Home heating in 2025: Guide to solutions available in Switzerland

Stand-alone solutions vs. solutions requiring a home automation controller

Before choosing your equipment, a fundamental question: do you want a turnkey solution or to build a complete home automation system?

Stand-alone solutions (plug and play)

These products work immediately without a third-party controller. Just install, download the manufacturer's application, and off you go.

Examples of stand-alone solutions:

• Meross wi-Fi thermostats: Application Meross, ready to use
• Heatit Wi-Fi thermostat: Myheatit application for easy start-up.
• Tado Smart Thermostat: Application Tado, works on its own
• Thermostats with integrated hub: some systems include the necessary hub in the package

Advantages : ✅ Immediate installation, no complex configuration ✅ Dedicated application optimized for heating ✅ Reduced initial investment ✅ Direct technical support from the manufacturer ✅ Perfect for home automation beginners

Limitations: ❌ Closed ecosystem (difficult to add other brands) ❌ Automations limited to heating functions ❌ One app per manufacturer (if you mix brands) ❌ Dependence on one app, and therefore on the cloud.

Ideal for: Beginners, renters, people wanting only to optimize heating without a global home automation project.

Solutions requiring a home automation controller

These products are components of a larger home automation system. They require a central controller (home automation box) to operate.

Examples of solutions requiring a controller

• Heatit Z-TRM6, Z-Water 2 (Z-Wave) → Requires Z-Wave box (Homey Pro, Fibaro Home Center, Jeedom, Home Assistant with Z-Wave dongle)
• Aqara e1 valves (Zigbee) → Zigbee hub required (Aqara Hub M2/M3, Homey Pro, Home Assistant with Zigbee dongle)
• Fibaro Radiator Thermostat (Z-Wave) → Z-Wave box required
• NodOn valves (Zigbee) → Zigbee hub required

Popular home automation controllers in Switzerland :

• Homey Pro (CHF 399): Z-Wave, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Matter - simple interface
• Fibaro Home Center 3 (CHF 600-800): Z-Wave specialist, very powerful
• Home Assistant Green (CHF 109): Open source, many compatibilities, infinitely customizable
• Jeedom (Free + hardware CHF 200): French, very flexible

Advantages : ✅ Total integration of your entire home (heating + lights + blinds + security) ✅ Complex cross-brand automations (e.g. "window open → heating off + notification") ✅ One app to control everything ✅ Manufacturer independence (no cloud service required) ✅ Scalable: add any compatible device

Limits: ❌ Higher initial investment (home automation box CHF 150-800) ❌ More technical configuration ❌ Learning curve to master the controller ❌ You are your own technical support

Ideal for: Home automation enthusiasts, global smart home projects, people wanting total control and maximum customization.

How to choose?

Choose a stand-alone solution if:

• It's your first home automation project
• You only want to optimize heating
• You prefer simplicity and "it works immediately"
• You're a tenant with a temporary installation
• Limited budget (no home automation box to buy)

Choose a solution with a controller if :

• You already have a home automation box (Homey, Home Assistant, etc.)
• You're planning a global home automation project (not just heating)
• You like to tinker and customize
• You want advanced automation
• You want independence from cloud services

Our practical advice: Start with a stand-alone solution (e.g. Meross, Heatit, Tado). If you're hooked and want to go further, invest in a home automation box and gradually add professional modules (Heatit, Fibaro, Aqara).

Stand-alone solutions depend on the cloud to operate, and if the manufacturer goes bankrupt, the product often becomes unusable. This problem doesn't exist with products based on open standards such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread/Matter, because in the event of manufacturer bankruptcy, the product can always be associated with a compatible home automation solution such as Home Assistant or Homey, for example.