GLOBAL 2000 welcomes the Vienna Heat Plan but calls for rapid legal implementation – 2024-05-06 13:20:08

Environmentalists are pushing for the city government to step up its pace when it comes to phasing out gas

Vienna (OTS) – The environmental protection organization GLOBAL 2000 sees the Vienna heating plan presented today as generally positive, but is calling for more speed in phasing out gas: “Hundreds of thousands of gas boilers are installed in apartments and offices in Vienna. In order for these to be exchanged for cheap and clean heat supply systems in a planned manner, a legal basis for the conversion is quickly needed in addition to a plan. Since the federal government has not passed a comprehensive renewable heat law, it is now the turn of the Vienna city government to take action,” said Johannes Wahlmüller, climate and energy spokesman for GLOBAL 2000.

In addition to replacing the boiler, focus on thermal renovation

With a share of fossil heating of 47%, Vienna has the highest proportion of oil and gas heating in households of all federal states. If you also include offices and companies, a total of around 600,000 gas heating systems are installed in Vienna (2023). These all have to be replaced by 2040, i.e. around 35,000 per year. This challenge can only be achieved if the legal framework is clearly regulated. In addition to changing the heating systems, more attention must also be paid to the thermal renovation of existing buildings in Vienna. Building renovations in particular reduce energy consumption and thus help us to use energy economically and in a targeted manner and to reduce heating costs in the long term.

To achieve this, thermal renovation must be included in the budget with appropriate financial resources so that the entire building stock can be brought into good condition by 2040 “It is now important to quickly set the legal course so that the city of Vienna can actually achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2040. In addition to the necessary planning, the focus must now be placed on the actual implementation. This means a clearly regulated and binding heating replacement by 2040 at the latest and more financial resources for thermal renovation,” Johannes Wahlmüller concludes.

Questions & Contact:

Hannah Keller, press spokesperson GLOBAL 2000, 0699 14 2000 64, hannah.keller@global2000.at
Johannes Wahlmüller, climate and energy spokesman GLOBAL 2000, 0699 14 2000 41, johannes.wahlmüller@global2000.at