In Switzerland, the residential sector is responsible for around 40 per cent of total energy consumption. A swift transition to renewable energies in this area is therefore crucial to achieving the country's CO2 reduction targets. However, while homeowners can decide for themselves whether they want to invest in renewable energies and energy efficiency, people in rented accommodation usually have to leave these decisions to their landlords. Since 60 per cent of the population in Switzerland live in rented accommodation, this means that a majority of people are excluded from directly deciding on energy efficiency and sustainability in their homes.

Representative survey of tenants

Researchers at the Institute for Economy and the Environment at HSG (IWÖ-HSG) wanted to find out whether and to what extent tenants would also be willing to participate in the energy transition. To do this, they conducted a representative survey of over a thousand people in Switzerland who live in rented accommodation. In an experiment, they presented tenants with a selection of different apartments and determined their willingness to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.

More than half would invest in solar panels

The study showed that most tenants prefer apartments that have good thermal insulation. In terms of heating systems, heat pumps are significantly more popular with tenants than oil and gas. According to the study, the presence of solar panels on the roof of the building also increases the likelihood of prospective tenants choosing an apartment. The researchers also found that almost 56 per cent of respondents would be willing to invest in a solar energy system on the roof of their rented apartment if they had the opportunity. As expected, the willingness to invest was highest among high-income individuals.

Untapped potential for the energy transition

These results show that there is a great deal of untapped potential for the energy transition among tenants. Politicians and property owners should therefore take measures to exploit this. Possible approaches include participation models for solar installations or legal regulations to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems in rental buildings. Such measures could significantly accelerate the switch to renewable energies in the housing sector.