Dr. Devi Bühler

Work at ZHAW

Position

Senior researcher and lecturer, Project leader

Focus

• Circular economy in the building and housing sector, Zero Emission Buildings, Integrated building design
• Greywater treatment and reuse, Biological wastewater treatment
• Decentralised, sustainable water management
• Acceptance and socio-economic aspects of eco-technologies

Education and Continuing education

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, PhD / Bioscience Engineering: Environmental Sciences and Technology
  Ghent University
  10 / 2020 - 12 / 2025
• Master of Science ZFH / Natural Resource Science
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  09 / 2015 - 02 / 2018
• Bachelor of Science ZFH / Environmental Engineering
  Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  09 / 2010 - 09 / 2013
• Vocational baccalaureate with technical focus
  Gewerblich-Industrielle Berufsschule Uster
  10 / 2007 - 09 / 2009
• Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence / Druggist
  Allgemeine Berufsschule Zürich / training company
  08 / 2003 - 08 / 2007

Network

Membership of networks

• International Science Council - Global Roster of Experts
• International Water Association IWA - Co-Chair Specialist Group on Resource-Oriented Sanitation
• Swiss Water Partnership
• Swiss Young Academy - Alumna
• Swiss Association for Building Biology

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0881-0238

Awards

• Zurich Future Prize
  Zurich Cantonal Parliament
  01 / 2025
• Sustainability Award for the achievements in KREIS-Haus
  ZHAW Institute of Natural Resource Sciences
  12 / 2021
• Svial Asiat Award for best grade in the master's program
  SVIAL
  06 / 2018
• SoE-Award for best grade in the technical vocational baccalaureate
  ZHAW School of Engineering
  09 / 2009

Social media

LinkedIn

Media presence

• Project KREIS-Haus
• Project LaundReCycle

Projects

• Low-tech decentralised wastewater treatment for self-sufficient and climate-resilient water systems / Deputy project leader / ongoing
• From urine to fertiliser: on-site nutrient recovery in circular sanitation systems / Project leader / ongoing
• The Blackwater Project in Cape Town / Project leader / ongoing
• The Low-Tech Water Project / Project leader / ongoing
• Value Next – Transdisciplinary Research for a Circular Water Future / Deputy project leader / completed
• Micro-biogas plants in Switzerland: Analysis of performance, economic viability, and approval practices of a small-scale biogas system for tiny living concepts and applications in alpine regions under Swiss climate conditions / Project leader / completed
• Integration of water and nutrient cycles in the renovation of a single-family detached home / Deputy project leader / completed
• Evaluation of methods for monitoring the quality of treated domestic grey water for water re-use / Deputy project leader / completed
• Casa Circolo – Direct recycling of greywater using the example of the KREIS-Haus / Project leader / completed
• Open Mind and Closed Cycles / Project leader / completed
• Living in the KREIS-Haus / Project leader / completed
• Ecological Engineering Living Lab: Insights into the lab of Ecological Engineering / Project leader / completed
• LaundReCycle South Africa – A Water- and Energy Self-sufficient Laundromat / Project leader / completed
• Local Water Loop / Team member / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Buehler, D. et al. (2025) ‘Drivers for the adoption of circular water systems at the building level in a high-income context’, Water Research X, 29(100416). doi: 10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100416.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2025) ‘Onsite greywater reuse in a low-tech solar-driven pilot laundry facility : field insights on performance, self-sufficiency, and user acceptance’, Water Reuse, 15(3), pp. 591–608. doi: 10.2166/wrd.2025.068.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2025) ‘Off-grid rainwater and greywater treatment and reuse on household level : conceptual approach and pilot operation at the KREIS-Haus demonstration case, Switzerland’, Water Reuse, 15(2), pp. 178–197. doi: 10.2166/wrd.2025.104.
• Bühler, D., Vischer, T. and Junge, R. (2025) ‘A circular design concept for implementing sustainable building practices in the KREIS-Haus living lab, Switzerland’, Buildings, 15(3), p. 409. doi: 10.3390/buildings15030409.
• Zhang, R. et al. (2024) ‘Pilot scale demonstration of an underground biological aerated filter for rural wastewater treatment in a protected area’, Journal of Water Process Engineering, 64(105603). doi: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.105603.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2021) ‘Towards water and energy self-sufficiency : a closed-loop, solar-driven, low-tech laundry pilot facility (LaundReCycle) for the reuse of laundry wastewater’, Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(3), pp. 1037–1051. doi: 10.1007/s43615-021-00077-2.
• Dale, G. et al. (2021) ‘Education in ecological engineering : a need whose time has come’, Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(1), pp. 333–373. doi: 10.1007/s43615-021-00067-4.
• Katsou, E. et al. (2020) ‘Transformation tools enabling the implementation of nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city’, Blue-Green Systems, 2(1), pp. 186–211. doi: 10.2166/bgs.2020.929.
• Langergraber, G. et al. (2020) ‘Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city’, Blue-Green Systems, 2(1), pp. 173–185. doi: 10.2166/bgs.2020.933.
• Bühler, D. and Junge, R. (2016) ‘Global trends and current status of commercial urban rooftop farming’, Sustainability, 8(11), p. 1108. doi: 10.3390/su8111108.

