If you want to replace a heating system in Switzerland, you will quickly come across the term Energiegesetz (energy law). But which energy law? The answer is typically Swiss: there is not one, but 27. A federal act sets the framework. 26 cantons turn it into specific rules. This article explains the system — and what it means for your heating.
How Swiss energy legislation is structured
Switzerland regulates its energy policy on two levels. At the federal level, the Energy Act (EnG) sets the framework: targets for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and CO2 reduction. It is supplemented by the Climate Protection Act (KIG), in force since January 2025, which mandates net-zero emissions by 2050.
The specific rules for buildings and heating systems, however, lie with the cantons. Each canton has its own cantonal energy law. These cantonal laws determine which heating system you may install, when an existing system must be replaced, and what energy performance standards your building must meet.
Simply put: The federal government says "where to" (net-zero by 2050, less fossil energy). The cantons say "how" and "by when" (specific deadlines, heating bans, funding programmes). That is why different rules apply in Zurich than in Valais.
The role of the EnDK and MuKEn
To prevent the 26 cantonal energy laws from diverging too widely, there is the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors (EnDK). The EnDK is the body where cantonal energy ministers coordinate. Their most important task: developing the Model Energy Regulations for the Cantons (MuKEn).
The MuKEn are a modular toolkit. They contain model provisions that each canton can adopt into its own energy law — in full, in part, or with adaptations. The current version is MuKEn 2025 and includes:
- Requirements for heating replacement (fossil and electric systems)
- Building insulation and energy performance standards
- The solar exception for electric heaters combined with photovoltaics
- Mandatory use of renewable energy in new buildings
For more on MuKEn and its history, see our article MuKEn and boiler replacement: what Swiss homeowners need to know.
What the energy law means for heating systems
The cantonal energy laws come into play in three main situations:
1. New builds: renewable energy is mandatory
Anyone building a new home must cover part of their energy demand with renewable sources. In most cantons, this means: heat pump, district heating, wood-fired boiler — or an infrared heater with photovoltaics that meets the solar exception. Pure oil or gas heating is no longer permitted in new builds in a growing number of cantons.
2. Heating replacement: rules when switching
When an existing heating system reaches the end of its life, the current cantonal regulations apply to the replacement. In general, a fossil heating system may not simply be replaced by another fossil system. Cantons require a switch to renewable energy or at least a significant improvement in energy efficiency.
For electric storage heaters and night-storage heaters, many cantons already have firm phase-out deadlines. Details in our article Electric heating ban Switzerland: what applies 2025–2030.
3. Existing buildings: GEAK and renovation requirements
The GEAK (Gebäudeenergieausweis der Kantone) is the cantonal building energy certificate. It rates a building's energy performance on a scale from A to G. In several cantons, it is mandatory when selling a property or before major renovations. The GEAK shows where a building stands — and can serve as the basis for an energy renovation strategy.
Which cantons have the strictest energy laws?
| Canton | Heating regulations | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| Basel-Stadt | Fossil heating banned in new builds. Existing oil heaters must be replaced. | By 2035 |
| Basel-Land | Similar to Basel-Stadt. Stricter requirements for heating replacement, GEAK mandatory. | By 2035 |
| Zurich | Fossil heaters replaced by renewable systems at end of life. Electric heater deadlines apply. | 2028–2032 |
| Bern | Electric resistance heaters must be replaced, solar exception available. | 2028–2030 |
| Lucerne | MuKEn 2025 largely implemented. Deadlines for fossil and electric heaters. | 2030–2032 |
| Valais | Tends to be less restrictive. Some MuKEn modules not yet adopted. | Varies |
Important: This overview is simplified. The actual regulations are complex and change regularly. Check with your cantonal energy office for the rules currently in force for your building and canton.
Where infrared heating fits into the energy law
Infrared heaters are classified as fixed electric resistance heaters — a category specifically regulated in the cantonal energy laws. In most cantons, an infrared heater may be installed and operated if it meets the solar exception.
