Climate Neutrality in Construction: New Regulations and Standards

TL;DR

Climate regulation is becoming concrete. The new SIA 390/1 standard in particular sets pioneering benchmarks for greater transparency and optimally equips the Swiss building stock for net zero. The specific requirements for greenhouse gas accounting create more accountability and promote the actual avoidance of emissions.

Life cycle assessment is becoming even more important: owners, developers and planners must plan for GHG optimization early on. "Nice to have" is increasingly becoming "must have" – CO2 is becoming a currency, as business-relevant as CHF.

Regulatory trends: from 390/1 and MuKEn to CSRD

The legal requirements for sustainable construction are becoming increasingly strict. Sustainability is no longer an option, but a necessity.

The Climate and Innovation Act (KIG) of 2023 sets the goal of making the Swiss building stock climate-neutral by 2050. The focus is on reducing operational energy through technologies such as heat pumps and low-CO2 building materials. At the same time, the law promotes innovative solutions for CO2 storage, for example through CO2-binding building materials.

To achieve this goal, efforts are being reinforced by new regulations and standards such as MuKEn, SIA 390/1 and the EU CSRD. These create clear framework conditions for the avoidance of emissions and promote transparency in the construction sector. Below, we provide an overview.

MuKEn: new limit values for embodied energy

In November 2024, the federal government decided that cantons must in future set limit values for embodied energy in buildings – a decisive step toward reducing overall CO2 emissions in construction. The current draft, which will be voted on in 2025, sets these values: 13 kg CO2 equivalents/m² for single-family homes and 12 kg CO2 equivalents/m² for multi-family homes. Basel-Stadt is also examining a coupling with a steering levy that could make emission-intensive new buildings more expensive and demolition projects less attractive.

SIA 390/1: a new standard for net zero

Since February 2024, the SIA 390/1 standard has replaced the previous SIA 2040 and defines new CO2 limit values. Although it is not legally binding, it offers a methodology for preparing for regulatory changes. The additional requirements ensure a better balance between construction, operation and mobility.

The most important innovations:

Focus on GHGE: Renewable primary energy is now only considered for information purposes.
Two target values: - Target value A: An ambitious limit value for net zero in accordance with KIG. - Target value B: Maximum permissible CO2 emissions for construction, operation and mobility.
Clear definition of net zero: A building with net zero GHGE minimizes emissions for construction and operation over the entire life cycle and offsets unavoidable residual emissions through creditable negative emissions.
Exclusion of negative emissions: For the prescribed target values, negative emissions may no longer be credited. This forward-looking approach puts the actual avoidance of emissions front and center and calls on the construction industry to consistently reduce GHGE instead of relying on compensation.
Reuse of components: Reused components can be assessed more favorably in emission terms. In early project phases, a flat-rate deduction of 20% of greenhouse gases is possible if such components are planned – an important step toward promoting resource-efficient and circular construction methods.
Crediting of solar power: Solar power may only be included in the CO2 balance if it is self-consumed. The sale of guarantees of origin excludes crediting
Reduction pathway: The standard sets clear reduction pathways to quickly bring emissions from construction and operation down to a climate-compatible level. These values are tightened regularly to ensure progress toward net zero.

EU influence: stricter reporting obligations

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) tightens sustainability reporting for companies. It requires comprehensive disclosure of ESG data and focuses on the impact of sustainability aspects on the company and vice versa. Particularly relevant is the reporting of Scope 3 emissions, which account for a significant share of total emissions for construction and real estate companies.

Although Switzerland is not an EU member, the Federal Council is planning similar regulations. In June 2024, a consultation was opened that is based on the criteria of the CSRD. In future, companies with at least 250 employees, a balance sheet total of 25 million francs or revenue of 50 million francs are to be required to report on climate-relevant risks and the measures taken.

These strengthened reporting obligations are intended to increase transparency and encourage companies to reduce their emissions, which can make a significant contribution to achieving Switzerland's climate targets.