EnEV 2025: What’s changing for boilers and hot water solutions?
The Energy Efficiency Ordinance (EnEV) is an important milestone for sustainable energy policy in Switzerland. Its goal is to reduce energy consumption and support climate targets through new regulations for boilers and hot water solutions. But what changes does the EnEV bring for individuals in concrete terms? We explain the transition period, which devices are affected by the ordinance, what the impact is, and why heat pump water heaters are a good alternative. We also show the potential savings.
Key changes under the EnEV from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.
The Energy Efficiency Ordinance (EnEV) is a key element of Swiss climate policy and brings significant changes for heating and hot water solutions. The aim of the ordinance is to drastically reduce energy consumption and promote the use of environmentally friendly technologies. The background is growing sustainability requirements and an increasing alignment with international standards. The ordinance tightens the minimum energy-efficiency requirements for conventional water heaters. In future, devices will have to meet stricter requirements. This is intended to reduce environmental impact. This particularly affects products that are considered inefficient according to the state of the art, such as older, electricity-intensive water heaters.
The rules are being adjusted not only for climate protection reasons, but also in consumers’ interests. Switching to modern, energy-efficient devices offers significant potential savings in operating costs. In the long term, this helps reduce national energy demand. In addition, Switzerland is strengthening its leading role in energy efficiency and sustainable technologies with these measures.
Affected devices and minimum requirements.
The federal changes primarily affect devices for heating drinking water (electric boilers). These are used in many households and businesses for hot water production. Modern devices with innovative technologies such as intelligent controls or improved thermal insulation not only offer savings potential, but also actively help reduce CO₂ emissions.
- For electric water heaters with a storage volume of 150 liters or more, stricter energy-efficiency standards must be met from January 1, 2025. This applies to both floor-standing and wall-mounted drinking-water heaters.
- All devices in private households, apartment buildings, and businesses fall under this regulation.
- Built-in and tall-cabinet water heaters are exempt from the new regulations, according to the specific dimensions of the Swiss Measurement System (SMS).
Impact on consumers & businesses
For consumers and businesses, the Energy Efficiency Ordinance (EnEV) brings far-reaching changes. While the new rules help reduce costs in the long term, they are initially a challenge in the short term.
Consumers
For consumers, the EnEV primarily means having to replace older electric water heaters that do not meet the new minimum requirements with more efficient devices. Households that still rely on older technology—often because it does not reach energy efficiency class B—are affected.
Even if modern systems can be costly to purchase, they offer clear benefits. They significantly reduce energy consumption and therefore lead to lower operating costs in the long run.
Another aspect is the duty to inform. Consumers must find out in good time about the new requirements and available alternatives in order to choose a solution that meets both legal requirements and their individual needs. Energy consultations and government funding programs can help reduce the cost burden and make the switch easier.
Businesses
For businesses, the EnEV means a fundamental adjustment of their products and services, especially for manufacturers and installers of water heaters. From 2025, the sale and installation of devices that do not meet the new energy-efficiency standards will no longer be permitted. This forces companies to revise their product range and focus on developing new, more efficient technologies.
Adapting to the new requirements can involve high costs for research, development, and production. Since developing innovative technologies requires significant investment, smaller providers may face difficult challenges. At the same time, the new rules also create opportunities. Companies that switch early to energy-efficient solutions can secure competitive advantages and position themselves as industry leaders.
In addition to manufacturers, installers and retailers are also affected. They must train their staff accordingly for the proper installation of the new devices and for customer advice. This can lead to additional costs, but also opens up the opportunity to offer new services such as energy-efficiency consulting or maintenance services.
Transition period
A transition period until December 31, 2024 applies to the sale and installation of devices that do not comply with the EnEV. This allows both manufacturers and retailers to reduce existing stock and prepare for the new requirements. Consumers can use this time to review their existing systems and evaluate possible alternatives. At the same time, the deadline gives the industry planning certainty to develop new products and adapt them to the new requirements. Acting early helps avoid delivery bottlenecks and allows you to take advantage of funding programs that make switching to energy-efficient solutions easier.
Heat pump water heaters as alternatives to electric water heaters
Installing an Oekoboiler heat pump water heater is an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for hot water production. The savings potential from lower energy demand is enormous and cannot be compared with a standard hot water storage tank.
Smart heat recovery in the building
To heat your domestic hot water, Oekoboiler units use heat from the indoor air. This innovative concept combines efficiency and sustainability in a single device that is perfectly suited for use in modern homes and buildings.
Whisper-quiet and energy-saving
Our units are extremely quiet in operation and offer maximum energy efficiency. They save up to 80% energy compared to conventional boilers by using 80% energy from the air and only 20% electricity. Renewable energy that is freely available and environmentally friendly is used intelligently with this concept.
Costs and funding options
Our heat pump water heaters are affordable to purchase. Our entry-level model is available from CHF 2'999.00. They are also eligible for subsidies in Switzerland. This makes switching to a sustainable hot water solution attractive not only ecologically, but also financially.
Efficient hot water production up to 70°C
Oekoboiler heat pump water heaters heat your domestic hot water—perfect for everyday household and commercial needs—reliably up to 70°C. At the same time, an automatic legionella function ensures hygienically safe water by effectively eliminating germs.
Sustainable and eco-friendly heat generator
Compared to gas or oil heating systems, our heat pump water heaters are significantly more environmentally friendly. Extracting heat from ambient air greatly reduces CO₂ emissions and sets new standards for a green future. The excellent performance of the units is confirmed by the tested A+ energy efficiency class.
Durable, modern, and certified
For maximum quality and durability, the tanks are equipped with a robust stainless-steel boiler. Some of our boilers have integrated Wi-Fi so you can control them via an app. With a two-year warranty and certifications from FWS, WPZ, SGS, and TÜV (depending on the model), we offer proven safety and reliability.
Benefits of a heat pump water heater
- High energy efficiency: Heat pump water heaters reduce electricity consumption for hot water production by up to 80% by using ambient heat from the air.
- Eco-friendly hot water production: By using renewable energy sources, operation is nearly CO₂-neutral, making an active contribution to protecting the environment.
- Combination with photovoltaic systems: The heat pump water heater can use surplus solar power, further reducing energy costs.
- Flexibility in installation and operation: Whether in new builds or existing buildings, heat pump water heaters are easy to integrate and compatible with existing heating systems.
- Durability and cost-effectiveness: Heat pump water heaters offer a long-term, cost-effective option for hot water production—thanks to robust technology and low operating costs.
Frequently asked questions about the Energy Efficiency Ordinance (EnEV).
The new ordinance from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) comes into force on 2025-01-01.
A transition period applies until 2024-12-31 to reduce existing stock. This gives consumers time to learn about alternatives.
The best option is heat pump water heaters. They are not only sustainable, but also offer enormous savings potential.
Tall-cabinet and built-in water heaters (according to SMS) are exempt. The ordinance applies to both private households and businesses.
Conclusion.
The new Energy Efficiency Ordinance (EnEV) is a sensible measure for climate protection. Even though it is initially a challenge for consumers and businesses, the switch is still a worthwhile investment. Alternative solutions such as heat pump water heaters pay for themselves after a few years thanks to their high energy efficiency. This significantly reduces energy consumption.
If you are still using conventional water heaters that do not meet the required energy label, it’s time to act. Contact us now for a no-obligation consultation and learn about the benefits of heat pump water heaters!
