Is a new public building planned for the community? Planair is with you from the first sketches, first beginning by calculating the thermal performance of your project according to legal requirements (SIA 380/1, RT 2005, future RT 2012) and its possible certification (Minergie, Minergie-P, BBC [low-energy consumption building], positive energy home). Our building physics experts anticipate any risks of overheating, leakages or condensation.

If necessary, we consider various options in the building envelope (insulation thickness, type of glazing, glazing rate according to guidelines) or the technical installations (ventilation or heat production solution) to find a solution, working together with the architect.

Our engineers then prepare plans for installations (heating, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, lighting), seeking the most qualified contractors by consultation and invitation to tender, and follow the execution of the work. Before embarking on the building finishings, an airtightness test makes it possible to detect any imperfection, liable to result in 10 to 20% heating overuse.

Once the construction is complete, our experts will be there to ensure its strict quality! And even after that, Planair can work with your staff to ensure that the equipment is properly used/controlled, on which its optimal utilization depends.

You want to renovate, rehabilitate or improve an existing structure? Planair advises you on all possible improvements to the building envelope (insulation thickness, type of glazing, glazing rate according to guidelines) and technical installations (ventilation or heat-production solution). An airtightness test is recommended: Any imperfection in this item can lead to 10 to 20% heating overuse in a low energy-use context. Calculating the thermal performance of the building as required by law means finding out whether certification (Minergie, etc.) is possible.

By adding an estimate of your future energy use to the investment, we allow you to approach the various long-term technical options for a total cost estimated at ± 25%.

We can also make an asbestos diagnosis prior to the work on the basis of samples and/or visual inspections, followed by sample analysis by a specialized laboratory. In this way we can assess the need and urgency of cleaning up, and quantify the cost of asbestos removal work, which our team can supervise.

Our engineers will draw up plans as necessary to replace or upgrade the technical installations (heating, ventilation, plumbing, electricity and lighting) and search for qualified contractors. They will follow-up the performance of the work, and once this is complete, they will ensure the strict quality of the completed work. And even after that, Planair can work with your staff to ensure that the equipment is properly used/controlled, on which their optimal utilization depends.

Is a building to maintain, renovate or demolish confronting you with an asbestos problem? Planair offers its asbestos diagnosis experts, trained and recognized by SUVA insurers. This multiple-use material, widely used in construction until the early 1990s, does not only have positive properties and the risks it poses to health require extreme caution when handling. With legal developments (OTConst, cantonal legislation), it is often necessary to identify the presence and location of asbestos in buildings prior to sale, conversion or demolition.

As part of the diagnosis, we perform a detailed inspection of your premises and assess the presence of asbestos in them on the basis of samples and/or visual inspections. After having the samples analysed by a specialized laboratory, we provide you with a comprehensive inventory of the location of the asbestos and how hazardous it is. Each material containing asbestos is identified by an individual record summarising any steps to take and the time involved. Upon request, we also offer planning and monitoring of remediation.

Example: Asbestos diagnosis of a HES-SO building in Le Locle. Complete diagnosis of the building executed before the conversion. The result of the analysis allowed the client to take into account the constraints and remediation costs in the proposed building conversion.

Is your community aware that land-use planning and energy consumption are two sides of the same coin and does it want to plan this in the best way? With years of experience with the regions and municipalities of the western part of Switzerland and beyond, Planair offers any type of community advice and solutions for energy issues, based on a streamlined planning approach. On a broader scale, Planair can offer assistance in drawing up a comprehensive energy policy.

Whether in cooperation with a large or medium-sized community’s specialized services, or acting directly for small communities without such services, Planair develops solutions that guarantee wise investments and substantial savings over the long term whether for:

