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Geneva rules out air-conditioning

Thursday, 2 July 2026 06:30

Geneva has ruled out generalising air conditioning in its public buildings despite the recent heatwave, opting instead for a CHF 1.25 billion renovation of 300 sites by 2037.

State Councillor Nicolas Walder said on Tuesday that a blanket switch to AC "would be nonsense", pointing to airflow systems and more tree cover instead. 

Half of the buildings on the list are schools or university sites — including the University of Geneva and the Champ-Dollon prison. 

Together the 300 sites account for up to 95% of the canton's public-estate energy use. The plan aims to cut CO2 emissions from state buildings by 60% by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.

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