Books, peer-reviewed

• Bühler, D. (2025) Towards off-grid self-sufficiency : technical and socio-economic evaluation of a circular water system based on greywater reuse. Doctoral dissertation. Ghent University. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-34840.
• Bühler, D. and Schamoni, W. R. (2023) Energieeffizientes Bauen und Sanieren. Augsburg: WEKA MEDIA GmbH & Co.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Lüthi, L. and Bühler, D. (2025) ‘Assessing the impact of experiencing an ecological building on user acceptance and behavioral intentions : insights from the KREIS-Haus living lab’, in 13th IEES International Conference ‘Closed Cycles and the Circular Society – The Power of Ecological Engineering’, Reykjavik, Iceland, 16-18 July 2025. ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-34068.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2025) ‘Drivers for the adoption of circular water systems at the building level in a high-income context’, in 13th IEES International Conference ‘Closed Cycles and the Circular Society – The Power of Ecological Engineering’, Reykjavik, Iceland, 16-18 July 2025.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2025) ‘Off-grid water treatment and reuse of rain- and greywater on household level : pilot operation at the example of KREIS-Haus, Switzerland’, in 14th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation & Reuse, Cape Town, South Africa, 16-19 March 2025.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2024) ‘Performance, optimization, socio-economic acceptance, and drivers of a low-tech solar-driven pilot laundry facility (LaundReCycle) in South Africa’, in IWA 17th SSWS and 9th ROS. Rio de Janeiro: ABES - Associação Brasileira de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-32660.
• Bühler, D., Junge, R. and Rousseau, D. (2023) ‘Towards water self-sufficiency : pilot operation of an off-grid water cycle based on rainwater harvesting and low-tech, biological greywater treatment in an inhabited demonstration house in Switzerland (KREIS-Haus)’, in 6th IWA International Conference on Eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment, Girona, Spain, 26-29 June 2023. International Water Association. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-28826.
• Lüthi, L. and Bühler, D. (2023) ‘Evaluation of a low-tech, passively solar-driven pilot plant : nutrients recovery from source-separated urine on household level’, in 6th IWA International Conference on Eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment, Girona, Spain, 26-29 June 2023. ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-34540.
• Bühler, D., Schuetze, T. and Junge, R. (2015) ‘Towards development of a label for zero emission buildings : a tool to evaluate potential zero emission buildings’, in Rosen, M. A. (ed.) Sustainability. MDPI, pp. 5071–5093. doi: 10.3390/su7055071.
• Bühler, D., Junge, R. and Schütze, T. (2014) ‘Towards development of a label for zero emission buildings : a tool to evaluate potential zero emission buildings’, in Proceedings of the 4th world sustainability forum. MDPI. doi: 10.3390/wsf-4-a001.

Other publications

• Bühler, D. et al. (2026) Grauwassernutzung in der Schweiz : Synthese und Empfehlungen. Wädenswil: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-2581.
• Senft, E. et al. (2025) Impact of AI on early career researchers : challenges, opportunities and responsibilities. Bern: Swiss Young Academy. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-34837.
• Bühler, D. and Barmettler, R. (2023) LaundReCycle : a water- and energy self-sufficient laundromat. Wädenswil: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-28581.
• Bühler, D., Lüthi, L. and Jenny, A. (2023) KREIS-Haus : Schlussbericht Projektphase 2021 - 2022. Wädenswil: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-27805.
• Bühler, D. (2023) ‘Grossmarkt Grossstadt’, Modulør, 16(1), pp. 34–39. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-27263.
• Bühler, D. (2022) ‘Ecological Engineering Living Lab’, TRANSFER Special, 2022(2), p. 9. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-25948.
• Bühler, D. (2022) ‘Ökotechnologie Living Lab’, TRANSFER Spezial, 2022(2), p. 9. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-25947.
• Itin, N. and Bühler, D. (2022) Chancen und Hemmnisse des nachhaltigen Gebäudebaus in der Schweiz. Wädenswil: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-35853.
• Bühler, D. (2022) ‘Baubranche : wieso die Klimasünderin umdenken muss’, higgs. Available at: https://www.higgs.ch/baubranche-wieso-die-klimasuenderin-umdenken-muss/50357/.
• Bühler, D. (2022) ‘Design challenge - Sight Unseen: Depicting Climate Change in the Light of Human Rights’, Swiss Young Academy. Available at: https://swissyoungacademy.ch/youngacademy_de/gemeinsame-projekte/the-future-of-human-rights/design-challenge-sight-unseen-depicting-climate-change-in-the-light-of-human-rights.
• Bühler, D. and Schönborn, A. (2021) ‘Das KREIS-Haus : die grosse Kreislaufvision im Miniformat’, Transfer, 2021(2), p. 12. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-24755.
• Bühler, D. et al. (2020) Local Water Loop : Vorstudie für einen energie- und wasserautarken Waschmaschinenbetrieb. Wädenswil: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-28824.
• Bühler, D. (2020) ‘Urban Mining und Urban Farming im Haus der Zukunft’, Baubiologie. Available at: https://www.baubio.ch/artikel-beitrage/urban-mining-und-urban-farming-im-haus-der-zukunft.
• Bühler, D. and Antenen, N. (2020) ‘Waschen für die Wissenschaft’, IUNR Magazin, 2020(1), pp. 14–15. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-19919.
• Bühler, D. and Junge, R. (2018) Ein Technologiekonzept für multi-funktionale Fassaden. Wädenswil: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-27655.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

Bühler, D. et al. (2020) ‘Towards water and energy self-sufficiency : a closed-loop, low-tech laundry pilot facility (LaundReCycle) for the reuse of laundry wastewater’, in Closed Cycles and the Circular Society : The Power of Ecological Engineering, Online, 2-4 September 2020. Available at: https://closedcycles2020.ch.

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