Housing and construction - key tasks of the Vienna Ombuds Office for Environmental Protection

The future of construction and energy provision will clearly be determined by highly efficient passive buildings and renewable energy sources. In view of continuing climatic change, it is necessary to cut CO₂ emissions. The housing industry and the tertiary sector account for 40 per cent of total final energy consumption across the EU. New construction projects present a chance for using the most energy efficient technologies available right from the start, thus avoiding additional CO₂ emissions or keeping them down to an absolute minimum.

The Ombuds Office examines possible measures to maintain the high quality of life in the city in changing climatic conditions. At the same time, it focuses on boosting energy efficiency in every possible way and achieving a shift towards renewables. In this context, ecological housing and construction are main concerns of the Ombuds Office.