Swisscom is the leading telecommunications provider in Switzerland and – as many don't know – one of the most sustainable companies in the world. ISS plays a key role in the implementation of its ambitious energy strategy, particularly in the area of building efficiency.
ISS does it, Swisscom does it, and all major Swiss companies do it: they publish sustainability reports and set energy targets in them. While energy management used to be a footnote in corporate reporting, it is now a “top priority,” as Simon Künzi, Head of Energy Management at ISS Switzerland, puts it.
Swisscom’s Pioneering Role
Swisscom is a pioneer in sustainable energy management, having already reduced its emissions by 80 percent over the past 12 years and setting ambitious goals for the future. As a member of the “Vorbild Energie und Klima” initiative - which is part of the Swiss government’s Energy Strategy 2050—it is committed to implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement and adheres to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which also include climate targets. As one of the first major Swiss companies, Swisscom aims to be fully climate-neutral across its entire value chain by 2025. For these achievements, Swisscom was named the world’s most sustainable telecommunications company in 2020 by World Finance magazine and the Boston Consulting Group.
Full Confidence in ISS
The reason for this award, of course, lies not in the formulation of ambitious goals, but in their implementation through a transparent strategy. Part of this strategy involves reducing CO₂ emissions from Swisscom’s commercial real estate - keyword: “decarbonization.” And it is precisely in this area that Swisscom has been supported since 2015 by FM specialists from ISS’s “Programs Engineering Construction Energy” division.
The idea behind this: Hardly anyone knows Swisscom’s more than 1,000 properties better than ISS, which has been responsible for all facility management since 2015. What makes this special is: The ISS team, led by Michael Gräppi, offers Swisscom a 360-degree view of its buildings - independently and with a focus on the strategic and needs-based use of resources. In doing so, ISS is guided by three criteria: economy, ecology, and public perception. Another advantage for Swisscom: Thanks to its extensive service portfolio, ISS can implement all renovation projects end-to-end - from the preliminary study through acceptance to the operation of the facilities - provided the Swisscom steering committee has authorized them.
Quick Wins
1,500 measures save
350 metric tons of CO₂
Clear strategy, standardized processes
One challenge is the sheer number of properties that ISS is tasked with optimizing for energy efficiency. This requires not only a clear strategy but also standardized processes. Since 2015, the Pioneer program has “scrutinized” over 100 Swisscom buildings annually to optimize their energy efficiency through simple measures such as the use of motion sensors, more energy-efficient lighting, or improved insulation of water-carrying pipes. Michael Gräppi refers to the 1,500 measures that ISS has implemented to date in 700 Swisscom properties as “quick wins.” Thanks to these measures alone, Swisscom now saves an additional 350 metric tons of CO₂ per year.
A Systematic Approach to Sustainability
The programs for retrofitting heating systems and building envelopes require more significant investment. In Swisscom’s portfolio of nearly 800 technical buildings, around 300 oil-fired heating systems are still in operation - although, under ISS’s leadership, a large number of systems have already been replaced with alternatives such as heat pumps or district heating. Here, too, the ISS team takes a 360-degree approach, taking into account the condition of the property, the usage strategy, and the renovation options and costs. This is intended to prevent unsustainable “quick-fix” measures - such as the emergency replacement of a broken-down oil-fired heating system.
A sustainable strategy and a strong partner for implementation - there are several reasons to believe that Swisscom will win the race against time and achieve its ambitious energy goals.