Exemplary Energy and Climate Initiative: energy targets exceeded
Bern, 22.06.2021 - In 2013, the Exemplary Energy and Climate Initiative was launched under the name Federal Exemplary Energy. At the time, seven parties were involved, and their aim was to reduce the energy consumption of the federal government and of its associated companies and to increase their energy efficiency. Now numbering ten, the parties involved can look back at a successful first phase. They increased their energy efficiency to 31.1% compared to the 2006 baseline (target: 25%), and the share of renewable energies has risen from 35.5% to 60.2%. These figures are contained in the report on the first phase 2013–20 published today. For the second phase of the initiative, which runs from now until 2030, five additional players have joined the group.
The first phase of the Exemplary Energy and Climate initiative provided the federal government and its associated companies (Swiss Post, the ETH Domain, Genève Aéroport, SBB, SIG, Skyguide, Suva, Swisscom, the DDPS and the civil Federal Administration) with a framework for reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency. The joint target of increasing energy efficiency by 25% had already been achieved by 2015. Savings reached 31.1% in the final year of the first phase, 2020. Since the 2006 base year, the ten players increased the share of renewable energies from 35.5% to 60.2%. This progress in the climate and energy sector was possible thanks to 39 joint measures and 117 individual ones, including ETH Zurich's Anergienetz, which was awarded the Watt d'Or, and Swisscom's rainwater-cooled data centre, whose waste heat heats an entire neighbourhood.
Impact of coronavirus pandemic
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic at times brought public life to a virtual standstill. This also impacted some of the core areas addressed by the initiative. For example, business traffic decreased by about half (2019: 233 GWh/yr, 2020: 110 GWh/yr), while the parties' energy efficiency decreased by 1.2% compared to the previous year.
Joint progress
The first phase of the initiative provided a supportive framework for progress in the climate and energy sector by setting clear objectives and measures, conducting effective controlling and ensuring the exchange of information. This created visibility and encouraged acceptance of the measures. The latter could be implemented with the help of specially developed aids such as LCC tools; these make it easier to calculate life cycle costs in the procurement of vehicles, ICT equipment and heating systems.
Second phase from 2021 to 2030
The second phase, which runs until 2030, is now building on this success. Its system of targets consists of five variables: energy efficiency; share of renewable energies; ecological electricity generation; 15 joint measures in management, procurement and operation; and specific measures tailored to the individual players. Other parties have joined the initiative for the second phase: PostBus and PostFinance are now independent players alongside Swiss Post, and Zurich Airport Ltd, RUAG MRO Holding Ltd and SRG SSR joined as new players at the beginning of 2021.
Information for the media
For more details of the parties involved, see the 2013–20 report at www.exemplary-energy-climate.admin.ch. We can provide high-resolution image material and arrange interviews with the players involved as required.
Address for enquiries
SFOE Media Office, 058 460 81 52
Stefanie Bertschi, Exemplary Energy and Climate, 058 467 88 54, stefanie.bertschi@bfe.admin.ch
Publisher
Swiss Federal Office of Energy
http://www.bfe.admin.ch
