Building subsidies from 2028: new federal rules under consultation
Application before work starts, federal and cantonal support capped at 50 % of investment costs: what the draft energy ordinance provides, under consultation until 11 February 2027.
Under consultation until 11 February 2027The text may still change before it is adopted. Planned entry into force: 1 January 2028.
What would change
- The global contributions the Confederation pays to the cantons could only support a building measure if the application had been submitted before work starts.
- Total support, federal and cantonal contributions combined, could not exceed 50 % of total investment costs; each canton could cap its own contributions.
- Only measures on the list of the joint federal and cantonal funding model (MEC 2028, its French acronym) that meet its minimum conditions would qualify for global contributions; additional measures and bonuses added by a canton would not. Each canton could set additional conditions. Global contributions could not be used either for public buildings and installations of the Confederation and the cantons, or for installations that use fossil fuels.
Who it concerns
- OwnersIf you intend to apply from 2028 for a subsidy under the joint federal and cantonal programme: under the draft, the application would have to be submitted before work starts.
- Architects and buildersUnder the draft, the application would have to be submitted before the building work starts, so plan for it in the schedule; federal and cantonal support could not exceed 50 % of total investment costs.
- EnergyInstallations that use fossil fuels could not be financed by these contributions.
The official text
« les mesures dans le domaine du bâtiment ne peuvent bénéficier d’un soutien au moyen de contributions globales que si la demande de soutien correspondante est déposée avant le début des travaux »
« L’encouragement des mesures prévues par le MEC 2028 ne peut pas dépasser 50 % des coûts d’investissement totaux »
« Les cantons peuvent fixer des conditions supplémentaires pour les mesures relevant du MEC 2028 »
« Les mesures éligibles définies dans le MEC 2028 constituent une liste exhaustive »
« Leur entrée en vigueur est prévue le 1er janvier 2028. La consultation se terminera le 11 février 2027 »
What we do not know yet
- The text may still change before the Federal Council adopts it.
- The content of MEC 2028 itself (list of measures, conditions, amounts): we have not read it yet, so this article says nothing about it.
- For 2027, a transitional provision keeps the allocation of funds and the choice of measures under current law.
- The draft provides for further exclusions, for example for measures already supported by the Confederation: the list above is not complete.