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In Austria, more people now die from heat-related causes than from traffic accidents. Those most affected are older, vulnerable people—those who cannot easily leave their overheated homes when it gets too hot.
Roland Wallner, deputy director of Hilfswerk Österreich and architect, discusses practical solutions, blind spots in research and politics—and why he sometimes wishes for more pragmatism—in this interview.
SBC: Mr. Wallner, why is the issue of heat protection for older adults so important to you?
Wallner: This is an issue that we, as a society, cannot afford to ignore. Because it involves human suffering and a lack of awareness. In Austria, more people now die from heat-related causes than in traffic accidents. And when you consider the effort that has been made over decades to reduce traffic fatalities—which is absolutely commendable, and was the right and important thing to do—then I seriously wonder why there is no comparable societal strategy for heat-related deaths.
The number of tropical nights speaks for itself. These are nights when the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees. In the 1960s, there was an average of one such night per year in Austria. In 2003, there were eleven; by 2015, the number had risen to 23; and in 2024, we counted 26. These trends are also evident in regions that were previously known for their cool climate.
The data shows that temperatures are rising, and we need to prepare ourselves and our towns and villages for this trend. The human body needs to cool down at night to recover. When that doesn’t happen, it’s uncomfortable even for young, healthy people. For the elderly and frail, it can be life-threatening.
SBC: Who exactly do you mean when you talk about the at-risk group?
Wallner: By that I mean people who aren’t mobile. People who can’t just get up and go to the park when it gets too hot. People who don’t have family nearby who can drop by quickly to help out. People who live alone in the countryside, or in city apartments from the 1960s or early 1970s—with large south-facing windows, poor glazing, and poor insulation, without exterior shading.
These people are literally trapped in a heat trap. And what we can currently offer them is truly embarrassingly little: airing out the room at night, hanging up wet towels. These are measures that caregivers were told to take even a hundred years ago. Very little progress has been made in research in this area. We find that deeply regrettable.
SBC: Why is that? Why isn’t this issue taken seriously enough?
Wallner: Climate change and its impact on quality of life in villages and cities are the subject of intensive research. Scientific studies are also focusing on long-term measures to adapt these living environments to climate change. What is largely missing, however, are concrete solutions for vulnerable groups who are already suffering acutely from heat today and who need immediate help because their health—and sometimes even their lives—depend on it.
The key question is: What else can we do beyond the well-known recommendations, such as ventilating at night or hanging up damp towels? As a care organization, we are waiting for answers regarding what measures can be taken immediately in the event of acute heat stress in the home of an 80-year-old person to effectively minimize health risks. Our goal is to identify practical and immediately actionable steps that can quickly and effectively help people who are particularly vulnerable in heat-related situations.
What happens instead: Whenever the topic of heat protection comes up, the experts retreat to their ivory tower. They start talking about thermal retrofitting of the building envelope, full thermal insulation, and building component activation. These are generally sensible measures— I say that explicitly—but they are completely pointless when we’re talking about an 85-year-old person who is currently sitting in an overheated apartment and can no longer get a home improvement loan, who doesn’t have the time for a renovation project lasting several months, and who is completely overwhelmed by their life situation. The question is: what will help them today, tonight, with the temperature in their apartment at 32 degrees?
We need immediate solutions for people like that. But we don’t have them, and we aren’t even researching them. That is the real scandal.
SBC: What would you recommend to those affected in the short term—without much effort or expense?
Wallner: The simplest measure costs nothing at all: moving to a different part of your apartment or house. That may sound trivial, but the effect can be quite significant. Older people often live in large homes and use only a few rooms. The living room on the south side, and sometimes the bedroom as well.
My advice: Find the coolest room in your house or apartment. Why not just move your bed there? This can lower the temperature by several degrees in the summer—especially at night, when it matters most. No need for a contractor, no costs, and it can be done in a day.
This isn’t exactly new information, by the way. When I was surveying old farmhouses during my architecture studies, it immediately became clear to me: the layout of the rooms was dictated by the climate. The coolest rooms were always in the northeast corner. That’s where the pantry was, and that’s where food was stored. It worked for centuries. We no longer need to store food there today—but why not the bedroom? That could be a sensible measure.
SBC: Do you have any other useful tips for avoiding hot spots?
Wallner: Something I would have liked to have studied seriously from a scientific perspective: UV-protective films on window panes. Every degree of heat that the sunlight doesn’t pass through the glass is a benefit. These films are relatively inexpensive, can be professionally installed within a day, don’t require building permits, and leave no permanent marks on the structure.
The next step—which is significantly more involved—would be to install external sun protection, such as roller shutters, venetian blinds, or external blinds. This can significantly reduce or even prevent heat gain through the windows. This is a worthwhile investment and—unlike building renovation—one that can be implemented by older people within a reasonable timeframe and on a manageable budget.
And when nothing else works: an air conditioner. I know that in some professional circles, this is almost considered sacrilege. I live in a passive house myself and use geothermal cooling—so I’m familiar with the entire range of eco-friendly measures. But when it comes to improving the quality of life for an older person with health issues in a concrete and immediate way, I believe this discussion misses the point.
SBC: What can people do who are still able to actively and more intensively customize their homes?
Wallner: Anyone who plans ahead and thinks about where they’d like to spend their retirement should also factor in the issue of heat when making those decisions. Here’s an example from my own circle: A retired nurse moved from a house that she felt was much too big—with a labor-intensive garden—into a small apartment. There were several apartments to choose from.
She deliberately chose not to go with the south-facing side—even though the view might have been nicer there. Instead, she chose the north-facing side, which has a terrace that catches the evening sun. Less intense heat, cooler nights, and pleasant summer evenings spent outdoors. That’s smart; that’s forward thinking.
And that is precisely the point: that people who still have the opportunity to shape their living situation—and who are renovating in their early or mid-60s—actively take this criterion into account. It’s not just about whether the bathroom is barrier-free, whether there’s an elevator, or whether the kitchen is nice. It’s also about how the apartment performs in the summer: Is there natural shade? Can the building be cooled?
And that brings us to our next tip: trees and greenery. If you have a garden, you should consider planting trees—preferably those that form a canopy. It takes them about 15 to 20 years to provide a cooling effect. If you plant them in your early 60s, by the time you’re statistically likely to need care, you’ll have natural, low-maintenance, cost-effective, and beautiful protection from the heat. It’s a long-term investment—and it’s worth it.
SBC: What is needed at the political level—what would you like to see there?
Wallner: Research funding to study the effectiveness of the acute measures mentioned above and to develop low-threshold, easily accessible service packages for vulnerable target groups. Not for the next major renovation initiative, which will be completed in ten years and primarily affect people who are 40 today. But for solutions that can be implemented in a matter of days. For people who are stuck in the heat trap this summer and don’t have much money to implement solutions.
We need evidence on which measures actually work—scientifically proven, with a reasonable cost-effectiveness ratio. Are UV-protective films as effective as we assume? What effects does a particular measure have in an older building from the 1960s? How many degrees of difference does external sun protection make in practice? We lack the evidence needed to work with policymakers to develop and implement appropriate programs for preventive heat protection measures.
SBC: In closing—what is your most important message for those affected?
Wallner: Start thinking early on about where and how you want to live in your later years, and be sure not to overlook the issue of heat.
Your own house or apartment should be a place where you can live comfortably, even in the height of summer. This isn’t a matter of luxury, but of quality of life.
Roland Wallner is the Deputy Director of Hilfswerk Austria.
Author: Anja Herberth
Chefredakteurin
