The canton of Vaud is entering a new phase in its energy policy. With the revision of the Vaud Energy Law, the renovation of the most energy-consuming buildings is no longer just an economic or ecological choice: it is becoming a scheduled obligation. For property owners, this evolution requires anticipating the work. For tradespeople, it opens a structural market over several years.
The new law is expected to come into effect in 2026. The text aims to accelerate the energy renovation of buildings classified F and G according to the CECB. Large property owners, particularly those whose buildings reach or exceed 750 m² of energy reference surface, are particularly concerned by imminent deadlines. Small property owners have a longer horizon, but they too will need to prepare to renovate the least efficient housing.
This Vaud reform creates sustainable demand for many construction trades: insulation, roofing, facades, windows, heating, ventilation, electricity, interior renovation, and construction site coordination. Tradespeople who can understand energy requirements, provide accurate quotes, and work with CECB experts will be better positioned to capture these projects. With ArtiBox, professionals can become visible, receive qualified requests, and secure their workload in this new context.
Why does the new energy law transform the Vaud market?
The energy reform in the canton of Vaud responds to a clear objective: to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and accelerate the phase-out of the most polluting systems. The existing real estate stock represents a major lever to achieve these goals, as many buildings still consume too much energy.
A renovation that becomes progressive and mandatory
Until now, many property owners renovated their property when they had the budget, when equipment reached the end of its life, or when they wanted to improve their comfort. With the new law, the logic changes. The most energy-consuming buildings will need to be progressively renovated to achieve a better level of performance.
For tradespeople, this means that demand will no longer depend solely on the individual decisions of property owners. Part of the market will be driven by regulatory constraints. This evolution creates a more predictable flow of construction sites, particularly for trades related to the building envelope and technical installations.
Energy-consuming buildings at the heart of the reform
Buildings classified F and G according to the CECB are particularly targeted. These classes correspond to the least energy-efficient properties. They may have insufficient insulation, significant heat loss, outdated heating systems, or overall excessive consumption.
These buildings often require several coordinated interventions: roof insulation, facade improvement, window replacement, ventilation optimization, heating changes, or interior renovation after work. This complexity opens up opportunities for tradespeople capable of working in networks.
A schedule that encourages owners to anticipate
The planned deadlines do not mean that all work must be carried out immediately. However, owners must begin to diagnose their building, plan investments, request quotes, and organize work in stages.
For tradespeople, this anticipation is important. Requests will be spread over several years, but the best-prepared companies will be those that have already adapted their offerings and communication.
What are the implications for tradespeople in Vaud?
The new Energy Law directly modifies the outlook for tradespeople. It creates a more regular, more technical, and more demanding market. Building professionals will have to respond to better-regulated requests often linked to measurable energy performance objectives.
An increase in energy renovation requests
Concerned owners will need to request diagnostics, study remediation scenarios, and seek companies capable of intervening. Tradespeople specialized in insulation, windows, roofing, facades, heating, and ventilation are likely to be particularly in demand.
This increase in demand may also affect finishing work trades. After interior insulation, window replacement, or technical renovation, it is often necessary to redo finishes, paints, floors, coverings, or certain layouts.
More comprehensive and better-coordinated projects
Energy renovation is not limited to an isolated intervention. To truly improve a building's energy class, several trades often need to intervene. This coordination becomes a central issue.
A roofer can work with an insulation specialist, a facade worker with a carpenter, a heating technician with an electrician, or a renovation company with a CECB expert. Tradespeople who know how to collaborate will be able to respond to more ambitious projects.
Increased demand for quality quotes
Owners will need precise quotes to compare solutions, prepare their budgets, and potentially compile grant applications. A quote that is too vague may not convince.
Tradespeople will need to indicate the areas concerned, the proposed materials, the expected performances, insulation thicknesses, deadlines, exclusions, and conditions of intervention. This rigor will become a true commercial advantage.
What types of construction sites will multiply in the canton of Vaud?
The Vaud reform will generate several families of construction sites. Tradespeople must identify them now in order to adapt their offers, skills, and prospecting.
Thermal insulation work
Insulation is often the first response to energy-hungry buildings. Heat loss through the roof, facades, floors, or thermal bridges can significantly degrade a building's CECB performance.
