Councillors agree on noise protection in new apartments
Published: Monday, Sep 23rd 2024, 16:50
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Parliament is relaxing the regulations for residential construction in noise-polluted areas and pushing ahead with the remediation of contaminated playgrounds. On Monday, the National Council resolved the final differences with the Council of States on the revision of the Environmental Protection Act.
With 114 votes in favor, 61 against and ten abstentions, the large chamber followed the advice of the preliminary committee. The Councillors thus reached a compromise on the issue of noise protection.
Accordingly, at least half of the noise-sensitive rooms in new homes must have a window that complies with the noise limit values when measured. Noise-sensitive rooms are rooms in which people regularly spend long periods of time.
If controlled ventilation is installed, it is sufficient if the limit values measured at the open window are complied with in one noise-sensitive room per apartment or if a cooling system is available. Planning permission can also be granted if a quiet window and a quiet, privately usable outdoor space are available at the same time.
The Council of States originally wanted to ensure that the limit values for apartments with controlled ventilation no longer had to be complied with at any open window. However, it added the paragraph on air conditioning systems as a compromise proposal. This was after the National Council criticized the fact that controlled home ventilation could not replace ventilation by opening windows.
Gabriela Suter (SP/AG) unsuccessfully requested that the Council stick to the difference. Environment Minister Albert Rösti also preferred the National Council's version.
Another key issue in the revision of the Environmental Protection Act is the remediation of contaminated sites. This relates in particular to children's playgrounds contaminated by fertilizers and air pollution. The bill provides for an obligation to investigate and remediate public playgrounds and for remediation to be subsidized by the federal Contaminated Sites Fund. The so-called Vasa Fund will cover 60 percent of the remediation costs.
The investigation and remediation of private playgrounds and gardens remains voluntary, with the Vasa Fund covering 40 percent of the costs. The National Council originally wanted the owners of the sites to bear the costs of investigation and remediation. However, it agreed with the Council of States on Monday and deleted the provision.
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