Summary
Since 1 April 2022, Switzerland has offered free impulse consultation «renewable heating». The programme has completed 50,000 consultations by the end of 2025 and supports homeowners and apartment owners in switching to renewable heating systems. The consultations are conducted by approximately 2,000 trained specialists from the energy and heating industry. The offer enables owners to make informed decisions when renovating their heating systems.
Persons
- Homeowners and apartment owners
- Specialists from the energy and heating industry (approx. 2,000)
Topics
- Energy transition and renewable energies
- Heating system renovation and building modernisation
- Consultation services and federal funding
- Climate policy and sustainability
Detailed Summary
The Federal Office of Energy initiated the «renewable heating» programme in 2020 and established free impulse consultation since April 2022. This offer is directed at owners of heat generation systems that are older than ten years and serve as the main heating system – regardless of the building category or previous energy source.
The balance sheet is impressive: By 31 December 2025, a total of 50,000 consultations had been conducted. Of these, 37,368 consultations were for single-family homes, multi-family homes with fewer than six residential units, and non-residential buildings up to 30 kW heating capacity. The remaining 12,953 consultations concerned larger multi-family homes, buildings with condominium ownership, and non-residential buildings over 30 kW heating capacity.
Consultations are conducted on-site. A specialist consultant inspects the building and analyzes which renewable heating systems are suitable for the specific property. This enables owners to subsequently compare various options in peace, obtain quotes, and plan financing. Only one subsidised impulse consultation per heat generation system is possible.
Key Messages
- 50,000 consultations conducted since April 2022
- Free for homeowners when replacing heating systems older than 10 years
- 2,000 specialists from energy and heating industry active as consultants
- On-site consultations with individual analysis of the building situation
- Broad applicability: from single-family homes to large non-residential buildings
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Role |
|---|---|
| Homeowners | Benefit from free consultation and decision-making support |
| Specialists/Heating contractors | Receive training and business opportunities |
| Federal government | Promotes energy transition through subsidies |
| Heating manufacturers | Potential winners through increased demand |
| Environment/Climate | Benefits from reduction of fossil fuels |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Acceleration of energy transition in building sector | Financing constraints for owners despite consultation |
| Job creation in heating industry | Unequal regional availability of specialists |
| Reduction of CO₂ emissions through heating system replacement | Possible quality differences in consultations |
| Strengthening of local craft businesses | Delays due to skilled labour shortage |
Action Relevance
Relevant for decision-makers:
- The programme demonstrates high acceptance – 50,000 consultations in 3.75 years indicate strong demand
- Capacity expansion of specialists should be monitored to avoid waiting times
- Evaluation of conversion rates: How many consultations actually lead to heating system replacements?
- Regional disparities in specialist availability should be addressed
- Financing gaps for renovations must be closed in parallel
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and figures verified
- [x] Data from official federal press release
- [x] No unconfirmed data identified
- [x] No apparent bias or political one-sidedness
Supplementary Research
- Energy Switzerland – Official programme information: https://www.energieschweiz.ch/beratung/impulsberatung/
- Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) – Overall Energy Transition 2050 strategy
- Heating System Replacement Statistics – Data on conversion rates and system selection
References
Primary source:
Federal press release – «50,000 free impulse consultations for renewable heating systems since April 2022» (20 January 2026)
https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/w_3jK0t_VsMMfOBRirWTV
Supplementary sources:
- Energy Switzerland – Impulse consultation renewable heating
- Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) – «Renewable heating» programme
- Swiss Association of Heating and Ventilation Industry (SVHL)
Verification status: ✓ Facts checked on 20 January 2026
This text was created with the support of Claude.
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 20.01.2026