Some insights into the Austrian heating sector

Currently, with the winter living up to its name and the temperature dropping below zero, it’s time to take a closer look at the heating sector in Austria

– heating and cooling of buildings represents roughly a quarter of the total final energy consumption in Austria (EU average: 40%)

– total GHG emissions of buildings amount to ~8 Mio. t CO2eq; thereby representing ~10% of Austrian total emissions. This is remarkably lower than the EU average of ~35%. Also remarkable: buidlings have been in Austria the sector with strongest long-term emissions reduction (more than 30% compared to 2005)

– according to latest available data for Austria, gas is still dominant heating fuel (27%), closely followed by district heat (where gas is again with 35% the 2nd largest energy source for DH, biomass number one with 40%, waste heat with 7% also important), oil still 15%
– heat pumps as heating system with strongest growth (constantly two-digit yoy rates); almost quadrupled over the last 10 years (now around 400.000 devices as compared to roughly 1 Mio gas boilers)

– energy efficiency through thermal restoration on the rise (specific heat demand dropped in last 12 years by 30%) but still lot’s of room for improvement (especially for houses bulit before 1970)

Stay warm!