You own a home in Canton Zurich and want to know: what are the rules for replacing your heating? What deadlines apply? And can you install infrared heating? The Zurich Energy Act (EnerG) provides clear answers — but the regulations can be difficult to navigate. This article explains everything homeowners in Canton Zurich need to know. In plain language, without legal jargon.
What Is the Zurich Energy Act?
The Zurich Energy Act (Energiegesetz / EnerG) is the cantonal law that governs the energy consumption of buildings. It is based on the Model Cantonal Energy Provisions (MuKEn) — national recommendations that each canton incorporates into its own legislation. Canton Zurich is among the cantons that have implemented these provisions most consistently.
The responsible authority is AWEL (Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air), a division of the Canton Zurich Building Directorate. AWEL reviews building applications, advises homeowners and manages the cantonal subsidy programmes for energy-efficiency renovations.
Good to know: The Zurich Energy Act is not the same as the national Climate Protection Act (KIG). The KIG sets the framework at federal level — Canton Zurich implements this framework through its own Energy Act. Read more about the national framework in our article on infrared heating and the Swiss Climate Protection Act.
Heating Replacement in Zurich: The Key Rules
The Zurich Energy Act contains three central rules for heating replacement:
1. Fossil heaters: no like-for-like replacement
When your oil or gas heater reaches the end of its service life, you generally cannot replace it with a new fossil system. Instead, the law requires a switch to a more climate-friendly option — such as a heat pump, district heating connection, wood heating, or a combination of infrared heating and photovoltaics.
2. Electric resistance heaters: restrictions with an exception
Fixed electric resistance heaters — including night-storage heaters, conventional electric radiators and infrared panels — face restrictions when operated exclusively on grid power. The important exception: with a sufficiently sized photovoltaic system (PV output ≥ heating consumption + 10% buffer), an infrared heating system is fully compliant. More details in our article on the electric heating ban in Switzerland.
3. New builds: strict energy standards
New buildings in Canton Zurich must meet particularly strict requirements for the building envelope and heating system. Maximum permissible heating demand is set low, and fossil heating is effectively excluded for new construction. Infrared heating can be used in new builds when the overall energy balance works and PV coverage is sufficient.
Important: The Zurich Energy Act does not ban infrared heating outright. It distinguishes between heating with and without its own electricity production. With photovoltaics, infrared heating remains fully permissible in Canton Zurich.
Timeline: Key Deadlines in Canton Zurich
Canton Zurich has progressively incorporated the MuKEn provisions into its Energy Act. Here is an overview of the key milestones:
| Period | What happens in Canton Zurich |
|---|---|
| 2014 | MuKEn 2014 published as the national template. Zurich begins incorporating provisions into cantonal law. |
| 2022 | Revised Zurich Energy Act takes effect. Stricter requirements for heating replacement and new buildings. |
| 2025 | National Climate Protection Act (KIG) takes effect. Canton Zurich aligns cantonal subsidy programmes with new federal requirements. |
| 2025–2030 | Ongoing implementation of MuKEn 2025 in cantonal enforcement. AWEL intensifies advice and monitoring of heating replacements. |
| 2030–2035 | Tighter renovation obligations take effect. Older fossil and electric heaters without PV coupling must be gradually replaced. |
| 2050 | Net-zero target for Canton Zurich — complete decarbonisation of the building stock. |
Subsidies and Financial Support in Canton Zurich
Canton Zurich offers various subsidy programmes for heating replacement and energy-efficiency renovations. Funding comes from the national Building Programme and cantonal sources.
What is subsidised?
- Heating replacement: Switching from oil or gas to heat pump, wood heating or district heating
- Building insulation: Facade, roof, basement ceiling and windows
- Photovoltaics: New solar installations on existing buildings
- GEAK Plus: Advisory service with the Cantonal Building Energy Certificate (subsidy towards consultation costs)
Tip: If you combine infrared heating with a new PV system, you can use the solar subsidies while simultaneously meeting the solar exception requirement. This makes the combination both financially and legally attractive. Read more in our article on solar + infrared heating: the PV combination.
How do I apply for subsidies?
Applications go through AWEL or your municipality's energy office. Important: submit your application before starting construction. Retrospective applications are generally rejected. Exact subsidy rates change annually and are available on the AWEL website.
GEAK Building Energy Certificate: Do You Need One?
