After thoroughly examining the situation, project manager Ulrike Bechtold from the Institute for Technology Assessment (ITA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences has a number of recommendations for the future of the city. First and foremost is the question of how Vienna can continue to serve as a role model when it comes to climate issues. ‘In times of global warming, it seems fundamentally absurd to provide additional heating for outdoor areas in cool weather,’ Bechtold is convinced. ‘Incentives can effectively support a switch from this model to less energy-intensive options.’

A new ITA dossier highlights the advantages and disadvantages of heating outdoor areas in winter and discusses more sustainable alternatives, such as providing blankets or using exhaust air. The population must also be made aware of the issue. Actively promoting ‘outdoor dining areas heated with 100% green electricity’, for example, could have an educational effect.

The ITA has examined this topic from various angles, involving citizens, gastronomers, experts, administrators and politicians. Interviews addressed questions of environmental relevance, fairness, regulation and control of outdoor space heating. The results show that radiant heaters in the catering industry are seen as a service for guests. ‘However, they also become a competitive factor, according to the motto, if others have them, I must have them too,’ says Bechtold. However, the very high energy consumption and the associated requirements are difficult to justify, she explains in the dossier.

The german version of the current ITA dossier ‘Heated outdoor dining areas in times of climate change’ is available for download here, an English version is to follow shortly.

Further links

ITA project page: Heated Outdoor Seating – Outdoor heaters against the backdrop of climate change (in English)