Since 1 January 2025, Switzerland's Climate Protection Act (KIG) has been in force — a law that's often mentioned in the same breath as the "electric heating ban", but is in fact much broader in scope. If you're planning or already own an infrared heater, you might reasonably ask: what exactly does the Climate Protection Act say, does it directly affect infrared panels, and what does it mean for the coming years? This article puts the law in context and shows where infrared heating — especially combined with solar power — stands within this framework.
What is the Climate Protection Act, exactly?
The "Federal Act on Climate Protection Goals, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security", known as the Climate Protection Act or KIG, was approved by Swiss voters in June 2023 and has been in force since 1 January 2025. It's Switzerland's central climate policy framework law and pursues two main goals:
- Switzerland is to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- A funding programme supports the replacement of fossil-fuel heating systems (oil, gas, and electric heaters without self-generated power coverage) and energy-efficient building renovations.
It's important to understand: the KIG itself is a federal framework law. It contains no direct bans on individual heating technologies such as infrared panels, heat pumps or gas boilers. Instead, it sets goals and a funding instrument — concrete implementation in the building sector happens through cantonal energy laws, which follow the Model Regulations of the Cantons in the Energy Sector (MuKEn 2025).
What does this mean in practice for heating systems?
The cantonal energy laws that implement the KIG contain requirements for new and replacement heating systems. In essence: fossil-fuel heating (oil, gas) is gradually phased out upon replacement in favour of more climate-friendly systems, and fixed electric resistance heaters — including classic electric radiators, storage heaters and infrared panels — face restrictions when operated entirely on grid electricity.
These restrictions vary by canton, with deadlines ranging roughly between 2028 and 2035 depending on the canton. A detailed overview of cantonal deadlines, special cases and the precise legal situation for infrared and electric heating is available in our article Electric Heating Ban Switzerland: What Applies 2025–2030 — and the Key Exception.
Important: The Climate Protection Act is primarily aimed at fossil energy sources in the building sector. Electric resistance heaters are affected as a second step — mainly because of their grid electricity demand, not the heating technology itself. This distinction is central to the solar exception.
The solar exception: where infrared heating fits in
The mechanism most relevant to infrared heating within the MuKEn 2025 implementation is the so-called solar exception: a fixed electric heater is considered compliant if its associated photovoltaic system generates at least as much electricity as the heater consumes over the year, plus a 10% safety buffer. This rule directly reflects the logic of the Climate Protection Act: the goal is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and grid load — not a blanket ban on specific heating technologies.
An infrared heater that covers its electricity demand through a sufficiently sized PV system actively contributes to the goals of the Climate Protection Act: it produces no direct emissions during operation and reduces grid electricity drawn for heating. For more on combining photovoltaics with infrared heating in practice — including sizing examples — see our article Solar + Infrared Heating: The Perfect PV Combination.
Timeline: Climate Protection Act and the building sector, 2025–2030
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Swiss voters approve the Climate Protection Act (KIG). |
| 2025 | KIG enters into force on January 1. Funding programme for replacing fossil-fuel heating and building renovations begins. |
| 2025–2030 | Cantons progressively implement MuKEn 2025 in their energy laws — including requirements for electric resistance heaters and the solar exception. |
| 2028–2035 | Canton-specific deadlines for replacing existing fossil-fuel and electric heating systems take effect (see cantonal overview). |
| 2050 | Target: net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for all of Switzerland. |
What this means for you as a homeowner or tenant
Three practical takeaways follow from the Climate Protection Act and its implementation:
1. There's no reason to panic
The KIG is a long-term framework law with a target horizon of 2050. The concrete deadlines for replacing heating systems are set at the cantonal level and fall roughly between 2028 and 2035, depending on the canton. An existing, functioning infrared heater doesn't need to be replaced overnight.
2. Solar power is the key to long-term compliance
Combining an infrared heater with a sufficiently sized PV system (generation ≥ heating consumption + 10%) satisfies the solar exception and keeps the system compliant for the long term — regardless of how cantonal deadlines evolve.
3. For new installations, plan the combination from the start
If you're planning a new heating system anyway — for example, replacing an old electric storage heater — it's worth considering the combination of infrared panels and photovoltaics from the outset. That turns a replacement investment into a future-proof solution that satisfies the Climate Protection Act and reduces ongoing electricity costs.
Bottom line: the Climate Protection Act does not ban infrared heating — it sets a framework in which PV-coupled infrared heating remains a fully legitimate, future-proof option. The solar exception is the key lever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Switzerland's Climate Protection Act (KIG)?
The Federal Act on Climate Protection Goals, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security (KIG) was approved by Swiss voters in June 2023 and has been in force since 1 January 2025. It sets the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and establishes a funding programme for replacing fossil-fuel heating systems and for energy-efficient building renovations. The KIG itself does not impose direct bans on individual heating technologies — implementation happens through cantonal energy laws (MuKEn 2025).
Does the Climate Protection Act ban infrared heating?
No, the KIG itself does not mention infrared heating. It sets a national framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. The specific restrictions on fixed electric resistance heaters — which include infrared panels — come from cantonal energy laws based on MuKEn 2025, with the important solar exception for PV-coupled systems. See our article on the electric heating ban for details.
How does an infrared heater with solar power fit the climate goals?
An infrared heater coupled with photovoltaics produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation and reduces grid electricity drawn for heating. If the PV system meets the MuKEn 2025 solar exception (generation ≥ heating consumption + 10% buffer), the system is considered compliant under the cantonal implementation of the Climate Protection Act.
Is there funding for infrared heating under the Climate Protection Act?
The funding programme established under the KIG is aimed primarily at replacing fossil-fuel heating (oil, gas) and at energy-efficient building renovations, administered through the Buildings Programme and cantonal energy offices. Infrared heating can indirectly benefit from funding as part of broader renovation measures, especially when combined with a new photovoltaic system. Exact funding conditions vary by canton.
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