Holding a CECB+ report in your hands is generally the moment a property owner thinks they should have had it done sooner. Twenty to thirty well-crafted pages that quantify what was previously intuitive. But you still need to know how to read it correctly. Many property owners only look at the energy class on the first page and miss the essentials: the action plan.
This article works through the typical structure of a CECB+ report and explains, section by section, what you should take away from it. It is written for a non-specialist property owner who wants to get the most out of their report, without having to sit through an expert lecture.
Page 1: the energy class
This is the best-known page, and the most misread. Two colour-coded gauges, classification A to G.
Envelope class. Measures the quality of the building's insulation independently of the heating system. Loft, walls, floor, windows, envelope airtightness. This is a structural datum: the envelope can only be improved through building works.
Overall efficiency class. Incorporates the building's total consumption, taking into account the heating system, domestic hot water production, and ventilation. A house with a middling envelope (D) heated by a heat pump can have an excellent overall efficiency (B). Conversely, a house with a decent envelope (C) heated by oil will have a poor overall efficiency (E).
The classic mistake: focusing on overall efficiency whilst overlooking the envelope. Yet it is the envelope that determines the building's intrinsic value and the relevance of future investment. A heat pump installed in a house with a G-rated envelope will always consume too much, even if it improves the overall efficiency class.
Bear in mind: the two classes must be read together. Page 1 tells you where you are, not what needs to be done.
Pages 2 to 5: detailed analysis by element
This section breaks down performance by building component. You will find:
- Loft: U-value, quality of existing insulation, any weak points.
- Façades: wall type (brick, concrete, double-skin), insulation, notable thermal bridges.
- Floor and slab: condition of insulation on the floor or basement side.
- Windows: glazing type (single, double, triple), frames (timber, PVC, aluminium), assessment.
- Airtightness: presence of vapour barrier, thermal bridges, overall quality.
- Heating system: type, age, COP/efficiency, general condition.
- Domestic hot water: type of production, volume, pipe insulation.
- Ventilation: presence or absence of mechanical ventilation, quality, efficiency.
It is on these pages that you identify the real weak points. Careful reading often yields surprises. A property owner convinced of having good insulation discovers their loft is under-insulated. Another, proud of their recently replaced windows, learns that thermal bridging at the junctions is undermining all the performance.
Our advice: spend 15–20 minutes on these pages. Highlight the worst U-values and the expert's comments. That is where the levers for improvement lie.
The action plan: the heart of the report
This is the most useful part of the CECB+. A prioritised list of renovation measures, each costed, with the expected impact on the energy classes.
A typical measure is presented as follows:
| Measure | Indicative cost | Annual saving | Class improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation 22 cm | CHF 8,500 – 12,000 | CHF 600 – 900/year | envelope: D → C |
| Replace boiler with air-to-water heat pump | CHF 35,000 – 45,000 | CHF 2,500 – 3,200/year | efficiency: E → B |
| External wall insulation | CHF 35,000 – 55,000 | CHF 1,200 – 1,800/year | envelope: C → B |
| Triple-glazed window replacement | CHF 18,000 – 28,000 | CHF 400 – 700/year | envelope: marginal |
| 8 kWp photovoltaic installation | CHF 17,000 – 20,000 | CHF 1,500 – 2,000/year | efficiency: B → A |
Critical reading: the cost-to-annual-saving ratio gives the gross payback period, but does not account for subsidies or combined effects. Loft insulation at CHF 9,000 saving CHF 700/year has a gross payback of 13 years. With the cantonal subsidy and tax deduction, the effective payback frequently falls to 7–9 years.
The action plan is also prioritised. The expert places the measures in the order that makes the most technical and economic sense. This order is not arbitrary: insulating the loft before the façade almost always has more impact for a lower cost. Replacing a boiler without having insulated first can be counterproductive (the heat pump will be over-sized because the house still haemorrhages heat).
The scenarios: three options to compare
The CECB+ typically proposes three implementation scenarios.
Scenario 1: Phased renovation (over 10–15 years). Investment spread over time, progressive financing, minimal disruption to daily life. Cumulative total over the period. Suited to property owners who do not have sufficient immediate funds or who want to spread the works.
