Bern, 26 September 2014  A staggering 1.5 million buildings in Switzerland are not fit in terms of energy consumption and environmental impact over their lifecycle (from construction until demolition). This was stated in a conference organised by the Swiss platform for sustainable construction “eco-bau”.

According to Stefan Cadosch, president of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA), the big challenge for the next three generations of architects and engineers will be to bring the actual building stock to a better state: reducing their energy consumption, renovating and eventually rebuilding them, using new techniques and more environmental friendly materials. These investments would be a better choice than constructing new buildings and expanding cities.

Important progress is already being made. New buildings consume significantly less energy, some are even generating it. Norms and labels exist for new and more environmental friendly materials and buildings. Building for future generations means building according to the principles of sustainable development.

The WRF Secretariat is currently investigating enery and resource related issues in sustainable construction in a pilot project, carried out in cooperation with its hometown, the Swiss city of St. Gallen. For more information write to project leader Cecilia Matasci (cecilia.matasci@worldresourcesforum.org).

Detailed information about the symposium can be found here.

Photo: courtesy eco-bau