420 m
Altitude
11.6 °C
Mean temperature
48
Frost days
1'206 kWh/kWc
Estimated solar yield
Local housing stock
In Renens, the federal building register lists 1'639 residential buildings and 11'420 dwellings. These municipal benchmarks help put your home in context, but do not replace an individual assessment.
Age of residential buildings
58 % built before 1980
- Before 19198 %
- 1919–194513 %
- 1946–196019 %
- 1961–197010 %
- 1971–19808 %
- 1981–199016 %
- 1991–20008 %
- 2001–201010 %
- Since 20118 %
Construction year does not reveal past renovations: check the current insulation condition.
Main heating energy
53 % · Gas
- Gas53 %
- Heating oil30 %
- District heating8 %
- Electricity5 %
- Heat pump4 %
- Wood1 %
This distribution describes recorded buildings, not your system's consumption or efficiency.
Heating and hot water: which energies?
| Energy | Heating | Hot water |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 53 % | 42.8 % |
| Heating oil | 30 % | 29 % |
| District heating | 8 % | 7.5 % |
| Heat pump | 4 % | 4.2 % |
| Electricity | 5 % | 7.5 % |
| Wood | 1 % | 0.3 % |
| Solar thermal | 0 % | 4.5 % |
Each line gives the share of buildings using that energy, separately for heating and for hot water. The two columns do not always reach 100%: some buildings combine two systems, or reported none.
Type of heating system
- Boiler (unspecified)60 %
- Condensing boiler10.4 %
- Heat pump9.4 %
- Standard boiler7.6 %
- Heat exchanger (district)7.5 %
- Central electric heating3.9 %
- Stove0.5 %
A standard non-condensing boiler is usually older and less efficient.
Houses or apartment buildings?
- Single-family houses44.1 %
- Two-dwelling houses7.1 %
- Apartment buildings (3+)45.1 %
- Other3.7 %
18.1 % of buildings mix housing with shops or offices.
The typical building
- storeys (median)
- 3
- median footprint
- 126 m²
- median dwelling area
- 67 m²
Dwellings by number of rooms
Dwellings per building
- 1 dwelling46.6 %
- 2 to 417.2 %
- 5 to 910.3 %
- 10 to 1917.5 %
- 20 or more8.4 %
Renovations, heritage and volumes
For homeowners in Renens, RegBL figures provide essential benchmarks for planning your renovations. While the status of heritage protection is known for 114 buildings, with one officially protected, contacting the municipality early is vital to navigate permit requirements. The median building volume of 800 m3, derived from 123 houses measured under the SIA 416 standard, helps estimate the scale of necessary heating or insulation upgrades. Please be aware that data coverage is partial, as 599 buildings utilize other or unknown standards, which is a key factor to consider when evaluating the scope and budget of your renovation project.
Source : Registre fédéral des bâtiments et des logements (RegBL), OFS, 2026. Existing residential buildings; percentages of recorded values.
The local context: climate and environment in Renens
6 °C, Renens has a temperate but demanding climate for buildings. Heating needs are characterized by 2758 heating degree days per year, with about 48 frost days.5 °C.
The municipality is certified as an Energy City Gold and aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 through its communal Climate Plan.
Property owners should consider this strategic vision, especially regarding water management, provided by the Lausanne City Water Service.
This water, classified as soft with a hardness of 14 °fH, requires regular maintenance of sanitary facilities to prevent limescale deposits on new equipment.
Priorities for energy renovation
Energy renovation in Renens must align with the ambitious goals of the Climate Plan, which aims for a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Prioritizing the building's thermal envelope is the most effective step to reduce final energy demand.
Insulation of roofs and facades, as well as window replacement, allow for meeting current energy efficiency standards.
These interventions must be considered globally, integrating renewable heat production systems. The shift to local renewable energy is encouraged, particularly to reach the goal of a 51% share of renewable energy in heat supply by 2035.
By simultaneously improving insulation and the heating system, you not only maximize indoor comfort but also sustainably increase the value of your property in a changing market.
Heating, district heating, and cantonal regulations
Networks such as CadOuest and ECUCAD, the result of a collaboration between SIE and Romande Energie, allow owners to connect to systems using local wood, geothermal energy, or waste heat recovery.
These networks often integrate advanced technologies, such as the '3-pipe' network in the Malley area, optimizing energy recovery.
For buildings that cannot be connected, the installation of heat pumps (HP) is the preferred solution for replacing fossil fuel boilers. In accordance with Vaud regulations, these projects are subject to the simplified procedure.
Particular attention must be paid to noise pollution for air-to-water or air-to-air models to ensure respect for neighbors while benefiting from the energy efficiency of these technologies.
Permits and heritage
This guide does not establish a permit exemption. If your building or area is protected, check the constraints specific to your project.
