The weak economy is also continuing to leave its mark on the construction industry: rising inflation and interest rates have pushed up construction and financing costs. Over the past six quarters, the construction sector has contracted. However, the medium-term outlook is brighter. One reason for this is that many buildings in Switzerland have to undergo energy refurbishments in relation to climate targets. Swiss Life Asset Managers has been renovating its own buildings with heat pumps for some time now as part of its self-determined strategy.
According to the Federal Office for the Environment, the construction sector accounts for a good quarter of the greenhouse gases emitted in Switzerland. It is therefore important to reduce CO2 emissions in this area. Heat pumps are at the top of the list of possible solutions in this regard. This technology massively reduces CO2 emissions and – in combination with modern building insulation – also leads to significantly lower ancillary costs for tenants.
Comfortable warmth through innovation: how heat pumps are used
This focus of this issue of “Exposé” is on heat pumps. We shed light on the history of this technology, which can be traced back to pioneering projects carried out by industrial visionary Escher Wyss in Zurich. As early as 1938, for example, the first heat pump in Europe was installed in Zurich’s town hall to heat the building.
We take you on a tour of our properties in Switzerland and abroad, where you will find out what types of heat pumps are used: in Zurich’s Seefeld district, for example, water from Lake Zurich is used, while elsewhere you can find air-to-water heat pumps or geothermal heat pumps.