- Roof insulation
- Attic insulation
- Facade insulation
- Interior wall insulation
- Ground floor insulation
- Treatment of thermal bridges
- Improvement of air tightness
Replacement of windows and exterior joinery
Old windows can represent a significant source of thermal losses. Their replacement often fits into a broader strategy for energy renovation, especially when the building envelope needs to be improved.
- Installation of high-performance windows
- Replacement of exterior doors
- Improvement of frames
- Treatment of peripheral air tightness
- Coordination with facade insulation
Renovation of heating systems
The law also aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Replacing old heat generators can therefore become a very promising segment for heating engineers, electricians, and specialized installers.
- Replacement of old boilers
- Installation of heat pumps
- Connection to a district heating network
- Optimization of regulation
- Adaptation of heat emitters
- Coordination with building insulation
Ventilation and indoor comfort work
When a building is better insulated, ventilation becomes a sensitive point. A more airtight home must remain healthy and comfortable. Tradespeople specializing in ventilation, electricity, and interior work may therefore be called upon.
- Installation of controlled ventilation
- Improvement of indoor air quality
- Treatment of humidity
- Adaptation of existing networks
- Coordination with insulation work
Comprehensive renovations of buildings
Buildings over 750 m² can generate larger projects, often led by property management companies, institutional owners, communities, or real estate companies. These operations involve multiple trades and require solid organization.
- Initial energy diagnosis
- Planning of work packages
- Insulation of the envelope
- Replacement of technical installations
- Interior finishing work
- Management of occupants during the construction site
- Performance monitoring after work
Why does this reform create a structural demand over several years?
The new Vaud law does not create a simple one-off spike in work. It establishes a trajectory for energy renovation that will unfold over time. This aspect is particularly interesting for tradespeople looking to stabilize their activity.
Long but binding deadlines
Property owners have several years to comply. This allows them to plan investments, but it does not eliminate the obligation. As the deadline approaches, requests for quotes and construction sites are expected to increase.
Tradespeople who position themselves early will be able to build relationships with contractors, architects, CECB experts, and property owners before the market becomes too saturated.
A significant real estate stock to renovate
The number of energy-intensive buildings involved represents a significant potential. Not all will be renovated at the same time, but each project can trigger several interventions: diagnostics, insulation, equipment replacement, finishing work, and follow-up.
This depth of market can offer local companies a more regular workload, provided they know how to capture requests at the right time.
A gradual increase in project momentum
Initially, property owners will seek to understand their obligations. Then, they will request CECBs, compare scenarios, solicit quotes, and plan construction sites. Demand will therefore build gradually.
Tradespeople must use this period to prepare: training, partnerships, quote models, commercial communication, and online visibility.
How can tradespeople prepare right now?
To benefit from this reform, tradespeople must anticipate. It is not enough to wait for property owners to request work. Companies must adapt their offerings and demonstrate that they understand the new energy requirements.
Training in the basics of CECB
The CECB is becoming a central tool in energy renovation projects. It classifies buildings according to their performance and helps identify renovation priorities. A tradesperson does not necessarily need to become a CECB expert, but they must know how to read the main points of a report and understand the objectives of the work.
This skill allows for more effective dialogue with property owners, experts, architects, and contractors. It also helps in proposing quotes that align with performance objectives.
Adapting the commercial offer
A tradesperson must present their services from the perspective of energy renovation. For example, a roofer can highlight roof insulation, a carpenter can emphasize the replacement of high-performance windows, a heating technician can focus on replacing a fossil fuel system, and a painter can showcase finishing work after renovation.
This presentation helps clients understand the connection between the proposed work and energy obligations.
Building local partnerships
Complete energy renovations require multiple skills. A sole tradesperson may miss certain opportunities if they cannot respond to a comprehensive project. Partnerships therefore become essential.
- CECB Experts
- Architects
- Real estate agencies
- General contractors
- Heating engineers
- Roofers
- Facade specialists
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Ventilation specialists
What risks should tradespeople anticipate?
The reform creates opportunities, but it also increases requirements. Tradespeople must avoid positioning themselves on overly complex projects without sufficient technical, administrative, or commercial preparation.
