Vienna plans to become climate neutral by 2040. At the same time, in Vienna they believe that the economy should not suffer because of this plan. In the annual report “Vienna Green Economy Report“ the progress towards a climate-friendly economy in Vienna is documented. Sustainability and economic profitability go hand in hand in the Austrian capital. Various opportunities exist in Vienna, especially in the construction sector, which is responsible for 30 percent of CO2 emissions. Renovating buildings, such as urban housing or schools, can serve not only to improve climate conditions and reduce CO2, but also to create additional economic value and preserve jobs, which could boost the economy. The city therefore invests in various projects, such as the expansion of solar systems.
“On the one hand, we have a huge saving in CO2 emissions, and on the other hand, through the economic contribution, we see what all this brings in a wider economic context. And a large number of companies show that this can also be economically profitable,” said the president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, Walter Rook. If all the projects proposed in the report were implemented, several hundred thousand tons of CO2 could be saved every year.
Currently, the Lake City Aspern project is underway, where a large heat pump is being built. Deep drilling is done there to extract energy for district heating from the water. Hot water could be used to produce alternative sources of energy for the economy and households, pointed out the mayor of Vienna, Mihael Ludwig.
One of the examples of how to make the economy climate-friendly is the hotel “Butik” in the 9th district of Vienna, which is focused on sustainability. In addition to the green facade, a solar panel was also installed this year. In this way, the emission of CO2 was reduced. However, the focus on ecological business started much earlier, as the owner of the hotel, Sonja Wimer, states: “We took the first step in 2013 during the general reconstruction. That’s when, despite larger investments, we decided on energy-efficient building technology.” Thus, current energy costs were reduced by 20 percent in the long term. Investments, as Wimmer says, pay off in the long run. Sustainable business can benefit businesses and at the same time contribute to a climate-neutral future.
E2 portal
Source: www.e2.rs