The GEAK (Cantonal Building Energy Certificate) rates a building's energy condition on a scale from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). In Canton Zurich, the GEAK is relevant in several situations:
- For subsidy applications: many programmes require a GEAK or GEAK Plus as a basis.
- When selling: a GEAK gives buyers transparency about energy consumption and potential renovation costs.
- For major renovations: the GEAK Plus includes specific renovation proposals with cost estimates — a strong planning tool.
A GEAK typically costs between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000, depending on building size and variant. Canton Zurich contributes towards the cost of a GEAK Plus.
What Makes Zurich Different from Other Cantons?
Canton Zurich differs from other Swiss cantons in several ways:
- Early implementation: Zurich adopted the MuKEn provisions earlier and more consistently than many other cantons. The revised Energy Act has been in force since 2022.
- Stricter new-build requirements: Heating demand requirements for new buildings are partly stricter in Zurich than MuKEn minimum standards.
- Active funding: Zurich has one of the largest subsidy budgets for energy renovations among Swiss cantons.
- District heating expansion: The canton is investing heavily in expanding district heating networks, particularly in the city of Zurich and surrounding municipalities.
For a complete overview of electric heating rules across all Swiss cantons — including comparisons with Bern, Basel and Lucerne — read our article on the electric heating ban in Switzerland: what applies 2025–2030.
Infrared Heating in Canton Zurich: Your Options
If you want to install infrared heating in Canton Zurich, you have two paths:
Option 1: Infrared heating with photovoltaics (recommended)
Combine your infrared panels with a PV system that generates at least as much electricity as the heater consumes, plus a 10% buffer. This satisfies the solar exception and keeps you permanently compliant. This solution is future-proof and also reduces your electricity costs.
Option 2: Infrared heating as zone heating (supplement)
Infrared panels as a supplement to an existing primary heating system — for example in the bathroom, home office or holiday apartment — are a practical solution that typically does not require special permission. The Energy Act restrictions apply to a building's primary heating system.
More on the question of "primary heating or supplement?" in our article on replacing electric storage heating: costs and alternatives in Switzerland.
Bottom line: The Canton Zurich Energy Act sets clear rules for heating replacement — but it does not exclude infrared heating. Combining it with photovoltaics gives you a future-proof, fully compliant and economical solution. The canton actively supports the transition with subsidies and advisory services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the energy law regulate in Canton Zurich?
The Zurich Energy Act (EnerG) regulates the energy consumption of buildings in Canton Zurich. It sets requirements for heating replacement, defines which systems are permitted, and establishes deadlines for phasing out fossil and certain electric heating systems. AWEL (Office for Waste, Water, Energy and Air) is the responsible authority.
By when do I have to replace my oil heating in Zurich?
In Canton Zurich, fossil heating systems (oil and gas) must be replaced with a more climate-friendly system at the next replacement. There is no fixed deadline for functioning heaters, but when they break down or reach end-of-life, a like-for-like fossil replacement is generally no longer permitted. Exceptions apply in cases of disproportionate cost or technical obstacles.
Are infrared heaters allowed in Canton Zurich?
Yes, infrared heaters are fundamentally permitted in Canton Zurich. Fixed electric resistance heaters — including infrared panels — face restrictions when operated exclusively on grid power. With a sufficiently sized photovoltaic system (solar exception: PV generation ≥ heating consumption + 10% buffer), an infrared heating system is fully compliant.
What subsidies are available in Zurich for heating replacement?
Canton Zurich offers financial support through the national Building Programme and cantonal subsidy schemes for replacing fossil heaters and energy-efficiency renovations. Subsidies cover heat pumps, wood heating, district heating connections and building insulation. Infrared heating can benefit indirectly as part of a broader renovation, especially when combined with a new PV installation.
Do I need a GEAK for my house in Zurich?
A GEAK (Cantonal Building Energy Certificate) is recommended for new builds and major renovations in Canton Zurich and is required for certain subsidy applications. It shows the building's energy condition and helps plan renovation measures. A GEAK Plus additionally includes specific renovation proposals with cost estimates.
What is the difference between the Zurich Energy Act and MuKEn?
MuKEn (Model Cantonal Energy Provisions) are national recommendations from the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors (EnDK) that serve as a template. Each canton implements these provisions individually in its own cantonal energy law. Canton Zurich has incorporated the MuKEn provisions into its own Energy Act (EnerG), in some cases with stricter or canton-specific rules.
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