Our goal
We enhance living spaces. In doing so, we generate added value for animals and plants as well as people.
Our method
We build networks and rely on cooperation with strong partners – we can only be successful together.
Facts
Established in 2000 following the certification of the Aarberg hydroelectric power plant.
Since its establishment, we have carried out about 300 projects ourselves or supported them with financial or technical resources.
More than CHF 14 million from the fund has been invested in Swiss nature.
The BKW eco fund is active in the cantons of Bern, Jura, Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn.
Unanimous, collaborative and devoted to the protection of nature: the steering committee is comprised of representatives from the cantonal technical offices and environmental associations as well as BKW.
Three awards in three years:
- 2015: Watercourse Award: Aarberg hydroelectric power plant
- 2016: Best practice in Alpine Convention: Aarberg hydroelectric power plant
- 2017: Stiftung Landschaftsschutz Schweiz (Swiss Landscape Protection Foundation): energy infrastructure landscape at the Aare-Hagneck canal
Electricity from renewable energies – independently certified
Customers who use “naturemade star”-certified electricity from renewable energies support the BKW eco fund with 0,7 centime per kilowatt hour. We offer private customers the Energy Blue electricity product. Free market customers who use more than 100 MWh of electricity per year can choose the Energy Origin Hydro star product.
“naturemade” is the Swiss seal of quality for energy from 100% renewable sources. The quality seal is supported by the WWF, Pro Natura and the Konsumentenforum consumer association and is awarded by the Association for Environmentally Sound Energy (VUE).
Members of the steering committee
Half of the steering committee is comprised of representatives of environmental associations and external specialists, and the other half is made up of BKW employees. It manages the BKW eco fund and is responsible for the fund’s assets. The committee makes decisions unanimously.
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Thomas Richli, Managing Director of the BKW eco fund | Stephan Bütler, President of the BKW eco fund | Daniel Bernet, Fisheries Inspectorate for the canton of Bern | Urs Känzig, Department for the Protection of Nature for the canton of Bern |
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Martina Breitenstein, representative of the environmental protection organisations Pro Natura, WWF and the Fisheries Association | Dominique Helfer, Fund Manager | Felix Leiser, Alnus AG | Stephanie Noser, Sales Coordinator |
Funding applications
Are you planning ecological improvements? We would be happy to review your project and support it financially if it is appropriate. Please submit your application with the following documents:
- Completed funding application form
- Technical description (incl. specification of measures and costs)
- Project plans
We recommend that you consult with the municipality and the cantonal technical offices first.
Applications are reviewed quarterly by the steering committee. This will be on the following dates in 2021:
| Meeting dates | Submission of application documents by |
| 3 March 2022 | 9 February 2022 |
| 15 June 2022 | 25 May 2022 |
| 24 August 2022 | 3 August 2022 |
| 9 December 2022 | 18 November 2022 |
Please send the application documents digitally (and by post, if necessary) by no later than three weeks before the meeting to the following address:
Contact
All decisions are communicated in writing. If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Richli.
To apply, please use the form found under the following link. The regulations will provide you with further information about the BKW eco fund, the projects supported and the procedure.