What does sustainable living mean?

What is meant by sustainable living?

Sustainable living includes housing concepts and forms of behaviour that reduce environmental impact, conserve natural resources and maintain a high quality of life. It does not concern individual technical systems alone, but the interaction between the building, its occupants, its location and its long-term use.

Central characteristics include:

• the lowest possible energy demand,
• an efficient building envelope,
• a fossil-free or low-emission energy supply,
• economical use of electricity, heat and water,
• durable, low-pollutant and reusable materials,
• low levels of waste and closed material cycles,
• a healthy indoor climate,
• protection against summer overheating,
• good public transport connections,
• short journeys for everyday activities, school and work,
• accessible and adaptable layouts,
• housing and operating costs that remain manageable over the long term.

Sustainability therefore does not automatically mean installing as many new technical devices as possible. In many cases, it is more sustainable to develop an existing building sensibly, preserve functioning components and reduce actual demand.

The three dimensions of sustainable living

Environmental sustainability

The environmental dimension concerns energy, climate, raw materials, water, land and biodiversity. The objective is to reduce negative environmental effects across the entire lifecycle.

Examples include:

• thermal insulation and an airtight building envelope,
• renewable heating systems,
• photovoltaics and solar thermal energy,
• energy-efficient household appliances,
• resource-efficient building materials,
• reuse of building components,
• fewer sealed surfaces,
• native plants suited to the location,
• rainwater retention and protection against summer heat.

Economic sustainability

A sustainable apartment or house should be financially viable not only when it is built, but throughout its entire period of use. Acquisition costs, energy, maintenance, replacement investments and value preservation should be considered together.

Important factors include:

• low and predictable operating costs,
• durable building components and appliances,
• good repairability,
• flexibly usable layouts,
• realistic maintenance and renovation reserves,
• low dependence on individual energy sources,
• long-term rental and resale potential.

Social sustainability

Social sustainability includes health, safety, accessibility, community and affordability. Housing remains usable in the long term when it can adapt to different phases of life.

This includes:

• step-free or accessible entrances,
• good levels of natural light,
• protection against noise and overheating,
• low-pollutant indoor spaces,
• safe outdoor and communal areas,
• spaces for social interaction and good neighbourhood relations,
• housing for different household types and income groups,
• proximity to schools, shopping, healthcare and recreation.

Which regulations and instruments apply in Switzerland?

Sustainable living is not conclusively defined by one single Swiss regulation. Different rules concerning buildings, energy, the environment, planning and tenancies interact with one another.

Particular consideration should be given to:

• federal legislation concerning energy, climate, the environment and tenancies,
• cantonal energy and building legislation,
• municipal building and zoning regulations,
• cantonal funding programmes,
• heritage and townscape protection requirements,
• regulations of the condominium owners’ association,
• the tenancy agreement and house rules.

GEAK and GEAK Plus

The Cantonal Energy Certificate for Buildings, known as the GEAK, is the official energy label of the Swiss cantons. It assesses:

• the quality of the building envelope,
• overall energy efficiency,
• direct CO₂ emissions.

The assessment uses classes A to G. GEAK Plus additionally includes an advisory report with several modernisation options tailored to the building. It can therefore form a basis for defining the sequence, estimating the costs and planning a renovation over the long term.

Minergie

Minergie is a Swiss building standard for comfort, energy efficiency and climate protection in new buildings and modernisations. Its main areas include:

• a high-quality building envelope,
• controlled air exchange,
• efficient building services,
• renewable energy supply,
• use of the available solar-energy potential,
• high levels of comfort in summer and winter.

In addition to the basic standard, more advanced standards and supplementary products are available, including Minergie-P, Minergie-A and ECO.

Swiss Sustainable Building Standard

The Swiss Sustainable Building Standard, known as SNBS, evaluates buildings holistically. In addition to the environment and energy, it also considers economic and social criteria such as usability, lifecycle costs, mobility, design and social quality.

Overview of important instruments

How can you live more energy-efficiently?

The energy demand of a residential building depends heavily on the building envelope, heating system, hot water, living area and user behaviour. It is particularly important to reduce unnecessary energy losses first and optimise the energy supply afterwards.

