The Buildings Programme can reduce the cost of an energy-efficient renovation. The subsidy generally covers part of the project. However, payment is only made once the works are completed and the final documentation has been reviewed, in line with the cantonal procedure.
You must therefore anticipate expenses before receiving the grant. Three levers complement each other: subsidies, tax deductions, and financing. Depending on your savings and budget, personal loan one of these could cover this cash flow gap. There is still an option, not an obligation.
Here are the points to consider when preparing your renovation in the Swiss Romandy. Reference information as of September 28, 2026.
What is the Buildings Programme?
The Buildings Programme supports the energy improvement of buildings. The Swiss Confederation contributes to its funding, notably through the CO₂ levy. The cantons also provide resources and manage the subsidies.
Each canton defines the proposed measures, their conditions, and the available contributions. There is therefore no single national scale. A project that is eligible in one canton does not necessarily receive the same support elsewhere.
Start by selecting the canton where your building is located on https://www.leprogrammebatiments.ch. Then check the technical requirements and the available credits. In the canton of Vaud, for example, the subsidies remain limited to the available budget.
Which could change as early as 2027
The funding of the Buildings Programme is subject to ongoing political change. Three elements should be distinguished.
- Initial plan: the Federal Finance Department’s dossier announced a savings of 389 million francs related to the abandonment of the program.
- Parliamentary compromise: according to the EnDK, the Parliament adopted a solution in spring 2026 based on its proposal.
- Cantonal application: this compromise does not allow for the automatic deduction of the measures and contributions available in 2027.
The initial plan to eliminate the tax was not the final decision. The conditions for 2026 are available for consultation. However, the provincial arrangements for 2027 remain to be confirmed.
Prepare your application without rushing through the process. Filing in 2026 does not automatically guarantee the current conditions for a later implementation. Confirm the applicable timeline and any possible transitional rules with the canton.
A Buildings Programme subsidy is not cash you can use straight away. When planning an energy-efficient renovation, distinguish between the estimated subsidy, the funding decision and the actual payment, then align your cash flow with the schedule of deposits and invoices.
Which works are subsidised by the Buildings Programme?
The following categories are intended to guide your search. Their presence does not confirm the eligibility of your project.
- Insulation of the envelope. Possible support: thermal improvement of the building. Provincial conditions to be checked: affected elements, required performance, and supporting documentation.
- Replacement of a fossil heating system. Possible support: transition to a renewable system, such as a heat pump. Conditions to be checked: replaced installation and equipment selected.
- Overall renovation. Support available: coordinated building improvement. Conditions to be checked: CECB Plus possibly required and certification requested upon completion.
- Mergie-P Construction Support may be provided only if a canton-specific measure explicitly provides for it. Without this verification, do not count on any aid in your budget.
The CECB is the official energy label of the cantons. The CECB Plus adds a consulting report. It helps to define improvements, but does not replace a final certification of the works. Please consult https://www.cecb.ch to distinguish these services.
Furthermore, the main support for photovoltaics comes from Pronovo. However, an absolute exclusion from the program would be misleading. Vaud notably provides a bonus that combines insulation and the installation of photovoltaics.
Also distinguish between photovoltaics and solar thermal systems when conducting your research. For a water heater, have the eligibility of the specific equipment confirmed. Assistance regarding heating does not automatically cover every associated device.
Summaries of the works are subsidized:
| Measures envisaged | Cantonal conditions | Possible energy certificate | Points to check before committing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation of the envelope | Support according to the measures and technical requirements of the canton. | Technical documents and energy justification according to the measure. | Acceptable surfaces and required performance. |
| Replacement of fossil heating by a renewable system | Eligibility depends on the replaced heating system, the planned system, and the provincial conditions. | Documentation of the installation according to the cantonal file. | Eligibility of the system before any order is placed. |
| Overall renovation | Support based on the renovation approach and the canton’s requirements. | CECB Plus if required: advisory report with renovation options. | Rules of cumulation; the CECB Plus is not a decision granting a grant. |
| Mergie P construction | Check the existence of a provincial measure; there is no automatic national eligibility. | Certification requirements to be confirmed with the canton. | Existence of support and conditions applicable to the project. |
| Common prerequisite for measures | Submit the application before the start of the work. | File and annexes required by the canton. | In Vaud, wait for the granting decision or the written agreement before the work or acquisitions in question. |
What Buildings Programme amounts cover
The grant usually represents a partial contribution to the work. Its amount depends on the canton, the measure, the technical criteria and the available budget.