The solar exception states: an electric heating system is permissible if the building's own photovoltaic system generates at least as much electricity as the heater consumes per year — plus a 10% buffer. This provision is embedded in MuKEn 2025 and has been adopted by most cantons.
The logic is straightforward: the energy law aims to reduce fossil energy use and grid electricity consumption for heating. An infrared heater that generates its own power does not conflict with this goal — it supports it. More in our article Infrared heating and the Swiss Climate Protection Act.
Practical example: A SunWave Ceramica panel (250–350 W) heats approximately 25 m². For a 100 m² home, you need roughly 4 panels. Annual heating electricity consumption is around 3,000–4,000 kWh. A PV system with 4–5 kWp capacity comfortably covers this consumption plus the 10% buffer — fulfilling the solar exception of the cantonal energy law.
Funding and financial support
Federal and cantonal energy laws provide several funding programmes:
- Buildings Programme: Federal subsidies for replacing fossil heating systems and energy-efficient building renovations, administered through cantonal energy offices.
- Cantonal funding programmes: Additional subsidies depending on the canton for heat pumps, photovoltaics, building insulation and GEAK assessments.
- Tax deductions: Investments in energy renovations — including photovoltaic systems — are tax-deductible in Switzerland.
Infrared heating benefits mainly indirectly: anyone installing a PV system simultaneously can use the solar subsidies. The infrared heater itself is generally not directly subsidised — but the overall solution (infrared + PV) makes the system both economically attractive and legally compliant.
For a detailed cost breakdown and comparison with other heating systems, see our article Replacing gas heating in Switzerland: costs and alternatives.
What you should do now
Switzerland's energy legislation continues to evolve. Three practical steps will help you be prepared:
1. Find out what applies in your canton
The rules differ considerably. What applies in Basel does not automatically apply in Graubünden. Your cantonal energy office is the most reliable source.
2. Get a GEAK assessment
A GEAK shows where your building stands energetically and which measures make sense — a solid foundation for any heating decision.
3. Think heating and solar together
Whether infrared, heat pump, or hybrid: combining with photovoltaics makes sense in most scenarios — energetically, financially, and legally.
Frequently asked questions about Swiss energy law
What is the Swiss Energy Act?
Switzerland does not have a single national energy law that covers everything. There is the federal Energy Act (EnG) that sets the framework, and 26 cantonal energy laws that define the specific rules for buildings and heating systems. The cantons follow the Model Energy Regulations (MuKEn), developed by the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors (EnDK).
What do the cantonal energy laws require for heating systems?
Cantonal energy laws determine which heating systems are allowed in new buildings and when replacing existing systems. Fossil-fuel heaters (oil, gas) are being phased out. Fixed electric resistance heaters — including storage heaters and infrared panels — face restrictions but can still operate under the solar exception (PV system covers heating consumption + 10%).
What is MuKEn and why does it matter?
MuKEn stands for Mustervorschriften der Kantone im Energiebereich (Model Energy Regulations for the Cantons). Developed by the EnDK, they serve as a template that each canton can adopt into its own energy law. The current version, MuKEn 2025, includes requirements for heating replacement, building insulation, and the solar exception for electric heating.
What is the GEAK and do I need one?
The GEAK (Gebäudeenergieausweis der Kantone) is the cantonal building energy certificate. It rates a building's energy performance on a scale from A (highly efficient) to G (needs renovation). Several cantons require a GEAK when selling a property or before major heating renovations. It shows where a building stands and which improvements would be worthwhile.
Can I install an infrared heater under Swiss energy law?
Yes, under certain conditions. Infrared heaters are classified as fixed electric resistance heaters. In most cantons, they can be newly installed or continue operating if a photovoltaic system covers the heating electricity consumption plus a 10% buffer (solar exception). The exact rules vary by canton — check with your cantonal energy office.
Which cantons have the strictest energy laws?
Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft lead the way: fossil heating is already banned in new buildings, and existing oil heaters must be replaced by 2035. Zurich, Bern and Lucerne also have strict regulations with deadlines between 2028 and 2032. Cantons like Valais or Appenzell Innerrhoden tend to be less restrictive.
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