Thanks to the thematic objectives, institutions can assess their current situation and define their own specific measures.
to develop and implement their action plan.
The actions suggested below will help you discover the measures that may already be in place.
Based on this assessment, institutions can define their own action plan to achieve customised objectives.
for year 1, year 3 and year 5 of their climate journey.
Heating and air conditioning are significant items on your energy bill. Traditional heating and cooling systems often rely on non-renewable energy sources, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy costs. District heating systems offer efficient, scalable and flexible solutions for reducing carbon footprints compared to gas or oil heating systems by integrating renewable energy sources, using combined heat and power plants, and optimising heat production and distribution, resulting in reduced emissions and environmental impact.
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Thanks to improvements in photovoltaic performance and rising costs, it is possible to produce clean, renewable energy on site. Our buildings have significant potential for solar energy production to meet their daily energy consumption. It is possible to make your building more ‘green’. Start by measuring and assessing the solar potential of your building.
Recycled materials, such as reclaimed wood or recycled steel, help divert waste from landfills and reduce the need for resource-intensive extraction and manufacturing processes. In addition, bio-based materials, such as bamboo or cork, come from renewable sources that absorb carbon dioxide during their growth. By choosing these sustainable alternatives, we can reduce the carbon footprint associated with traditional building materials and contribute to a more circular and environmentally friendly construction industry.
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The building envelope is vital for energy savings because it acts as a barrier to minimise heat transfer and air leakage between the interior and exterior. Thanks to good insulation and high-performance windows, it reduces excessive heating and cooling requirements, resulting in lower energy consumption, cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint. A well-designed envelope improves indoor thermal comfort while effectively reducing potential energy waste.
We use many electrical appliances in our daily lives. This equipment is essential, but it can consume much more energy than necessary. Excessive unused capacity, idling and low energy efficiency are all factors that lead to energy waste. By selecting energy-efficient products, rationally programming the operating system, upgrading old software, and changing behaviours and methods of equipment use, it is possible to effectively reduce the energy consumption of various electrical equipment in the building.
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Here you will find advice on how to choose the most energy-efficient equipment.
Buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions: 28% of operational emissions, due to the energy required to heat, cool and power them. In Geneva, buildings occupied by businesses and residents are responsible for half of local CO₂ emissions.
A comfortable indoor environment is essential for people’s physical and mental wellbeing, as well as for their work and daily lives. Heating accounts for two-thirds of a household’s energy needs. Unfortunately, in current heating and cooling systems, a significant amount of energy is wasted, for example during periods of non-occupancy or in unoccupied spaces. It is entirely possible to reduce this excessive energy consumption through practical technological design or behavioural changes.
Good pipe insulation minimises heat transfer, preventing heat from escaping in winter and pipes from overheating in summer. Programmable thermostats allow users to set specific temperature schedules, thereby reducing energy consumption when spaces are unoccupied or adjusting settings based on occupancy patterns.
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In the office, the main sources of electricity consumption are lighting and electronic office equipment such as computers and printers. By replacing these devices with more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products, and switching off the electricity when no one is using it to reduce unnecessary waste, we can effectively reduce electricity consumption in the office. Small everyday actions can also make a big difference.
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Buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions: 11% come from materials and construction. The construction sector is still often not very climate-friendly. Carbon emissions released before the use of the constructed asset, known as ‘upfront carbon’, will account for half of the total carbon footprint of new buildings by 2050, threatening to consume a large portion of our remaining carbon budget. The built environment sector therefore has a vital role to play in responding to the climate emergency, and it is essential and urgent to tackle the issue of initial carbon.
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