Professional know-how, creativity and sustainable solutions – today’s challenges in the refurbishment of buildings are wide ranging. But the use of sustainable materials, innovative technologies and digital design can help transform existing buildings into modern, energy-efficient and livable spaces.
With the campaign “Austria is not completely tight”, the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology in Austria has been addressing the urgent need to renovate buildings. By means of the campaign slogan, the Ministry emphasizes that many buildings in the country are still leaking – in terms of walls, windows, doors and roofs. In response to this challenge, the government has increased the renovation bonus to up to 14,000 euros per project.
Increase living comfort by means of renovation
On the occasion of the campaign presentation, Environment Minister Leonora Gewessler emphasized that refurbishment not only makes an important contribution to climate protection, but also increases living comfort and reduces heating costs because less energy is consumed. The improved regulatory framework makes thermal refurbishment more attractive than ever.
“Protecting the climate and saving money – we can do this with well-insulated houses and efficient heating systems. And the framework conditions for this are currently better than ever. We have increased the renovation bonus to up to 14,000 euros,” Gewessler emphasized at the campaign presentation. The new campaign provides information on how to implement these renovations.
A recent survey by TQS revealed that almost three quarters of all homeowners in Austria are thinking about carrying out renovation or improvement measures on their properties. According to the analysis, the main driver for this is the desire for lower energy consumption – living comfort, independence and environmental protection also play an important role. There are currently about two million residential buildings in Austria, including 1.8 million single- and two-family homes and nearly 270,000 multi-story apartment buildings.
Building renovations not only bring aesthetic improvements, but also significantly reduce occupancy costs. Older houses in particular are often poorly insulated and allow cold to enter from the outside, resulting in constantly running heaters in winter.
Three out of four respondents want to renovate property
The Austrian federal government is making a total of 940 million euros available for improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings in 2023 and 2024. Among other things, the thermal refurbishment of detached and semi-detached houses as well as row houses older than 20 years is subsidized. For the replacement of windows alone, the subsidy is up to 3,000 euros.
Eligible for funding are comprehensive renovations according to klimaaktiv standards of the entire building or the row house complex as well as the replacement of the windows of an apartment in multi-story residential buildings. In addition, green roofs and facades in multi-storey residential buildings are also subsidized in the case of simultaneous comprehensive thermal refurbishment or in the case of existing buildings in local centers that have already undergone thermal refurbishment.
The subsidy for comprehensive renovation to climateactive standard is up to 100 euros/m² of usable living space. If insulating materials made from renewable raw materials are used (at least 25 percent of all insulated surfaces), the subsidy increases to up to 175 euros/m² of usable living space. In the case of a single window construction measure, the subsidy amounts to up to 3,000 euros.