Improve the building envelope

The building envelope includes:

• the façade and external walls,
• the roof or uppermost floor ceiling,
• the floor above the cellar or ground,
• windows and external doors,
• thermal bridges and building joints.

A good building envelope reduces heating demand, improves comfort and can reduce cold surfaces, draughts and summer overheating. Individual measures should, however, be coordinated. New airtight windows without an adapted ventilation concept may, for example, change the building’s moisture behaviour.

Reduce electricity consumption

Useful everyday measures include:

• LED lighting,
• efficient appliances of an appropriate size,
• switching appliances off completely instead of leaving them permanently on standby,
• fully loading washing machines and dishwashers,
• using low washing temperatures where hygienically sufficient,
• air-drying laundry where possible,
• setting refrigerators and freezers correctly and defrosting them regularly,
• using lids on pans and matching them to the appropriate hob size,
• monitoring consumption through bills or measuring devices.

Use smart-home technology sensibly

Digital thermostats, automated shading, consumption measurement and demand-based control can help use energy more efficiently. The technology is only sustainable, however, if it actually reduces consumption and does not create additional resource demand through numerous short-lived devices.

Before purchasing, check:

• the expected savings,
• compatibility and open standards,
• data protection and local control options,
• lifespan and software-update support,
• the ability to replace individual components,
• manual operation in the event of a system failure.

Sustainable heating and hot-water production

The appropriate heat supply depends on the building, insulation standard, property, available infrastructure and cantonal requirements. Not every system is equally suitable at every location.

Possible renewable heating solutions

Heat correctly

• Adjust room temperatures to actual needs.
• Do not unnecessarily overheat rooms that are used infrequently.
• Do not obstruct radiators with furniture or heavy curtains.
• Use thermostatic valves correctly.
• Do not leave windows permanently tilted while the heating is on.
• Close shutters and blinds at night.
• Have the heating curve and operating times adjusted professionally.
• Maintain and optimise the heating system regularly.

Save hot water

Hot water requires both water and energy. Consumption can be reduced by:

• taking short showers instead of frequent full baths,
• using water-saving shower heads and taps,
• repairing dripping taps promptly,
• not leaving hot water running unnecessarily,
• using an appropriate storage temperature while maintaining professional hygiene standards,
• insulating hot-water pipes well,
• using systems that are close to the point of consumption and correctly dimensioned.

Healthy indoor climate and low-pollutant living

Sustainable living should not only save energy, but also support the health and comfort of the occupants.

Ventilate correctly

During the heating season, brief shock or cross ventilation is generally more efficient than leaving windows permanently tilted. This replaces the indoor air without allowing walls and furniture to cool down significantly.

Ventilation is particularly important:

• after showering and bathing,
• while cooking,
• after sleeping,
• when drying laundry indoors,
• when many people are in the same room,
• after renovation or cleaning work.

Avoid moisture and mould

Moisture can arise through use, structural weaknesses, thermal bridges or water damage. Visible moisture should not simply be painted over, but documented and investigated.

Tenants should inform the landlord or property management company in writing at an early stage if moisture or mould repeatedly appears.

Choose low-pollutant materials

Emissions and pollutants may be relevant in paints, varnishes, flooring, adhesives and furniture. Sensible choices include:

• low-emission products,
• declared ingredients,
• suitable environmental and health labels,
• low-solvent paints and adhesives,
• products with a long lifespan,
• sufficient ventilation after renovations,
• professional handling of pollutants in older buildings.

Summer heat protection

Sustainable residential comfort must also take increasingly hot summers into account. The following are often more efficient than continuous active cooling:

• external sun protection,
• closing shutters or blinds early,
• ventilating during cooler night-time and morning hours,
• light-coloured surfaces and shaded façades,
• trees and green outdoor spaces,
• sufficient thermal mass,
• energy-efficient fans,
• building cooling considered from the planning stage.

Materials, furniture and the circular economy

A significant share of a building’s environmental impact arises before anybody moves in: during raw-material extraction, production, transport and installation. These impacts are often described as embodied energy or embodied greenhouse-gas emissions.

Durability before short-lived trends

For furniture, appliances and building components, the purchase price should therefore not be the only consideration. Important factors include:

• lifespan,
• repairability,
• availability of spare parts,
• timeless and adaptable design,
• material quality,
• reusability,
• recyclability,
• absence of harmful substances.

