What the Canton of Bern pays for
| Work | Cantonal assistance | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Air-to-water heat pump | CHF 6,000 up to 15 kW, then CHF 4,500 + CHF 100 per kW | Replaces a fossil fuel or electric heating system |
| Ground-source heat pump | CHF 10,000 up to 15 kW, then CHF 4,800 + CHF 360 per kW | Same as above |
| Connection to a district heating system | CHF 4,500 up to 15 kW | Renewable heat |
| Wood-fired heating | CHF 6,000 up to 15 kW | Replaces a fossil fuel or electric heating system |
| Initial radiators or underfloor heating | CHF 15,000 for up to 250 m², then CHF 60 per m² | Replacement of a heating system without a water circuit |
| Renovation based on the CECB (GEAK) energy efficiency rating improvement | CHF 70 to 160 per m² of heated floor area for a house, depending on the number of energy efficiency classes gained | Building granted planning permission before 2000 |
| CECB A, B or C building envelope bonus | 90, 70 or 50 CHF per heated m² | Depending on the building envelope class achieved |
| Minergie renovation, house | CHF 160/m² (Minergie), CHF 180/m² (Minergie-P), CHF 200/m² (Minergie-A) | Buildings granted planning permission before 2000 |
| Solar thermal | 2,400 CHF + 1,000 CHF per kW | Existing building |
| GEAK Plus (CECB Plus) | CHF 1,000 (detached house), CHF 1,500 (block of flats) | Building completed before 2012 |
| Charging infrastructure | CHF 250 per space, CHF 3,000 per bidirectional charging point | At least 10 equipped parking spaces |
Source: Canton of Bern — Energy Incentives Guide (March 2026).
Good to know:
- A Bernese peculiarity: building envelope renovation is not subsidised per square metre of insulation, but according to the number of CECB (GEAK) classes achieved.
- The grant commitment is valid for 4 years for heating and renovation works.
Municipality grants
The City of Bern, via its energy supplier ewb, and many other municipalities offer their own support schemes. To find out what support is available in your local area, search using your postcode on francsenergie.ch (energiefranken.ch in German).
A simple example
A 200 m² house heated by oil carries out the following work:
- 10 kW air-to-water heat pump: CHF 6,000;
- CECB Plus assessment prior to the work: CHF 1,000;
Estimated total: around CHF 7,000 in cantonal grants, plus any grants from the municipality and the tax deduction.
Steps to follow in order
- Obtain a CECB Plus (GEAK Plus in German-speaking Switzerland) if you are planning several improvements: this will set out the order in which the work should be carried out.
- Request quotes from local tradespeople.
- Submit your application via the canton’s Buildings Programme platform and to your municipality before work begins.
- Wait for confirmation before starting.
- Carry out the work within the timeframe specified in the grant approval letter.
- Send the supporting documents (invoices, photos, certificates) to receive the grant.
