Survey: Apartments Often "Unbearably Hot" During Heatwaves

The climate crisis is turning our homes into heat traps. Especially in unrenovated or poorly renovated buildings," summarized Marc Dengler, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria, the results of a survey commissioned by the NGO. The government was urged to invest in a renovation initiative.

Because the heat robs people of sleep, harms health, and reduces quality of life, argued Dengler. "Our cities and buildings lack greenery, shade, and thermal renovation. Instead of cutting back on climate protection, the federal government must promote renovations," it was also stated that property owners should be held accountable and heat protection should be legally anchored, according to a release on Thursday.

80 Percent Experience Negative Effects During Heatwaves

According to Greenpeace, the survey numbers speak clearly: 80 percent of respondents experience physical effects during heatwaves. The health consequences thus affect large parts of the population and particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly or children. Two out of five people report sleep problems or reduced performance during heatwaves, and one in five even reports circulatory problems. And heatwaves are increasing drastically and becoming more extreme, the NGO emphasized.

18 percent of people living in apartments stated in the survey conducted by Integral (age group 16 to 75 years, n=1,000) that it is unbearably hot in their own apartment during heatwaves. People in unrenovated apartments are particularly affected. Of the housing types, 46 percent lived in a single-family or terraced house, 43 percent in an apartment below the top floor, and eleven percent in an apartment on the top floor.

Over half of the respondents demand that Austria should unseal, green, and renaturalize to counteract the heat. Four out of ten people advocated for significantly more investment in thermal renovations by the state. "However, with the current budget cuts, the exact opposite is currently threatened," criticized Greenpeace.

(APA/Red)

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