More technical construction sites
Energy rehabilitation requires coherence between the works. Poorly coordinated insulation with ventilation or windows can create problems of humidity, discomfort, or insufficient performance.
Tradespeople must therefore comply with technical specifications, work with the right partners, and document their interventions.
More demanding clients
Property owners subject to a legal obligation will want reliable answers. They will ask questions about deadlines, costs, subsidies, performance, the CECB, and the stages of the construction site.
A tradesperson who masters these topics will be more credible than a professional who merely offers a price without explanation.
Increased competition in lucrative segments
When the market becomes attractive, many companies seek to position themselves. Tradespeople must therefore differentiate themselves through the quality of their profile, their responsiveness, their references, and their ability to provide clear documentation.
Margins to protect
Energy projects can be profitable, but they also involve high costs: high-performance materials, skilled labor, travel, coordination, more detailed quotes, and administrative follow-up. Therefore, services must be accurately priced.
An overly low quote can jeopardize the business, especially if the construction site reveals unforeseen issues regarding the state of the building.
How to secure your workload with ArtiBox?
In this new context, tradespeople must gain visibility and access qualified requests. ArtiBox allows construction professionals to position themselves on projects suited to their trade and their area of intervention.
Easier to find qualified construction sites
ArtiBox helps tradespeople receive requests that match their skills. In the canton of Vaud, this visibility can become valuable with the gradual increase in energy renovation projects.
- Energy renovation requests
- Insulation work
- Window replacement
- Roof renovation
- Facade work
- Heating changes
- Ventilation and technical installations
- Finishing work after rehabilitation
Reduce downtime
The reform will generate demand over several years, but tradespeople must organize their schedules to avoid empty weeks. ArtiBox can help diversify sources of demand and complete the order book.
- Access to regular opportunities
- Better planning anticipation
- Complement to local recommendations
- Reduction of dependence on a single contractor
Select the most suitable projects
Not all energy renovation projects are suitable for all companies. ArtiBox allows tradespeople to position themselves on sites that match their trade, their area of intervention, and their actual capacity.
- Selection of projects by specialty
- Better coherence between demand and expertise
- Time-saving in sales
- More structured development of activity
What best practices to adopt to benefit from the Vaud reform?
Tradespeople who succeed in capturing this new demand will be those who prepare before the market becomes saturated. The reform requires method, visibility, and technical rigor.
Update commercial materials
Tradespeople must clearly explain their services related to energy renovation. A presentation page, a complete ArtiBox profile, photos of construction sites, and references reassure clients.
Offer detailed quotes
A quote must specify materials, surfaces, performance, deadlines, exclusions, and payment conditions. For energy projects, this precision is essential to reassure the client and facilitate procedures.
Get closer to experts and prescribers
CECB experts, architects, agencies, and technical offices will often be involved in the early stages of projects. Tradespeople should build relationships with these stakeholders to be identified from the planning phase.
Stay attentive to cantonal aids
Subsidies can help owners finance the work, but their conditions must be verified before the start of the construction site. The tradesperson must know how to guide the client without promising an unconfirmed amount.
Train teams on energy issues
An energy renovation requires rigorous execution. Teams must understand the sensitive points: thermal bridges, air tightness, ventilation, humidity, connections, and quality of finishes.
Conclusion: an obligation that becomes a sustainable opportunity for Vaud tradespeople
The new Energy Law of the canton of Vaud marks a turning point for the building sector. By scheduling the energy renovation of the most energy-consuming buildings, it gradually transforms renovation into a legal obligation. This evolution will generate a significant volume of construction sites over several years.
For tradespeople, the opportunity is real. Insulation, roofing, facades, windows, heating, ventilation, electricity, interior renovation, and finishing work will be directly affected. Companies that can train, work with CECB experts, provide accurate quotes, and make themselves visible will have a head start.
With ArtiBox, building professionals have a useful tool to find qualified construction sites, showcase their skills, and secure their workload in the canton of Vaud and more broadly in French-speaking Switzerland. In this new context, energy renovation is no longer just a market of the future: it is becoming a structural demand that tradespeople must prepare for now.
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