Vienna is an exemplary city for environmental matters

In Vienna, there is a long tradition of environmentally-friendly waste disposal and power generation and ecological housing. New ideas and projects provide constant proof of the city’s exemplary track record of effective policies to help the environment while contributing to the high quality of life in Vienna. This summer too, a range of initiatives were introduced, showing that Vienna really does deserve its green reputation.

As part of its Urban Energy Efficiency Programme, for example, the City of Vienna has developed a set of guidelines for organisations, designed to help them to realise the energy-saving potential of re-using waste heat and to find the suitable technology for doing this. Existing projects are used as examples to show where and how much heat is lost during which industrial processes, and how this heat can be fed back into a building’s heating network.

Keeping waste in check with logistics

Another project that is due to be completed in the next three years is the construction of a new waste logistics centre in Simmering. Construction of the facility is due to start next spring next to the Pfaffenau waste incineration plant. Should Vienna’s incineration plants be overstretched, shredded and compressed waste can be temporarily stored at the centre, thus avoiding the build-up of waste elsewhere. In addition, a scrap collection centre with access for the public and a collection point for problematic materials are to be created.

Turning waste into a resource

The fact that Vienna leads the way in waste management is also proved by the 9th International Conference on Waste Management being held here. From 16 to 18 November 2009, experts from both Austria and abroad will be gathering at Vienna’s Congress Center. There will be talks, presentations and discussions about current issues in waste management and solution models for the future.

European capital of passive houses

Vienna also need not fear comparison with regards to sustainable housing. Austria leads the way in Europe with over 5,000 so-called ‘passive houses’, ultra-low energy buildings. A further 20 ecological housing complexes in Vienna are planned. “This year, almost a quarter of our new buildings will have passive house technology,” explains City Councillor for Housing, Michael Ludwig. This puts Vienna in first place for passive houses, above all other federal provinces and other big European cities.

Ludwig considers the example of the car-free housing project at Floridsdorf to show clearly the value set on innovation in Viennese housing construction. Thanks partly to the assistance given by the Vienna Housing Research Programme and their regular evaluations, the Floridsdorf project provided lots of useful experience for a range of follow-up projects, with several similar ones having already been completed. The Vienna vice-mayor pointed to Bike-City I and Bike-City II as examples.

Ecological aspects when planning and building

On 29 and 30 September, the Viennese Municipal Department of Environmental Protection (MA 22) is hosting a two-day conference in the Hirschstetten Flower Gardens. The conference is aimed at experts in the construction industry, architecture, urban planning and ecological building. The first day is devoted to the topic of adding greenery to buildings and facades, while the second day covers other environmental aspects to be considered when planning and building, above all with large-scale projects. These aspects include environmentally-friendly disposal of building waste, measures for reducing dust and possible uses of recycled material.




The City of Vienna has developed a digital environmental city map, so that those interested in the environment can find out quickly and easily about current topics and ecological news. The ‘Wien Umweltgut’ (Vienna environmental property) section of the online map enables you to explore the city’s green treasures. You can also find detailed information and maps for the different animal and plant habitats, the location of air quality measuring sites and the readings taken there, and an overview of restaurants and cafes awarded the Ecolabel for environmental protection.