Financial aid and taxation
Each subsidy is calculated according to precise criteria, such as power for heat pumps or insulated surface area. For photovoltaics, in addition to the federal single remuneration via Pronovo, complementary aid may exist depending on local specificities.
Tax-wise, the owner has advantageous choices. For each tax period, you can opt for the deduction of actual costs or the flat-rate deduction. If investment costs for energy exceed your income, the balance can be carried forward to the following two tax periods.
This measure greatly favors sustainable investments. Be careful, however: if you receive a public subsidy, only the portion you actually finance is tax-deductible.
Planning of works and choosing companies
A successful renovation in Renens requires rigorous planning to coordinate the different trades and optimize costs. Before any commitment, evaluate the current state of your property and define energy priorities.
Collaboration with local companies is recommended, especially those specialized in renewable technologies compatible with the region's district heating networks like CadOuest.
When choosing providers, favor those who know the Vaud administrative requirements, especially for simplified procedures.
Request detailed quotes that clearly distinguish between items eligible for subsidies (insulation, heat pumps, solar) and classic renovation work.
Do not forget to include in your schedule potential delays related to subsidy requests from the Buildings Program. Assistance from a professional can save you from costly mistakes and ensure the longevity of the chosen installations.
Local data in detail
Heating and energy
A well-oriented solar PV system yields roughly 1'206 kWh per kWp per year here.[8]
Permits and heritage
Tax and renovation
The municipal tax coefficient of Renens is 77%.[9]
Water quality
Rules of the canton of Vaud
These rules apply across the whole canton, not only in Renens.
Choose your works in Renens
- Kitchen renovation cost in Renens
- Bathroom renovation cost in Renens
- New flooring cost in Renens
- Interior painting cost in Renens
- Window replacement cost in Renens
- Roof renovation cost in Renens
- Facade insulation cost in Renens
- Heat pump installation cost in Renens
- Solar panels cost in Renens
- Home solar battery cost in Renens
- Solar water heating cost in Renens
- Terrace construction cost in Renens
- Fence installation cost in Renens
- Stairwell renovation cost in Renens
- Elevator installation or upgrade cost in Renens
Climate data for Renens
- Altitude
- 420 m[10]
- Heating degree days
- 2'758 Kj/an (20/12 °C)[11]
- Frost days
- 48 jours/an[12]
- Solar irradiation
- 1'371 kWh/m²/an (horizontal)[13]
- Winter design temperature
- -4.5 °C (1er percentile des minimales)[14]
- Mean temperature
- 11.6 °C[15]
- Estimated solar yield
- 1'206 kWh/kWc/an (toit ~30° sud, PR 0.8, estimation)[8]
Nearby municipalities : Lausanne · Yverdon-les-Bains · Vevey · Nyon · Montreux · Morges · Pully · Écublens
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps for installing a heat pump in Renens?
Installing a heat pump is subject to the simplified procedure. It is advisable to check noise pollution for air-to-water models so as not to disturb neighbors.
Can I get subsidies for insulating my facade?
Yes, the Buildings Program Vaud offers contributions for thermal insulation of the envelope, including facades, depending on the energy requirements reached.
Are windows subsidized during a renovation?
Window replacement is eligible for Buildings Program subsidies when it is part of a comprehensive building envelope renovation project.
How does district heating connection work?
In Renens, operators such as CADOUEST SA or ECUCAD offer networks using renewable energy. You must contact them to evaluate the technical feasibility on your plot.
Can energy investments be deducted from taxes?
Yes, energy-saving investments are 100% deductible. If costs exceed income, the balance can be carried forward to the following two tax periods.
Do I need to apply for a permit for solar panels?
In the canton of Vaud, the installation of photovoltaic panels is generally subject to the simplified procedure or is exempt from a permit, except in protected areas.
Sources
- [1] Alliance pour le climat Suisse - Profil Renens 2023
- [2] ["CadOuest","SIE SA","Viageo"]
- [3] —
- [4] Qualité de l'eau chez vous – Ville de Lausanne
- [5] — · estimate
- [6] Règlement sur la déduction des frais relatifs aux immeubles privés (RDFIP)
- [7] État de Vaud — Permis de construire (LATC / RLATC)
- [8] Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (réanalyse ERA5, moyenne 2015-2024) · estimate
- [9] raiffeisen.ch
- [10] swisstopo – service d'altitude (MNT)
- [11] Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (réanalyse ERA5, moyenne 2015-2024)
- [12] Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (réanalyse ERA5, moyenne 2015-2024)
- [13] Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (réanalyse ERA5, moyenne 2015-2024)
- [14] Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (réanalyse ERA5, moyenne 2015-2024)
- [15] Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (réanalyse ERA5, moyenne 2015-2024)