Unrenovated Old Apartments Particularly Affected by Heat

In four of the examined apartments, temperatures above 30 degrees were measured. During the heatwave, temperatures in unrenovated old buildings rose above 27 degrees. Compared to a new building apartment, the poorly insulated old building apartment heated up faster and cooled down more slowly. Between Thursday and Friday, it was hotter inside the old building apartment for over 15 hours than outside, while in the new building apartment it was about eleven hours.

Greenpeace Calls for Renovation Offensive for Old Buildings

Among the examined apartments were also those of families affected by poverty, which heat up to high temperatures over a long period. "Because heat and poverty are a dangerous combination. Cooling, renovation, and relocation are unaffordable for many," it was stated. Greenpeace and Volkshilfe are calling on the federal government to invest in a renovation offensive instead of cutting environmentally friendly subsidies. "Those who live in unrenovated old buildings are trapped in the heat for weeks. The federal government must not close its eyes to the increasingly hot reality. Instead of cutting climate protection, the federal government must promote renovations," said Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace in Austria.

Climate Protest in the Morning in Vienna

The extreme temperatures were also a topic at the climate protection demonstration of the environmental movement Fridays For Future, which took place on Friday morning. Activists gathered in downtown Vienna in front of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Climate Protection to demonstrate for the adherence to the 2040 climate goals - including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent - and against "loopholes" through the purchase of international CO2 certificates.

Under the motto "Wake Up," the activists addressed Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) and the federal government. "If Totschnig thinks he can shift goals and government promises as he pleases, he has reckoned without reality and the well-being of people. It's like calling for rescue during a heatstroke - we don't call a few minutes later because it's inconvenient for us," said spokeswoman Laila Kriechbaum. Climate policy must be a fundamental attitude, as the climate crisis affects all areas of life.

(APA/Red)

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