WWF and Mother Earth: According to an analysis, 45 percent energy savings are possible in Austria
Short-term reduction of 5.9 billion kWh per year possible – energy saving potential is greatest in the transport and building sector – WWF calls for comprehensive energy saving offensive
Vienna (OTS) – A nature-friendly energy transition is indispensable. Two thirds of the energy consumed in Austria is still imported in the form of oil, natural gas and coal, destroying the climate and the foreign trade balance. A full supply of nature-friendly renewable energy can only be achieved by halving energy consumption. One new analysis on behalf of the Mother Earth initiative shows that medium-term energy savings of 45 percent are actually possible. “With our ongoing energy consumption, we can neither achieve the climate goals nor create an environmentally compatible energy transition. Getting us & our wasteful use of energy under control quickly – the analysis shows that this is possible“, says Karl Schellmann, climate spokesman for WWF Austria. The greatest potential lies in the area of transport, in the building sector and in companies. “Many people are not aware of where the energy ‘runs through our fingers’. That’s why we commissioned this analysis to get a feeling for where we can save as part of the “Bye bye CO2” focus“, says Anita Malli, Managing Director of the environmental initiative MOTHER EARTH.
Energy savings are immediate and add up over the years. A house that is insulated once saves energy for at least 30 years. Even small savings hold great potential for change. According to the analysis, the quickest and most effective measures to be implemented include speed limits on open roads (80 km/h) and motorways (110 km/h), shifting ten percent of commuting individual traffic to public transport and accelerating building renovations. There are also potential savings through water-saving fittings and economical electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. These measures, which can be implemented immediately, would lead to a reduction of 5.9 billion kWh (kilowatt hours) in the first year. “With these measures, Austrian households could reduce their energy consumption by 3.4 percent in the first year – that is as much as around 470 modern wind turbines or 750,000 typical photovoltaic systems on single-family homes produce‘ says Shellman.
For companies in the service and production sector, too, the most effective measures are in the area of transport and building renovation: A switch from motorized commercial vehicles to electric vehicles, efficient pumping and ventilation systems and the use of heat generated for heating could reduce energy consumption by one reduce percent. “That doesn’t sound like much, but it quickly corresponds to one million tons of CO2 equivalents in the first year. Further measures can be implemented in subsequent years and the savings add up“, explains Karl Schellmann from WWF Austria.
“A nature-friendly energy transition can succeed if politicians finally start a comprehensive energy-saving offensive with the necessary measures for more efficient and economical use of energy – we are running out of time“, says WWF climate spokesman Karl Schellmann. The ongoing measures would neither jeopardize economic growth nor the energy and mobility needs of a growing population. “Wealth might even increase due to lower costs and better environmental conditions‘ says Shellman.
to die Initiative MOTHER EARTH was launched in 2014 by the ORF and the leading environmental and nature conservation organizations in Austria. It is supported by the “We for the World Environmental Initiative” association, which includes ORF, Alpenverein, BirdLife, GLOBAL 2000, Greenpeace, Friends of Nature, Nature Conservation Union, VCÖ and WWF. The common goal is to make sustainability an issue, to provide information and to collect donations for environmental protection projects. MUTTER EARDE is supported by Tchibo, the Kronen Zeitung, Lidl Austria and Wien Energie. MOTHER EARTH thanks all partners.
The analysis for download: https://bit.ly/3wI6UiJ
Questions & contact:
Mag. Nikolai Moser, Head of Communications at WWF Austria
+43 664 883 92 489, nikolai.moser@wwf.at