What the Canton of Zurich pays
Amounts under the canton’s 2026 incentive scheme (in force since 1 January 2026):
| Works | Cantonal grant | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Air-to-water heat pump | CHF 2,900 up to 15 kW, then + CHF 160 per additional kW | Replaces a fossil fuel or electric heating system |
| Geothermal heat pump (ground-to-water or water-to-water) | CHF 6,800 up to 15 kW, then CHF 420 for each additional kW | Same as above |
| Geothermal probe bonus | CHF 3,000 + CHF 100 per additional kW | Regeneration without fossil fuels or operation without antifreeze |
| Connection to a district heating system | CHF 5,200 up to 15 kW, then + CHF 100 per kW | Replaces a fossil fuel or electric heating system |
| Initial radiators or underfloor heating | CHF 15,000 up to 250 m², then CHF 60 per m² | Replacement of an electric or individual-floor heating system |
| Insulation of the roof, walls and floor | CHF 40 per m² insulated | Buildings granted planning permission before 2000, with a U-value of 0.20 or better |
| Full building envelope bonus (roof and walls) | + 60 CHF per m² insulated | At least 90 per cent of external surfaces insulated |
| Solar panel bonus with insulation | + 20 CHF per m² of panels | Installed at the same time as the insulation |
| Minergie-ECO renovation, house | 110 CHF per m² (Minergie-P-ECO: 165 CHF) | Building granted planning permission before 2000 |
| Solar thermal (hot water) | 2,400 CHF + 1,000 CHF per kW | — |
| GEAK Plus (CECB Plus) | CHF 1,000 (detached house or two-flat dwelling), CHF 1,500 (other buildings) | Report less than one year old |
Source: Canton of Zurich, 2026 incentive scheme.
What the canton does not cover: windows and doors, insulation of the cellar ceiling and loft floor, wood-fired heating (supported by other schemes) and the charging point itself (a separate scheme exists for charging infrastructure).
Good to know: the grant never exceeds 50 per cent of the cost of the work, and grants for insulation and Minergie projects costing less than CHF 2,000 are not paid out.
Municipality grants
City of Zurich
The City of Zurich supplements the cantonal grant: if the cantonal amount is lower, the City pays the difference. City grant amounts (as of August 2026):
| Work | Total amount provided by the city |
|---|---|
| Air-to-water heat pump | CHF 8,000 + CHF 120 per kW |
| Geothermal heat pump (small system) | CHF 16,000 + CHF 360 per kW |
| Connection to district heating (small-scale installation) | CHF 12,000 + CHF 120 per kW |
| Photovoltaic panels | CHF 5,000 + CHF 450 per kWp (up to 30 kWp) |
| Storage battery | CHF 1,000 + CHF 100 per kWh |
| Solar thermal | CHF 300 per m² |
The city also provides a grant if you replace an oil or gas heating system that is less than 15 years old. It does not subsidise general insulation, which remains the responsibility of the canton. Source: City of Zurich, grants for homeowners.
Other municipalities
Winterthur, Uster, Dübendorf and many other municipalities have their own grants, often for solar systems, batteries or advice. Search for those available in your area using your postcode on energiefranken.ch.
A simple example
A 200 m² oil-heated house in the City of Zurich switches to a 10 kW air-to-water heat pump:
- cantonal grant: 2,900 CHF;
- additional funding from the city: CHF 6,300, bringing the total to 8,000 + 10 × 120 = CHF 9,200;
- GEAK Plus before the work: CHF 1,000;
- total: approximately 10,200 CHF, plus the tax deduction.
The same house outside the city of Zurich receives CHF 2,900 from the canton, plus any grant from its municipality.
Steps to follow in order
- Complete a GEAK Plus if you are planning several renovation works: this sets out the order in which the works should be carried out and entitles you to CHF 1,000.
- Request quotes from local tradespeople.
- Submit your application via the canton’s platform (and to your municipality) before the work begins.
- Wait for confirmation: you’ll receive a reply in around 4 weeks.
- Carry out the work within 2 years.
- Send the supporting documents: the grant is paid 30 days after the payment notice.
