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Politique
Ecologie

Energy sobriety: 

a global vision of tomorrow's energy

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While areas such as services and industrial processes are important for implementing the energy transition, energy sobriety is not just a question of reducing consumption: it's a revolution in the way we heat our spaces. A long-term energy transition requires not only the renovation of our building stock, but also a rethinking of the way our heating systems operate. Indeed, today’s operating of heating systems wastes a lot of energy, due to factors such as poor regulation and usage habits.

The majority of heating systems in Switzerland still use fossil fuels. However, the installation of heat pumps is increasing, with 26% of single-family homes equipped, according to an analysis by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office in 2024. Taking into account the state of the workforce in this field and current figures, it would take more than half a century to replace all the country's fossil-fired heating systems with those using other energy sources.

Political action to promote energy sobriety and transition

Energy issues are very often in the political news: reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, 2050 goals, international conferences, reductions in the use of heating or electricity by households, etc. The subject of energy encompasses topics as varied as consumption, production, types of energy producers and emissions linked to their use. Frequent studies and statistics enable us to monitor the progress of the energy transition, and the solutions proposed to achieve the objectives of the Swiss Energy Strategy for 2050.

In Switzerland, the winter of 2022 raised the question of how to reduce heating consumption in times of energy shortages. This was repeated the following year, with the authorities issuing recommendations aimed at the general public and businesses in particular.

Nevertheless, energy conservation and efficiency are not always central in measures taken at a political level. While projects such as the Programme Bâtiments to encourage the renovation of the building stock have been in place for a number of years, these initiatives are not always known to the general public, nor is the concept of energy sobriety. However, this seems to be essential if we are to move towards a resilient energy future, particularly where buildings are concerned. Today, buildings remain one of the main sources of consumption and emissions, requiring a number of ambitious political projects to encourage, support and promote the energy transition.

Short-, medium- and long-term solutions will accompany this process, including energy audits of the building stock and studies of appropriate solutions, equipment modifications and infrastructure renovation. Some local authorities are already taking steps to improve the heating systems in their building stock, such as the city of Lausanne, which has invested heavily in district heating. Today, 60% of its district heating network is supplied by renewable or recovered energy, with the aim of achieving 100% renewable sources by 2035.

Acting today to make buildings more energy-efficient

Owners, local authorities and businesses can take action now to accelerate the energy transition in this area. Improving the energy performance of buildings offers the opportunity to reduce heating consumption and even replace them with less carbon-intensive alternatives. This optimisation encompasses aspects such as using the right amount of energy without wasting it and thinking about the notion of current thermal comfort.

With an understanding of how a building's heat repartition and loss work, it becomes possible to heat only when necessary to maintain comfort. By optimising heating systems, it is possible to combine comfort and energy efficiency, in line with global targets for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Optimised energy consumption depends on the data available and the way in which it is collected, as well as on the tools available to improve heating system operation in real time. This optimisation work means we can take a step towards energy efficiency today, reducing consumption, emissions and costs.

In the medium and long term, these measures will need to be combined with renovations to the building stock and a switch to renewable energy sources for heating. The implementation of energy sobriety strategies therefore needs to be structured in different phases, so that the process is effective from the outset and can be reinforced over time.


Article publié par Julie Carron
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