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Servetia Initiative
On the 18th of June 2023 Swiss voters accepted the “Federal Act on Climate Protection Targets, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security”. Coupled with the previously ratified Paris Climate Agreement (2017) and the nationally adopted ordinance on climate disclosures (2022), it is becoming abundantly clear that Switzerland has substantiated its pledges regarding greater transparency and action on climate issues. While the legal framework for the energy transition starts putting pressure on Swiss companies, buildings still account for 40% of Switzerland’s energy demand and a quarter of GHG emissions, and most buildings are still heated using oil and gas. Decarbonising buildings poses a significant challenge and new approaches must be adopted to accelerate the adoption of clean and energy efficient technologies.
One of the main break for buildings to transit towards a more sustainable energy consumption scheme is economical as retrofitting or installing new energetic infrastructures implies high CAPEX for the owners. Such an investment can take one or two decades to breakeven while bearing the risk of maintenance costs, electricity production fluctuation and price volatility.
of Switzerland's energy demand comes from buildings.
To tackle this problem, Fondation Valery has partnered with BASE Foundation and E4S to launch the Servetia Initiative.
The Initiative promotes the use of the Servitisation (also known as ‘as-a-Service’ or XaaS) business model to accelerate the deployment of clean and energy-efficient solutions: instead of selling technologies as products, these are offered as a ‘service’ to customers who pay a fee based on usage, consumption or outcomes.
Offering service solutions rather than products can provide economic benefits and reduced emissions and energy consumption, making the use of clean and efficient technologies more appealing to users. Simultaneously, new market opportunities are created for solution providers who adopt the servitisation model.
« Offering service solutions rather than products can provide economic benefits and reduced emissions and energy consumption [...] »
In Switzerland, the as-a-Service model is implemented in industry and mobility, but is yet to scale in the building sector. Servetia brings together relevant stakeholders to mainstream the model and effectively deploy solutions in selected locations in Switzerland. Servetia presents a transformative opportunity. By embracing the power of servitisation, we can shift how energy-efficient solutions are deployed in buildings and help overcome existing hurdles.
Through this initiative we offer a shift from the traditional product-focused approach, towards services that are outcome-driven. The X-as-a-Service model can optimise energy use and reduce emissions, and at the same time deliver long-term economic benefits for building owners and businesses.
