1. Understanding the federal-cantonal model
The Building Programme has been the flagship of Swiss energy and climate policy in the building sector since 2010. It combines federal funds (from the CO2 levy, around CHF 450 million per year, that is one third of the revenue) with cantonal own funds and is organised federally. This is a Swiss peculiarity, initially confusing for applicants, but in practice it means each canton defines its own rates and conditions.
The federal government provides around CHF 450 million annually from CO2 levy revenue (details on CO2 levy use can be found in the glossary). These funds are distributed to the 26 cantons by a formula that takes into account population, living space and climate zone, among other factors. Cantons can top up these federal funds with their own money. Wealthier cantons such as Zurich, Zug or Geneva typically add more, rural cantons less. The St. Gallen or Aargau subsidy is therefore often lower in absolute terms than Zurich's, but comparable in relative subsidy ratios.
What is subsidised?
Three categories are eligible. First: heat-generator replacement, especially heat pumps (air-water, brine-water, water-water), wood and pellet heaters, district-heating connection. This is the most important programme element by volume, and a lot is being invested here following the CO2 Act. Second: building-envelope renovation, that is exterior-wall insulation, roof insulation, basement-ceiling insulation, window replacement and ventilation system installation. Third: solar systems, both photovoltaic (via the KEV system) and solar thermal, and comfort ventilation with heat recovery.
Who is eligible to apply?
In principle, all owners of residential buildings in Switzerland: single owners, condominium owners (apartment ownership), cooperatives and housing companies. Tenants cannot apply directly, but landlords renovating rental properties can. For condominium ownership a majority decision of the owners' association is typically needed, in practice often the biggest hurdle for multi-family buildings. Commercial buildings (offices, industry) sometimes have their own subsidy pots; the Building Programme in the narrower sense focuses on the residential sector.
Where do I find the cantonal rates?
The central point of contact is dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch, a website jointly operated by the federal government and the cantons. There you'll find a map with all 26 cantons, click on your canton and reach the currently applicable subsidy rates. Plus the application forms you need. In addition, each canton has its own energy consultation service that can be used free of charge and can estimate the individual subsidy amount before submitting an application.
2. Top-5 subsidy cantons
A complete 26-canton table would burst this sub-page. Instead, the five cantons with the highest subsidy rates and the most relevant subsidy practice for heat-pump replacement. Values for 2025/2026, as of May 2026. For exact current amounts: contact dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch or the respective cantonal energy consultation service.
| Canton | Air-water heat pump (max CHF) | Ground-source HP / brine-water | Building envelope (per m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich (ZH) | up to ~CHF 25,000 | up to ~CHF 35,000 | CHF 60-100/m2 |
| Bern (BE) | up to ~CHF 20,000 | up to ~CHF 30,000 | CHF 50-90/m2 |
| Graubuenden (GR) | up to ~CHF 22,000 (mountain-region bonus) | up to ~CHF 32,000 | CHF 60-110/m2 |
| Aargau (AG) | up to ~CHF 15,000 | up to ~CHF 22,000 | CHF 40-80/m2 |
| St. Gallen (SG) | up to ~CHF 16,000 | up to ~CHF 24,000 | CHF 45-85/m2 |
Values are heavily rounded maximum amounts according to cantonal subsidy regulations 2025. Actual amounts in individual cases depend on living space, heating performance class, energy-efficiency class (GEAK) and other criteria. As of May 2026, annual adjustments by cantonal authorities possible.
Zurich: the benchmark
Zurich is the financially strongest canton in the Building Programme and adds above-average top-up to the federal funds. Those wanting to convert a single-family home of 130 to 180 square metres of living space from oil to an air-water heat pump can expect CHF 20,000 to CHF 25,000 of subsidy, plus possibly CHF 2,000 to CHF 5,000 of municipal grant. For a ground-source heat pump the subsidy can reach CHF 35,000, which is a very strong economic signal. Conditions: prior GEAK energy consultation, building permit not yet submitted, installer must be on the MINERGIE specialist-partner list.
Bern: solid standard practice
The canton of Bern offers somewhat lower maximum amounts than Zurich, but has a fast procedural practice. Application processing typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, faster than in many other cantons. The Bern conditions are largely identical to those in Zurich, though with somewhat simpler requirements for the prior energy consultation. Stacking options with the municipal grant are particularly attractive in the larger Bernese municipalities (Bern city, Thun, Biel).
Graubuenden: mountain-region bonus
Graubuenden is the largest canton in Switzerland with many remote mountain areas where heat-pump installation is more expensive (longer transport routes, more difficult connection conditions). The canton compensates for this with a mountain-region bonus that effectively pushes the maximum amounts above those of wealthier cantons. Those who have a heat pump installed in the Engadin, in central Grisons or in the southern valleys can often achieve the highest subsidy amounts in Switzerland, up to CHF 22,000 for air-water and CHF 32,000 for ground-source, plus further municipal offsets.
Aargau and St. Gallen: mid-field
Both cantons are among the medium-sized, economically stable middle cantons with solid but not spectacular subsidy amounts. Aargau has a particularly efficient online application process via the energy portal, which often shortens processing time to 3 to 4 weeks. St. Gallen is somewhat more conservative procedurally, but occasionally offers additional bonuses for energy renovation in the Eastern Switzerland economic area through regional economic promotion.