1. establishing energy budgets and planning developments [find out more]
   Do you want an overall assessment of your community’s energy to increase its effectiveness? Planair will screen all energy aspects of your buildings, facilities, services ... and the state of infrastructure. Our engineers will also review foreseeable territorial developments with you and any resulting needs, whether in supplying energy - part of which ideally produced locally - in water distribution, in managing public and private mobility.
   Planair will also advise you on optimal and cheaper measures for organising your services. Planair determines what can be done within available means, possibly increased by grants that we can help you identify and obtain up to European level. These approaches can be an opportunity to set ambitious targets, such as the concept of the “Société à 2000 W” (“2000 W Company”), obtaining a “Cité de l’énergie” (“Energy City”) certification, accessing local energy autonomy within a defined period... Whatever the projects in the pipeline, Planair can assist you in all your communications to inform citizens and encourage their participation…
2. rational development of new neighbourhoods [find out more]
   Are new residential or industrial neighbourhoods planned for your municipality? Planair assists you in making the multiple decisions that such a development involves, including advising you on the energy standards to encourage for buildings and energy sources capable of supplying them, but also the need to plan transport, water disposal, etc.., all in accordance with the Eco-neighbourhood (Ecoquartier) concept jointly set up by the Federal Office of Energy and Planning.
   Planair will also provide advice in the event of a necessary change to municipal regulations as may be induced by the proposed development.
3. energy planning, in particular during municipal mergers [find out more]
   Is an intercommunity reorganisation looming? Planair offers its expertise to design a coordinated management of energy and infrastructure, assessing the need to upgrade or renew it. Planair will direct you in exploiting renewable energy sources, some of which are little-known, applicable to communities, for instance using sewage treatment plants and water systems.
   These approaches can lead to setting ambitious targets, such as “2000W company” or obtaining an “Energy City” certification. It can also be a question of local energy autonomy within a period set by both conservation measures and the use of renewable energy. From this perspective, Planair works with you in informing the public, whose full participation is naturally essential.

Is your community looking for a renewable energy solution for one of its assets? Planair has been promoting green energy since 1985. In addition to their ecological aspects, renewable energies offer undeniable benefits such as energy independence, price stability and contributing to the local economy. It’s a common sense approach to exploit this potential, thus covering a substantial part of our consumption.

Planair accompanies you along this path with all its recognized expertise. Our national and international applied research means we are up to date in all the latest technological developments, combined with our over a quarter-century’s experience in renewable energy. Our experienced team will study your needs, whether at the level of a building, a neighbourhood or a municipality... to offer innovative and reliable design in:

• photovoltaic and/or thermal solar energy [find out more] Does your community want to garner part of its energy for heating or operation from the sun? Planair will draw up a project for you in the right dimensions, to integrate the exploitation of this source of energy, which is significant in our regions, with any type of architecture. Solar energy use retains significant potential for technical improvement and optimisation, which suggests the urban energy source of the future, whether for heating via solar thermal collectors or for power generation by photovoltaic equipment, two areas where Planair can boast a long experience.
  A properly sized solar heating system saves 50% to 80% of the consumption of fossil energy to produce hot water. Planair assists local authorities in implementing such solutions. Using the latest designer version of the Polysun software, Planair is able to model the most complex solar heating or hot water installations.
  Solutions from various providers can be tested and compared to help you make the right choice, environmentally and economically!
  We can also assist communities in preparing plans for deploying solar technologies and relevant financial incentives.
• wood energy, locally or remotely [find out more] Is your community considering wood heating, locally or with remote heat redistribution? Planair will be able to direct you to the best option between two main paths for burning wood, reviewed by modern techniques. The renewable energy par excellence in the Swiss context, wood heating is a mature and ecologically-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, because of its CO2-neutral value.
  The path of burning wood chips is a safe and proven technology, used in many buildings in Switzerland. The installation comprises a timber storage silo, an automated mechanical system to feed the boiler, which comes with a flue gas cleaning system and an ash pit. Planair has all the expertise required to conduct a study of all components of a wood chip heating system and to plan and monitor its implementation.
  The other path, the one of heating with wood pellets, is done with automatic boilers for central heating and in individual stoves. This path combines small size with ease of maintenance and operation.
• geothermal energy [find out more] Has the heat rising from the underground caught your interest? Geothermal energy comes in many forms, Planair can help you make the best choice!  Because it is certainly a tempting idea to use the existing thermal energy present in the underground which is clean and sustainable, constantly renewed by the flow of heat from the centre of the earth and independent of weather conditions, season or time of day.
  The range of temperatures, which increases with depth, allows a multitude of heating and cooling options. For each situation, regardless of scale, we find the right solution for your needs: Vertical geothermal probes, field sensors, water table heat, piles and energy geostructures, heat exchangers, spirals, etc.
• minihydraulics [find out more] Is your community considering the potential of minihydraulics? Planair brings you up to date on all the opportunities: numerous...and untapped! Indeed, while hydropower currently covers most of Switzerland’s electricity requirements, historically, many small plants that operated in the early twentieth century were set aside with the construction of large-scale works. However, current water systems may be harbouring hitherto unsuspected potential for turbines, use of which, operating in harmony with the environment, is desirable. Mini- and small-scale hydraulics are advantageous in our country!  In this area, Planair can evaluate the upstream potential, especially in existing water systems, and also carry out detailed studies and initiate implementation with its partners at Naturelec. In the planning and building phases, Planair ensures environmental studies and the general coordination of projects, overseeing the project’s environmental and energy objectives.