Always distinguish between estimated aid, aid granted and aid actually paid after the check. An estimate does not constitute a decision.
- Vaud: the documented categories are listed on https://www.vd.ch/environnement/energie/subventions-programme-batiments. Check the fiche corresponding to your work.
- Geneva: Select the canton from the national portal, then consult the official measures for 2026.
- Valais: join the cantonal program from the same portal before calculating a contribution.
- Fribourg: Also check the local conditions and the applicable procedure before integrating budget support.
These benchmarks do not constitute a scale. For Geneva, Valais and Fribourg, no specific measures are assumed here. Your financial plan must be based on the estimates and conditions confirmed for your building.
How to apply for a Buildings Programme subsidy
With the Buildings Programme, following the steps in the right order protects your eligibility. Follow the steps below.
- Gather the quotes and check the cantonal conditions applicable to the planned work.
- Get a CECB Plus if the chosen measure requires it.
- Submit the grant application before the start of the work, along with the required documents.
- Wait for the decision in accordance with the canton’s requirements. In the canton of Vaud, approval must precede launch.
- Carry out the work in accordance with the decision. Confirm the consequences of a change to the project.
- Provide the final tally and supporting documents. In Vaud, sign and validate the completion certificate along with its annexes.
- Receive assistance after the closure file is reviewed and the payment is validated.
Submit the application before starting the work
Starting too early exposes you to losing aid. A simple deposit is not enough, especially in the canton of Vaud. Check that you can start before you involve the companies.
Finally, ask the cantonal service what documents to prepare and what processing time to expect. There is no uniform national deadline for payment.
The cash flow gap before the aid is paid
Contractors set their own payment deadlines. The Buildings Programme pays the subsidy after reviewing the final file. These differing timelines can create a need for cash.
This does not mean that all invoices must be paid in full before the payment is made. Check the required documentation. Especially distinguish between temporary advances of aid and the long-term financing of the remaining balance.
- Administration: quotation → request → decision → works → closure → payment.
- Treasury: mobilized funds → advances and invoices according to the schedule → arrival of the aid.
- Taxation: documented expenses → declaration → tax effect, without immediate liquidity guaranteed.
Illustrative example: a villa receives a heat pump in place of diesel fuel, with roof insulation. All figures, rates, and deadlines are hypothetical. They do not constitute a price list or offer Lica.
- Work: CHF 60,000. Supposed grant awarded: 12 CHF,000.
- Own funds: CHF 20,000. Credit required under this schedule: 40 CHF,000.
- Credit assumptions: 36 monthly installments, a nominal annual rate of 6 %%, monthly calculation and assumed zero fees.
- Constant monthly payment: approximately 1 CHF,217. Without advance repayment, total repaid approximately 43 CHF,808, including 3, CHF 808 in interest.
The credit initially includes CHF 12,000 in temporary advance and 28 CHF,000 in sustainable funding.
Suppose the aid arrives after six monthly installments. The remaining capital owed would then be approximately CHF 33,822. A partial refund of 12 CHF,000 would bring it down to approximately 21, CHF 822.
Therefore, the aid must be subtracted from the remaining capital, not from the initial credit. The actual cost would decrease under the terms of the early repayment. A reduction in the monthly payment would not be automatic.
Finally, test a delay, a reduction, or a refusal of assistance. Your budget must remain sustainable without depending on a supposed date. You Lica can study this schedule with your repayment capacity.
Personal loan or a mortgage to finance your energy renovation
Compare offers for the same financial need. Specify the duration, fees, and the remaining capital at a common date. A lower rate is not enough to compare very different repayments.
- Total cost and rate: Personal loan compare interest rates and fees. Mortgage: it could cost less for a large amount, depending on the offer.
- Guarantees and financial capacity: Personal loan without real estate guarantee, subject to acceptance. Mortgage: check the available guarantees and the requirements of the lender.
