation and plant, and three years of energy bills.
- Site visit
- Half a day for an apartment block, with access to plant rooms and roof space.
- Modelling
- Entry into the official tool, with a plausibility check against actual consumption.
- Certificate
- Issued with both classes and the underlying data.
Questions about the energy certificate
What is the difference between the basic and the Plus version?
The basic version is the assessment. The Plus version adds an advisory report with costed refurbishment options — and it is usually the one required for subsidies.
How long is it valid?
Ten years, as long as the building is not materially altered. After a refurbishment it is worth reissuing, because the class improves.
Are you accredited?
Yes, we issue both the certificate and its advisory version as accredited experts.
A project that needs a technical opinion?
Tell us the building and the stage it is at. You will get an assessment and a fixed fee per phase, with no obligation.