Aids for thermal insulation in French-speaking Switzerland: roofs, walls, and floors

Why insulate your home in Switzerland?

A poorly insulated home loses on average:

• 25 to 30% of its heat through the roof,
• 20 to 25% through the walls,
• 10 to 15% through the floors and windows.

These thermal losses result in energy overconsumption and higher heating bills.
A high-performance insulation therefore allows:

• To sustainably reduce energy costs,
• To improve thermal and acoustic comfort,
• To increase the property value,
• To decrease the carbon footprint of the home.

The Swiss authorities actively support this type of renovation through direct subsidies or tax deductions.

Main aids available for thermal insulation

Subsidies for insulation are governed by the Building Program and supplemented by cantonal and municipal aids.
They apply to both individual houses and collective buildings.

1. The Building Program (Confederation + Cantons)

The Building Program is the main aid for insulation work in Switzerland.
This federal scheme, funded by the CO₂ tax, is implemented by each canton according to its own criteria.

Eligible works:

• Roof insulation (attics, flat roofs, slopes),
• Insulation of exterior or interior walls,
• Insulation of floors or ground floors,
• Insulation of basement or garage ceilings.

Indicative amounts:

• Between 30 and 50 CHF/m² of insulated element, depending on the canton and the performance achieved.
• A complete renovation (facade + roof + floor) can thus entitle you to several thousand francs in subsidies.

Main conditions:

• The work must be carried out before replacing the heating system (priority to insulation).
• The building must be over 10 years old.
• The materials must comply with the minimum U values set by the canton (e.g.: U ≤ 0.20 W/m²K for the roof).
• The application must be submitted before the start of the work.

Required documents:

• Energy report (CECB or CECB+),
• Detailed quotes and technical plans,
• Certificate from a certified professional.

2. Cantonal subsidies for insulation

Each canton in French-speaking Switzerland complements the Building Program with its own grants and conditions.

Canton of Vaud (VD)

• Grant of 30 to 50 CHF/m² for insulation of roofs, walls, and floors.
• Bonus for "complete renovation" if several items are addressed simultaneously.
• Possible combination with federal aids and tax deductions.

Canton of Geneva (GE)

• Additional aid of 40 CHF/m² for thermal insulation work.
• Obligation to meet cantonal energy standards (OCEN).
• File to be submitted before the work via the cantonal platform.

Canton of Fribourg (FR)

• Subsidies up to 45 CHF/m² for high-performance thermal insulation.
• Increased amount for comprehensive renovations and collective buildings.
• Obligation for a CECB+ and a prior energy assessment.

Canton of Valais (VS)

• Aid between 30 and 50 CHF/m² depending on the type of insulation (walls, roof, floors).
• Bonus for "complete renovation" in case of improvement of several items (up to 10,000 CHF).

Canton of Neuchâtel (NE)

• Aid of 35 to 45 CHF/m² for insulated surfaces.
• Subsidy conditioned on compliance of materials and quality of execution.

3. Additional municipal aids

Several municipalities offer local bonuses to support energy efficiency.

Examples:

• City of Lausanne: grant for insulated facades in respect of built heritage.
• City of Fribourg: financial participation for renovated historical buildings.
• City of Neuchâtel: aid for insulated and green roofs.

Municipal aids can represent between 10 and 20% additional to the total cost, depending on the municipality.

4. Tax deductions

Expenses related to thermal insulation can also be deducted from taxes in many cantons.

General conditions:

• The work must improve the energy performance of the building.
• They must be carried out by a recognized company.
• Invoices and technical certificates must be kept.

The deduction rate depends on the canton, but it can reach 20 to 30% of the invested amount.

Technical eligibility criteria

Insulation aids are not limited to the nature of the work: they also rely on specific technical requirements.

Examples of maximum allowed U values:

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