Energy

In 2025, total energy consumption for the Bank’s internal functions was slightly in excess of 3,400 MWh. It is broken down as follows:

• Heating (approx. 60%): the main energy-related expenditure item for our buildings.
• Electricity (approx. 40%): for lighting, ventilation and our internal IT infrastructure. BCF chose the PLUS product offered by Groupe E SA (for those branches where it can be installed). This product is guaranteed to supply electricity entirely from renewable sources, with a guarantee of origin mainly from Groupe E hydraulic installations and independent producers from the region, notably solar energy providers. The Bank has bought the product OPTIMO Plus from Groupe E SA for its biggest sites (the head office in Fribourg and the Châtel-St-Denis branch), which guarantees 100% renewable hydroelectric energy certified as having been sourced from Switzerland and Europe.
• Mobility (0.2%): energy used by our fleet of company vehicles is a marginal component of our total energy consumption (6 MWh).

Energy efficiency and transition to renewables

At present, slightly over 50% of total energy used for the Bank’s operations is of renewable origin. The other 50% is mainly connected to fossil fuel energies for heating used in rented properties or in the Bank’s own buildings as they await renovation.

BCF has conducted a vast energy renovation programme of its branches for the past 15 years, which accounts for most of the reduction in emissions observed to date. The most emblematic project is at the head office in Fribourg, where the heating alone comes to almost one third of total consumption (1,060 MWh). Following the recent renovation of its facades and windows, efforts will from now focus on changing BCF’s energy vector: the building will be connected to the city’s district heating system by 2028. This major step will advance the Bank’s renewable energy-based operations from 50% to 82% from now to the end of 2028.

Consumption of external energy

Outside its own walls, the main quantifiable energy source connected to the Bank’s operations concerns its outsourced IT infrastructure (servers required to ensure the availability of the Bank’s online services). The consumption of these external servers is estimated to be at least 3 MWh a year, representing the equivalent of 0.2% of the Bank’s own energy consumption.
These external partners solely use electricity from 100% renewable sources.

Energy of financed properties: a real area for action

To put its real impact into perspective, BCF has calculated the estimated energy consumption of the buildings included in its mortgage loan portfolio. These properties collectively account for about 1,019,000 MWh for heating and 301,000 MWh of electricity (or a total of 1,320,000 MWh).

Properties financed by the Bank thus account for almost 400 times more energy than the Bank itself.

In the face of this material responsibility, BCF employs a proactive strategy towards its customers:

• Financial incentives: loans at preferential rates (Eco and Eco renovation mortgages) for efficient building construction and energy renovation projects.
• Proactive advice: implementation of a further training programme for advisors to prepare them for raising customers’ awareness of energy issues in their renovation projects.