Sustainable building

Until the start of 2019, a teaching pavilion for ETH students was located where FLUX stands today. After around five years of planning and preparation, the professional dismantling of the pavilion and the first excavation work could begin in the first quarter of 2019. The new multifunctional building offers space for teaching, training laboratories and continuing education courses, among other things, in a total of 40 rooms.

Forum Chriesbach

The Eawag headquarters – Forum Chriesbach – has set new standards in sustainable construction. The administration and research building, opened in 2006, has no conventional heating or cooling systems in the office areas, and its heating energy requirements are extremely low. A rooftop photovoltaic system and the purchase of naturemade star green power ensure that electricity generation and supplies are renewable and environmentally sound.

Aquatikum

In 2014, the Aquatikum was built on the Eawag site in Dübendorf, a conversion and extension of the old experimental hall that has existed since 1970. It offers researchers more space to realise projects in the fields of drinking water and aquatic ecology. The Aquatikum was awarded the Minergie-P-Eco certificate in 2016. In 2016, Eawag also realised a facility with 36 experimental ponds on the adjacent site.

Renovation of the research facility at the Kastanienbaum site

The recent renovation of the research facility at the Kastanienbaum site included measure to reduce the use of non-renewable forms of energy. In various stages, the building envelope was modernized and installations were renewed. The centrepiece is a new ventilation system comprising heat recovery and and cooling with lake water. Thanks to the renovation, use of heating oil was sharply reduced.

NEST

In August 2014, Empa, ETH Zürich, EPF Lausanne and Eawaglaid the foundations for a modular experimental building known as NEST. A "backbone" will supply the independent living and work areas with water, heat and electricity. The modular units are exchangeable, allowing external firms and researchers from various disciplines to test building materials, energy management and infrastructure systems under real-life conditions. Eawag's contribution to the project involves a new wastewater infrastructure concept.