Scenario 2: Full renovation in one go. Total investment over 1–2 years, with combined subsidy bonuses (which can exceed 30 % in additional aid on the total). Suited to property owners with mobilisable capital and the desire to do everything at once.
Scenario 3: Targeted priority measures. Selection of the 2–3 most impactful measures (typically loft + heating). Lower cost, significant energy gain, but class A is not achieved. Suited to tight budgets or transitional situations (e.g. sale planned within 5–10 years).
Comparing these three scenarios side by side enables an informed decision. Many property owners discover that Scenario 2 (full renovation) is more advantageous than they thought, thanks to subsidy bonuses. Others confirm that Scenario 3 (targeted) is sufficient for their situation.
The "energy projection" page
This page projects the building's consumption over 20 years, with and without intervention. It gives two orders of magnitude:
Without intervention. The building continues to deteriorate (ageing boiler, settling insulation, etc.). Consumption remains stable or increases slightly. Over 20 years, this typically amounts to CHF 60,000 to 120,000 in cumulative energy costs depending on the property.
With full renovation (Scenario 2). Consumption drops by 60–80 % as soon as the works are complete. Over 20 years, this amounts to CHF 15,000 to 35,000 in cumulative energy costs. Difference: CHF 45,000 to 90,000 saved over the period.
This page is valuable because it shifts the perspective. The cost of a renovation is not a net cost: it is a cost that is largely offset by future savings, without even counting the increase in property value at resale.
The "impact on property value" page
Present in most recent CECB+ reports, this page indicates the estimated impact of the renovation on the property's resale value.
A property rated F or G in French-speaking Switzerland typically sells in 2026 for 8 to 15 % less than an equivalent property rated C–D. A property rated A–B may command a market premium of 3 to 7 %.
On a home valued at CHF 1.2 million, moving from F to C through a CHF 100,000 renovation increases the resale value by CHF 100,000 to 150,000. The calculation becomes obvious: the renovation practically pays for itself, in addition to the operating savings and subsidies.
This reasoning is not universal. In some very competitive markets (central Geneva, certain Vaud communes), the energy class carries less weight. In less competitive markets (rural areas, more remote communes), it carries more. The CECB+ report generally provides a range tailored to the commune.
How to make practical use of your report
Here is how we accompany a client who arrives with their CECB+ in hand.
Step 1. Joint reading of the classes (page 1) and the analysis by element (pages 2–5). Identify the 2–3 weakest points.
Step 2. Discussion of the proposed scenarios. Concrete questions: available budget, timeline, planned resale at a given horizon, aesthetic constraints.
Step 3. Selection of a works scenario. Often, we adapt the CECB+ scenarios to the real situation (for example: Scenario 2 in full, but in two phases over 18 months to align with a family project).
Step 4. Detailed quotes for the selected measures. This is where the CECB+ is tested against actual market prices.
Step 5. Assembly of the subsidy application. The CECB+ is attached to all applications and unlocks the bonuses.
Step 6. Execution in phases or in full.
The CECB+ plays the role of orientation and validation here. It does not replace an installer, does not replace a quote. It guides.
Pitfalls to avoid
Over-interpreting the figures. The costs in the CECB+ are indicative. A real quote may differ by 20–30 % in either direction. Do not base a final decision solely on CECB figures.
Ignoring the hierarchy. The report proposes an order. Starting with the windows before the loft is often a poor decision. If you change the order, have good reasons for doing so.
Doing the bare minimum. Many property owners settle for the most visible measure (windows) and leave the loft uninsulated. The CECB+ explicitly tells them the reverse is the right approach. Following it pays off in the long run.
Forgetting to update. After a substantial renovation, request an updated CECB. The new report is a selling argument, and sometimes unlocks further aid for subsequent phases.
Our advice for 2026
A CECB+ report gathering dust in a drawer has no value. A CECB+ report used as a renovation roadmap has a great deal. The difference is measured in thousands of francs saved over time and in property value at resale.
If you have had a CECB+ done and barely opened it, now is the time to re-read it. If you do not yet have a CECB+, request one before any substantial renovation. The cost (CHF 700 to 1,500) is negligible compared to the mistakes it prevents and the aid it unlocks.