- Timelines and procedures: potentially simpler Personal loan processing, without immediate availability promised. Mortgage: a time frame linked to the review of the real estate financing.
- Possible costs. Personal loan Without real estate security: usually without an appraisal of the property or a notarized deed associated with it. Mortgage: a new notarization is not systematic.
- Duration and monthly payment. Compare amortization and remaining capital. A lower monthly payment does not necessarily mean a lower total cost.
- Refund. Credit subject to the LCC: right to early repayment. Mortgage: check the contractual conditions and any possible compensation.
- Nature of the project: Personal loan option to be studied for movable equipment or goods. Mortgage: solution to be examined for a major renovation.
The threshold of CHF 80,000 corresponds to the upper limit of the ordinary range of the LCC. It does not constitute a universal ceiling for the LCC personal loan.
Since January 2026, the maximum rate of cash loans subject to the LCC has reached 10 %%. This is a legal ceiling, not a rate proposed by Lica.
The contracts concerned provide for a written notice period of 14 days and the right to early repayment. This right entitles the customer to a refund of interest and a corresponding reduction in fees for the unused period.
Consider your own funds as well. If the mortgage increase suits you better, go for it. In any case, a grant does not guarantee the approval of the loan. The assessment of creditworthiness remains decisive.
The choice between a mortgage personal loan and a loan must distinguish the temporary advance linked to the grant from the remaining long-term debt. Compare the total cost over the same period, the repayment capacity, and the conditions for early repayment, without treating an expected tax savings as available cash.
Tax deductions as a third lever of your energy renovation
The Buildings Programme can be combined with a tax deduction, depending on the applicable rules. Tax guidance from the Canton of Geneva confirms that eligible energy-saving investments are deductible.
This treatment falls within the framework of Article 32, paragraph 2, of the LIFD. Have it confirmed for your expenses and for your tax year.
- Eligible expenditure: Only works that meet the tax conditions are included in the calculation.
- Assistance received: subsidies must be taken into account.
- Deductible base: it corresponds to the eligible costs actually incurred after the grant.
- Tax savings: it depends on your situation. It does not equal the amount deducted.
The deduction reduces the taxable income; it therefore does not reimburse the costs in full.
The energy expenditure concerned, not fully taken into account, may be carried forward to the following two tax periods. This mechanism does not allow for the free allocation of all maintenance costs. Please confirm the conditions of Article 32, paragraph 2bis, in its applicable version.
Private passive interest could also be deducted within the legal limits. Check the application of Article 33, paragraph 1, letter a, LIFD with your tax advisor.
Finally, the DFF envisages the elimination of the federal energy tax deduction in the new housing taxation system. A canton-specific retention would be possible until 2050 at the latest. Please confirm the timeline and applicable provisions before incorporating this benefit into your financing.
Frequently asked questions about the Buildings Programme
Can a grant and a tax deduction be combined?
Yes, according to the applicable rules. The deduction applies to the net eligible expenses of the grant. You cannot deduct the portion funded by the aid.
What is the deadline for the grant to be paid?
Payment takes place after the final dossier has been reviewed. Request a estimate from the canton. No guaranteed national deadline allows for a certain date to be set in your budget.
Can a tenant ask for help?
Do not assume its eligibility. The canton must confirm the authorized beneficiary and the necessary agreements for the building and the work in question.
Can a condominium owners' association (PPE) benefit from the Buildings Programme?
Have the conditions of the collective project checked by the canton. Also clarify the necessary co-ownership decisions and the identity of the representative authorized to submit the application.
What happens if the work has begun without an application?
You risk losing the aid. Contact the cantonal service immediately. Subsequent regularization is not guaranteed.
Can the credit be repaid in advance?
Yes, for contracts covered by the LCC. Clarify the practical terms of a partial refund and its effect on the schedule. The monthly payment does not automatically decrease.
Have your renovation financing evaluated
Pass it on Lica your quotes, the decision to grant a subsidy, your available cash, your commitments and your monthly budget. Independent broker In the Swiss canton of Valais, Lica you assist in the study of the actual need. The goal: to distinguish temporary advances from sustainable financing, without guaranteeing the granting of a loan.