The other 21 cantons in brief
The remaining cantons range between 60 and 95 percent of the top-5 maximum amounts. Geneva and Basel-Stadt tend to have higher rates than the rural Swiss cantons, because they are economically strong and politically run progressive climate policy. The Swiss inner-country cantons (Schwyz, Glarus, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Uri) tend to have lower absolute amounts, but acceptable subsidy ratios relative to local income structure.
What does your heating-system replacement cost after subsidy?
The energy-cost calculator shows you how the Building Programme subsidy, avoided CO2 burden and heating-oil savings add up over the lifetime of the system. In 60 seconds with your numbers.
Calculate in 60 seconds3. MuKEn requirements 2014 and 2025
MuKEn stands for Model Regulations of the Cantons on Energy. It is the harmonised set of minimum energy standards from all 26 cantons for buildings. Since Swiss energy policy is regulated at cantonal level, a harmonised model regulation was needed so that not every canton has its own completely different rules. The Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors (EnDK) developed the MuKEn for this purpose, in several versions: MuKEn 2008, MuKEn 2014, MuKEn 2025. The current version, applicable law in most cantons, is MuKEn 2014. MuKEn 2025 is being phased in, depending on canton between 2025 and 2028.
MuKEn 2014: the basis applicable today
MuKEn 2014 contains two requirements particularly relevant for heating-system replacement. First: when your old oil or gas heating must be replaced, there is an obligation to improve the energy efficiency of the building. Concretely worded: the new heating-system heat demand may not exceed 90 percent of the previous consumption. If your old heater used 4,000 litres of heating oil per year, the new one (if again fossil) may consume at most 3,600 litres per year. In practice, this reduction can only be achieved through a supplementary measure, such as insulation, solar thermal or indeed a heat pump as the main heater. Second: a prohibition list for pure oil and gas heaters in certain cantons.
Ban on pure oil heaters
In the cantons of Zurich, Bern, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Solothurn and partly Aargau, installation of a pure oil heater as replacement of an old system is no longer permitted since MuKEn 2014. In these cantons, heating-system replacement must in practice always switch to a heat pump, wood pellet, district heating or hybrid system with dominant heat-pump component. This obligation does not apply for new builds (where a stricter efficiency requirement already applies anyway), but on replacement of an existing fossil system. Those who want to change nothing at all in these cantons can keep their existing oil heater running as long as it works. But if it breaks down, heat-pump replacement is in practice mandatory.
MuKEn 2025: what's coming?
MuKEn 2025 tightens the requirements. First: a significant reduction of allowed heat-loss values for the building envelope on renovations. Second: a blanket requirement that on heating-system replacement at least 10 percent of heat demand must be covered by non-fossil sources (solar thermal or integrated heat pump). Third: stricter requirements for creating energy certificates (GEAK) on sale or larger renovations.
MuKEn 2025 has been in force in Zurich and Bern since 2025, will apply in Geneva and Basel-Stadt from 2026, and in other cantons gradually until 2028. Anyone planning a heating-system replacement should know the applicable MuKEn version in their canton, because the stricter 2025 requirements often only become visible in the actual application, but are already taken into account in the prior energy consultation.
Practical consequence
Anyone in Switzerland who has an oil heater no longer has the option in most cantons to replace it one-for-one with a new oil heater. The switch to a heat pump (or equivalent non-fossil solution) is mostly the only practical option; fully oil-based heating is being phased out. The good thing about it: the subsidy landscape is optimised precisely for this switch. Subsidy rates, application procedures and MuKEn compliance are aligned with each other. Those who use this have a plannable heating renewal with substantial subsidy. Those who don't risk having to implement a significantly more expensive emergency solution in case of crisis (heating breakdown in winter). More on the economic logic in our glossary entry on the CO2 levy.
4. Stacking options up to 70 %
The really attractive story of the Swiss subsidy system lies in the stack. Anyone who makes the application correctly can not only use the Building Programme but activate further subsidy pots in parallel. In total, subsidy ratios of 50 to 70 percent of total investment are realistic. Four components can be combined.
- Federal-cantonal Building Programme (basic subsidy) Typically CHF 12,000 to CHF 35,000 for a heat pump, depending on canton, system type and building size. This is the basic subsidy on which all other stack components build. Requirement: application submitted BEFORE contract award, GEAK-compliant energy consultation, certified installer. Processing time typically 4 to 6 weeks.
- Municipal grant (often additive) Many Swiss municipalities offer additional grants for heating-system replacement, typically CHF 1,000 to CHF 5,000. Zurich city, Bern city, Geneva city, Lausanne, Winterthur and many smaller municipalities have their own programmes. These are granted on top of the federal-cantonal subsidy, but without offsetting the Building Programme contribution. For pellet heaters or solar thermal, occasionally even higher municipal grants are possible. Application directly with the responsible municipal administration or city energy office.
