Sustainability is no longer a secondary consideration, but a key factor for success in construction projects, real estate, and infrastructure. Today, developers, investors, and municipalities face the challenge of balancing environmental responsibility with economic viability and social benefit. Emch+Berger supports you with comprehensive sustainability consulting to make informed decisions and align projects holistically for the future.
For us, sustainable construction means not only considering individual aspects such as energy efficiency, but also taking into account the entire life cycle of a building. From planning and implementation to operation, we consider the impact on the environment, society and the economy in terms of sustainable development. This results in buildings, sites and neighbourhoods that function effectively over the long term, reduce costs, and create acceptance.
Consideration of strategic sustainability goals (cantonal and municipal climate and energy strategies, net zero strategies)
Sound basis for decision-making in all project phases
Clarity in relation to opportunities, risks and costs throughout the entire life cycle
Projects that balance ecological, economic and social requirements
Improved funding and financing opportunities through documented sustainability
Are you planning a new neighbourhood, revising the waste disposal regulations, clarifying the use of the hydropower from the village stream or deciding on the renovation or replacement of the school building?
A sustainability assessment highlights the short-term and long-term impacts of a project on the environment, society, and the economy. This reveals strengths and weaknesses and creates a sound basis for political, planning or business decisions.
We review projects according to recognised principles of sustainable development. In doing so, we ensure that financial feasibility, environmental compatibility, and the needs of future generations are in harmony.
The SNBS building standard, developed by the Swiss Sustainable Building Network (NNBS), assesses buildings according to ecological, economic and social criteria. The aim is to optimise buildings in terms of their sustainability aspects. We support building owners in applying and optimising their building projects in accordance with the 45 SNBS indicators.
The SNBS Infrastructure , developed by the NNBS, is intended as an assessment, decision-making, and planning tool for sustainable infrastructure construction. It also covers various project types and phases, including renovation, new construction or replacement construction, as well as maintenance and operation. In collaboration with the client, a relevance analysis is conducted based on the 75 indicators, in order to define and monitor the relevant project-specific indicators.
Emch+Berger offers a wide range of services that can be individually combined depending on the project:
Definition of sustainability criteria and requirements for building construction projects
Development of sustainability programmes and categorisation of buildings and technical systems
Support for optimisation and implementation projects in planning, operation and renovation
Evaluation of real estate from an ecological and economic perspective
Analysis and visualisation of energy and media flows (e. g., electricity, water, heat)
CO2 balances and footprint analyses, supplemented by informative reports
Environmental and energy concepts for buildings, infrastructure and sites
In the context of a study with SNBS infrastructure for civil engineering projects, Emch+Berger offers a wide range of services that can be individually combined, depending on the project:
Defining the focal points of the sustainability assessment, including assessment of the relevant SNBS indicators.
Workshops for assessing sustainability (e. g. relevance analyses of the 75 SNBS indicators)
Graphical representation of the results and generation of a report outlining the project's strengths and weaknesses.
Analysis of measures for the current and next project phase
Other consulting services include:
Consulting in relation to sustainable procurement
Life cycle assessments and calculations of life cycle costs
Digital methods enhance the impact of sustainability consulting. With Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other digital tools, we secure building data throughout the entire life cycle, making energy flows transparent, and supporting fact-based decision-making. This makes sustainable construction measurable and verifiable.
Our sustainability consulting services are aimed at building owners, real estate owners, municipalities and investors. They benefit not only from greater transparency and planning certainty, but also from clear added value in operation: lower costs, increased energy efficiency, and greater attractiveness to users and investors. At the same time, the projects we support make an important contribution to climate and environmental protection goals as well as to social acceptance.
For more than 70 years, we have combined engineering expertise with a commitment to the future. Our sustainability consulting is based on interdisciplinary expertise, many years of experience, and a holistic perspective. We never view projects in isolation, but rather in the context of the interplay between the environment, society and the economy. This approach enables us to find innovative, future-proof solutions and create added value for all stakeholders.
Bern, Zürich, Frauenfeld, Basel, Lausanne, Genève, Bellinzona, Luzern