Preserve existing items

Before completely replacing something, check whether it is possible to:

• repair or reupholster furniture,
• replace kitchen fronts instead of the entire kitchen,
• sand wooden floors,
• continue using doors and built-in fittings,
• reuse building components from dismantled buildings,
• repair or refurbish appliances.

Choose materials carefully

For new purchases and renovations, regional, renewable, recycled and easily separable materials may offer advantages. The complete application is nevertheless decisive: a material that is environmentally responsible in principle is not sustainable if it has to be replaced quickly because it was used in the wrong place.

Saving water and avoiding waste

Water management

Sustainable water management covers both household consumption and the treatment of rainwater on the property.

Practical measures include:

• water-saving taps and shower heads,
• efficient washing machines and dishwashers,
• repairing leaks and dripping taps promptly,
• fully loading washing machines and dishwashers,
• watering gardens during cooler times of day,
• choosing plants suited to the location that require little water,
• using rainwater where technically, hygienically and legally appropriate,
• preserving infiltration areas and planted surfaces.

Follow the waste hierarchy

Separating waste and recycling are important. Avoiding waste in the first place is even more sustainable.

1. Avoid or reduce consumption.
2. Use products for as long as possible.
3. Repair and refurbish.
4. Pass on, sell or share.
5. Collect and recycle materials correctly.
6. Dispose of residual materials properly.

In Switzerland, collection systems and charges sometimes differ by municipality. Local information on correct disposal should therefore be checked.

Location, mobility and living space

The sustainability of a home does not end at the façade. The location also influences the energy and resources used in everyday life.

Short journeys

A well-connected location can shorten journeys and make it easier to avoid owning an additional car. Important factors include:

• proximity to public transport,
• safe walking and cycling routes,
• everyday shopping facilities,
• schools and childcare,
• workplaces and services,
• healthcare,
• recreational and green spaces.

Choose an appropriate amount of living space

A very large living area generally requires more material, heating energy, cleaning and maintenance. A sustainable home is one whose size corresponds to actual needs and which can be adapted as flexibly as possible to changing phases of life.

Use facilities jointly

Shared rooms and objects can reduce individual space and resource requirements. Examples include:

• communal rooms,
• shared guest rooms,
• workshops and tool pools,
• car sharing and jointly used cargo bikes,
• communal gardens,
• laundry and drying rooms,
• exchange and repair services.

How can tenants live sustainably?

Even without control over the heating system or renovation decisions, tenants can influence consumption and residential quality.

Measures without structural alterations

• Adjust room temperatures to actual needs.
• Ventilate correctly and briefly.
• Reduce hot-water consumption.
• Use efficient light bulbs.
• Monitor electricity consumption.
• Use appliances for a long time and repair them.
• Avoid and correctly separate waste.
• Use second-hand and rental services.
• Prefer public transport, cycling and walking.
• Check service charges and the energy standard when renting a new home.

Check consumption and service charges

Compare consumption over several billing periods. Heating energy is influenced by factors including the weather, occupancy and the amount of time spent at home.

Unusual changes may indicate:

• incorrectly adjusted systems,
• defective thermostatic valves,
• leaks,
• unusually high hot-water consumption,
• faulty measuring equipment or billing,
• changes in use.

Structural alterations only with consent

Under Article 260a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, tenants may generally only make improvements or alterations to the rented property if the landlord has provided written consent.

The following should therefore be clarified in advance:

• permanently installed solar systems,
• alterations to the façade or balcony,
• drilling and electrical installations,
• new floor or wall structures,
• alterations to heating or ventilation,
• charging stations for electric vehicles,
• structural shading systems.

Additional permits, safety certificates or the approval of a condominium owners’ association may also be required.

Energy renovation and rent

Energy improvements carried out by the landlord may partly constitute value-enhancing measures. Under the statutory conditions, this may result in a rent adjustment. The entire investment does not, however, automatically qualify as a value-enhancing investment.

When a rent increase is announced, tenants should check:

• the prescribed official form,
• the explanation provided,
• the date of the increase,
• the allocation between maintenance and value enhancement,
• any subsidies taken into account,
• the calculation and deadline for challenging the increase.

How should property owners plan a sustainable renovation?