- Energy-provider subsidy (regionally variable) Many Swiss energy providers (EWZ Zurich, IWB Basel, BKW Bern, ewl Lucerne, Romande Energie) offer subsidies for their customers switching to a heat pump. Amounts between CHF 500 and CHF 3,000, occasionally higher. These are often linked directly with the electricity contract concluded for the heat pump. Sensible, because many heat-pump tariffs offer cheaper conditions for high-load phases and the subsidy component runs as a kind of acquisition bonus.
- Tax deductions Energy renovation investments can be fully or partially deducted from taxable income in many cantons, spread over several years. At a tax rate of 25 percent and an investment of CHF 30,000, that means CHF 7,500 in tax savings, however spread over three years. The exact tax practice per canton differs; a tax adviser or the cantonal tax administration can name concrete amounts. For condominium ownership, special rules apply.
Maximum stack: concrete example, Mueller family (Zurich)
The Mueller family in Zurich is planning the switch from oil heating to an air-water heat pump for their single-family home, 160 square metres of living space, built 1992. Total investment CHF 42,000 including installation. Maximum stack: CHF 25,000 Building Programme (Zurich) plus CHF 3,000 city of Zurich subsidy plus CHF 1,500 EWZ subsidy plus CHF 4,500 tax saving (spread over 3 years, 25 percent tax rate) = CHF 34,000 subsidy effect. Net investment for the Mueller family: CHF 8,000.
With avoided heating-oil consumption of 3,000 litres per year (around CHF 3,000 heating-oil cost plus CHF 954 CO2 burden) and additional electricity consumption of around CHF 1,500 per year, a net energy-cost saving of around CHF 2,500 per year results. Amortisation of net investment: about 3 to 4 years. That is under the most favourable conditions, but illustrates what is possible with perfect stacking.
Model your stack with concrete numbers
The energy-cost calculator shows you how subsidies, avoided CO2 burden and heating-oil savings add up over the 20-year system life, with your own numbers.
Start energy-cost calculator5. Application route and common mistakes
The application route is largely uniform between cantons, because the federal government operates a central platform with dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch. There are six steps that have to be taken in this order in practically every canton. The most common mistake is trying to skip a step or swap the order.
Step 1: GEAK energy consultation
The cantonal building energy certificate (GEAK) is the basis. You commission a cantonally certified GEAK expert who visits your house, assesses the current energy state and gives recommendations for sensible measures. Costs typically CHF 800 to CHF 1,500, in some cantons partially subsidised by the Building Programme (e.g. CHF 500 contribution). The energy consultation is not only an application requirement but also structures your investment decision sensibly.
Step 2: subsidy application at dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch
Online form at dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch. You select your canton, the planned measure (e.g. air-water heat pump), enter your building data and the planned system. The platform automatically calculates the applicable maximum subsidy for your canton. You upload attachments: GEAK report, offers from certified installers (typically 2 to 3 comparison offers), construction drawings. Confirmation typically comes after 4 to 6 weeks.
Step 3: wait for approval, then place the order
Only after written subsidy approval do you award the contract to the installer. This is the most critical phase, in which most applications fail, because homeowners impatiently award the contract before approval and then lose the subsidy. Always plan at least 6 weeks of reserve time before the contract has to be awarded.
Step 4: construction phase and documentation
When the heat pump is installed, the installer issues a detailed final invoice with photo documentation. You additionally document the before-and-after state of the system (photo of oil boiler dismantled, photo of heat pump installed), which is important for the final settlement of the subsidy.
Step 5: final settlement with the canton
After commissioning, you submit the final settlement to the canton: copies of invoices, photo documentation, installer's commissioning protocol, energy certificate after renovation. Processing time for final payout typically 4 to 8 weeks. The subsidy is transferred to your account.
Step 6: apply for municipal grant separately
The municipal grant typically does NOT go through dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch but must be applied for separately with the responsible municipal administration. Some municipalities do this in advance with the building application, others only after completion. This varies from municipality to municipality; ask directly at the local energy office.
The five most common mistakes
From the practice of energy consultants, the five most common rejection reasons for subsidy applications.
- Contract awarded BEFORE approval: the most common mistake, by far. Anyone who has already awarded the contract before the subsidy approval is in writing loses the subsidy. Even verbal commitments to the installer, oral appointments or down payments can, depending on the canton, be classified as a binding contract. If unclear, in case of doubt ask the installer to accept the contract in writing only after subsidy approval.
- Non-certified installer: most cantons require the installer to be listed in a register (e.g. MINERGIE specialist partner, heat-pump module GVI). Those who choose a non-certified installer get no subsidy.
- Missing GEAK consultation: in most cantons, a GEAK-compliant prior energy consultation is an application requirement. Those who go directly to the installer without GEAK and then apply for the subsidy are rejected.
- Incomplete documents: typical mistakes: missing construction drawings, incomplete offers without parts list, missing owner consent for condominium ownership. These mostly do not result in direct rejection but lead to follow-up queries that extend processing time to 8 to 12 weeks.
- Wrong system class selected: for maximum subsidy a certain energy-efficiency class must be reached (typically A+ for heat pumps, COP value above 3.5). Those who choose a cheaper, less efficient system get proportionally less subsidy or none at all.