Huusli Logo A Guide to Buying Property in Switzerland

Part VI: Bonus Material

1. Modern Engineering Systems

New residential buildings in Switzerland are increasingly defined by centralized, energy-efficient engineering systems rather than individual boilers or ad-hoc solutions. For buyers, understanding these systems matters not only for comfort and running costs, but also for long-term maintenance, resale value, and regulatory compliance.

This chapter provides a practical overview of the main technical systems you will encounter in modern new-build apartments and what they mean for you as an owner.

Heating and Cooling

Heat Pumps

As of 2025, heat pumps are the standard heating solution in most new Swiss residential developments.

All heat pumps work on the same principle: they extract low-temperature heat from the environment and raise it to a usable temperature for space heating and hot water. The key difference lies in where the heat comes from.

Common types

  • Air–water heat pumps (same principle as normal AC)

    • Extract heat from outside air
    • Lower installation cost and simpler permitting
    • Slightly less efficient during very cold winter days

  • Ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps

    • Use boreholes or ground loops in the ground
    • Higher upfront cost
    • Very stable efficiency year-round, independent of air temperature

  • Hybrid systems

    • Combine a heat pump with district heating or a backup system
    • Often used where district heating is available but seasonal flexibility is desired
    • District heating itself is usually reliable and competitively priced, but hybrids add redundancy and peak-load security

Heat pumps typically supply:

  • Underfloor heating
  • Domestic hot water
  • As of 2025, also passive cooling in summer

Low flow temperature means the heating system circulates water at ~30–35 °C instead of 60–70 °C as in old radiator systems. Heat pumps are far more efficient at these lower temperatures, which is why radiators are rare and underfloor heating is standard in new buildings.

Cooling and Summer Comfort

Active air conditioning is uncommon in Swiss residential buildings. Instead, comfort in summer is achieved through a combination of passive measures:

  • Passive cooling (free cooling) using ground loops
  • Night ventilation via mechanical systems
  • Solar shading (blinds, shutters)
  • Thermal mass of concrete structures

In buildings with geothermal systems, free cooling works by circulating naturally cool ground temperatures through the floor system without running a compressor. This provides gentle cooling with minimal energy use.

Ice Storage Systems

Ice-storage systems are rare but technically advanced solutions found in some flagship developments.

How they work

  • A large underground water tank is installed
  • Heat pump extracts heat from the water
  • As the water freezes, it releases additional energy (latent heat)
  • The tank is re-heated using:
    • Solar thermal energy
    • PVT panels
    • Ambient air

This allows the system to store energy seasonally and operate efficiently year-round.

Why developers use them

Advantages

  • High overall efficiency, measured via Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF)
  • No deep geothermal drilling required
  • Works well with renewable energy sources

Challenges

  • Complex control logic and planning
  • Higher upfront cost due to tank construction and integration
  • Requires experienced designers and operators

Ice-storage systems can perform extremely well—but only if correctly sized and professionally managed.

Hot-Water

Centralized Hot-Water Production

In modern apartment buildings, hot water is almost always produced centrally and distributed to individual units.

Typical setups

  • Heat-pump hot-water tanks
    Large insulated tanks heated by the central heat pump.
    → Efficient, but recovery time matters if many apartments draw hot water simultaneously.

  • Combined heating + hot-water systems
    One integrated system serves both underfloor heating and hot water.
    → Efficient design, but requires good dimensioning.

  • Solar thermal support
    Roof-mounted collectors assist hot-water production.
    → Less common than PV, but still used in some projects.

What buyers should know

  • Circulation systems mean hot water arrives quickly at the tap
    → Comfort benefit, but slightly higher energy losses (already accounted for in modern designs)

  • Individual metering means you pay only for your consumption
    → Important in mixed-use or investor-heavy buildings

  • Legionella protection is handled automatically
    → Systems periodically heat water to higher temperatures
    → This is a technical compliance issue, not something buyers must manage

Renewable Energy

Photovoltaics (PV)

Solar panels are now standard in new residential buildings.

Electricity generated is typically used for:

  • Common areas (lifts, lighting)
  • Heat pumps
  • Partial apartment consumption

Self-consumption models (ZEV)

A self-consumption community (ZEV) allows multiple apartments to share locally produced solar electricity.

What this means for buyers:

  • You consume solar power before buying from the grid
  • Lower electricity costs
  • Transparent allocation via smart meters

PVT and Advanced Systems

PVT panels combine:

  • Electricity generation (PV)
  • Heat extraction (thermal)

The thermal energy is used to support heat pumps, improving overall efficiency—especially in winter.

Other emerging concepts:

  • Seasonal storage (thermal energy stored over months)
  • Battery systems for peak-load smoothing (not full off-grid operation)
  • Grid-friendly load management

These systems aim to reduce grid stress and operating costs, rather than provide full energy independence.

Ventilation

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery

Modern apartments are airtight by design. To maintain air quality, they use mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

Heat recovery means:

  • Warm exhaust air transfers its heat to incoming fresh air
  • Fresh air enters already pre-warmed
  • Energy losses are minimized (often 80–90% recovery)

Typical system characteristics

  • Fresh air supplied to living rooms and bedrooms
  • Stale air extracted from kitchens and bathrooms
  • Filters remove pollen and fine dust

System types

  • Centralized systems

    • One system for the entire building
    • Lower maintenance for individual owners
    • Less individual control

  • Apartment-level units

    • Individual control per apartment
    • Easier fault isolation
    • Slightly higher maintenance responsibility

Some projects supply fresh air only to living rooms and bedrooms—this is acceptable if correctly designed.

Poorly designed systems can cause odour transfer between apartments. Buyers should ask whether the system uses separate air paths and proper pressure balancing.

Ventilation Matters

Modern, highly insulated buildings are nearly airtight. Without controlled ventilation, this can lead to:

  • Elevated CO₂ levels
  • Moisture buildup
  • Mold growth
  • Persistent odours

In this case, opening windows alone is not sufficient for air quality control. Ventilation systems are a core part of the building concept, not an optional extra.

Engineering systems directly influence:

  • Energy costs
  • Summer comfort
  • Indoor air quality
  • Maintenance effort
  • Long-term value

You don’t need to master the technical details—but you should understand which systems are used and why.

In the following chapters, we explain how these systems relate to Minergie, SNBS, energy certificates, and what owners are responsible for once the building is in operation.