- Working from home: how to organise your day
- Information on coronavirus
- Salary and housing costs
- The smartest irrigation systems
- Residence for Seniors or a Nursing Home? Tips
- Prepare your home for when you’re away on holiday
- Which municipality in the canton Aargau suits me?
- Keep your vacation home secure against burglary
- This is how I secure my house during winter times
- Living in the french-speaking part of Switzerland
- Tips on Living with Pets
- In Switzerland, community aid is booming
- Differences in Housing
- What to do if you lose your key(s)
- Housing search for seniors: Over 65 difficult
- Heating the right way: Ideal temperatures for every room
- Fitting lamps made easy
- Smart home systems
- What helps against spiders in your home?
- Retirement living: stay put or downsize?
Heating the right way: Ideal temperatures for every room
Heating accounts for around 70% of a household’s energy use – and a large share of utility costs. But how much warmth do you really need? And what room temperatures are considered ideal?
When should you start heating?
The right time to turn on the heating depends on your personal comfort level as well as the age and condition of your building. As a rule of thumb, you can use these guide values:
- Older buildings (before 1977): around 15–17 °C
- Built between 1977 and 1995: around 14–16 °C
- Newer buildings (from 1995): around 12–15 °C
- Low-energy / Minergie houses: around 11–14 °C
- Passive houses: around 9–11 °C
Recommended room temperatures
Not every room needs to be heated to the same level. These are the usual recommendations:
- Living room, kitchen: 20 °C
- Bedroom, hallway: 17–18 °C
- Bathroom: 22 °C
- Children’s room: 20–21 °C
💡 Tip
Of course, you’re free to heat each room to the temperature that feels right for you. Just remember: higher heating means higher costs. Heating expenses are usually included in your utility costs, so more heat generally means more to pay.
That said, it’s often unnecessary to turn the thermostat up too high. Lowering the temperature by just one degree can reduce energy use by about 6%, saving both money and the environment. That doesn’t mean you need to wear a ski suit at home – but slipping on a warm sweater instead of a T-shirt can make a real difference.
Common heating mistakes – and how to avoid them
- Windows left tilted all day: Tilted windows hardly refresh the air but let plenty of heat escape. Instead, open all windows fully for a few minutes of strong airing.
- Turning the heating completely off and on again: Switching the heating off during the day doesn’t actually save energy. Reheating the rooms later consumes more. It’s better to keep a steady, slightly lower temperature throughout.
- Blocked radiators: Furniture or curtains in front of radiators prevent the heat from spreading properly through the room.
- Leaving shutters open at night: Open shutters and curtains let heat escape – especially through older windows. Closing them in the evening adds an extra layer of insulation.
What does the law say?
Rental properties must be equipped so that they can be adequately heated when needed. Under Swiss tenancy law:
- The home must be fit for normal use – in other words, warm enough to live in comfortably.
- A temperature of around 20 °C in living spaces is generally considered an appropriate standard.
- If it’s permanently too cold because the heating system is inadequate, tenants can submit a written notice of defect (preferably sent by registered mail).