An energy renovation should be planned as a coordinated overall system. If individual components are replaced without a comprehensive concept, later measures may become unnecessarily expensive or technically complicated.

A sensible sequence

1. Record consumption data and the condition of the building.
2. Commission energy advice or a GEAK Plus.
3. Identify urgent damage and maintenance requirements.
4. Define long-term objectives for use and energy supply.
5. Plan the building envelope, heating system, solar energy and ventilation together.
6. Compare options based on investment, operating costs and climate impact.
7. Check cantonal and municipal requirements.
8. Clarify funding conditions before awarding contracts or starting construction.
9. Coordinate financing, tax consequences and reserves.
10. Have measures implemented and documented professionally.
11. Commission and optimise systems correctly.
12. Monitor consumption and performance after the renovation.

Check subsidies at an early stage

The Swiss Buildings Programme of the Confederation and the cantons, together with other cantonal or municipal programmes, may support energy-related measures. The available support depends on the location and the specific measure.

Depending on the canton, funding may be available for:

• thermal insulation,
• renewable heating systems,
• comprehensive energy renovations,
• Minergie- or GEAK-based projects,
• energy advice,
• solar energy,
• heating networks and building services.

Condominium ownership

In condominium ownership, the building envelope, heating system, roof, photovoltaic system, windows and shared equipment often concern communal building components. Measures must therefore be prepared in good time and approved in accordance with the rules of the owners’ association.

Useful elements include:

• a long-term renovation plan,
• a sufficiently funded renovation reserve,
• a GEAK or energy assessment as a shared basis for decisions,
• transparent presentation of costs and savings,
• options for phasing and financing,
• early clarification of the required voting majorities.

Which measures are particularly worthwhile?

A sustainable solution should be assessed not only according to its purchase cost, but also according to its effect, lifespan, maintenance and actual need.

Compare lifecycle costs

Measure:                           [description]
Investment costs:                  CHF [amount]
Subsidies:                         CHF [amount]
Tax effect:                        [clarification]
Useful life:                       [years]
Annual maintenance:                CHF [amount]
Expected energy saving:            [kWh / CHF]
Expected water saving:             [litres / CHF]
Spare parts available:             [yes / no]
Repairability:                     [good / medium / low]
Effect on comfort:                 [description]
Effect on property value:          [description]
Dependence on energy prices:       [high / medium / low]
Dismantling and recycling:         [description]

Common mistakes in sustainable living

• Focusing on individual appliances instead of the complete system.
• Replacing functioning equipment solely because a new efficiency label is available.
• Planning the building envelope and heating system separately during a renovation.
• Using permanently tilted windows for ventilation.
• Regulating excessively high room temperatures by opening windows.
• Buying smart-home technology without a clear benefit or long-term support.
• Checking funding conditions only after construction has started.
• Ignoring embodied energy and lifespan.
• Excluding living area and mobility from the sustainability assessment.
• Neglecting health, noise and protection against summer heat.
• Making structural alterations to a rented property without written consent.
• Accepting advertising claims such as “climate-neutral” or “eco-friendly” without checking them.

Consider the rebound effect

Efficiency may lose part of its benefit if it leads to greater consumption. Examples include:

• Increasing the room temperature significantly after insulating the building.
• Using an efficient appliance more frequently or for longer periods.
• Choosing a larger living area because operating costs are low.
• Treating solar electricity as a reason to consume additional electricity.

Sustainable living therefore combines efficiency with conscious and proportionate consumption.

Practical examples

Step by step towards more sustainable living

1. Record energy, water and housing costs from recent years.
2. Identify the largest consumption and comfort problems.
3. Implement immediate measures requiring no investment.
4. Check whether appliances, furniture and building components can be repaired before replacing them.
5. As a tenant, discuss structural requests with the landlord at an early stage.
6. As a property owner, have the condition and energy efficiency of the building assessed professionally.
7. Consider GEAK Plus, energy advice or a comparable planning tool.
8. Plan the building envelope, heating system, hot water, solar energy and ventilation together.
9. Clarify cantonal regulations and funding conditions before the project begins.
10. Compare options according to lifecycle costs rather than only the purchase price.
11. Include health, summer heat protection and accessibility.
12. Monitor consumption and the actual effect after implementation.

Checklist: How sustainable is my home?

Frequently asked questions about sustainable living