Environment

Accommodation

Approximately 20% of the average Austrian footprint comes from the sphere of accommodation, especially heating and electricity. Every person can help immediately by making little savings, for example in their daily use of heating and electricity. Greater savings are only possible in these areas over the long term, for example through renovations. The accommodation footprint can be reduced by up to 90% through the use of low-energy or passive houses. These houses are distinguished by excellent insulation (roof, walls and windows). The windows, for example, are normally triple-glazed and allow for high heat retention as well as utilization of solar energy to keep the need for heating as low as possible. In terms of sustainability it is also important at this point to consider the extraction of raw materials as well as the production and disposal of insulation.

Energy can be produced in very different ways and with differing energy sources, some of which are more climatically and environmentally friendly than others. Green electricity is energy produced by renewable energy sources such as biomass, geothermal energy, solar power as well as wind and hydroelectric power, and which avoids fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

Helpful links

http://www.triplepundit.com/topic/energy-options-pros-and-cons/
http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/
http://www.alternativeenergysource.org/pros_cons.htm