RES-H building obligations

Updated: 08.12.2017

Author: Flora Borek

The implementation of building related measures mainly lies in local competence. However, the conclusion of the Article 15a B-VG Agreement between the Austrian federal and state governments introduced an essential step to the harmonisation and reinforcement of RE measures in the building sector. The federal state governments have for the most part already implemented the obligations according to Article 15a B-VG Agreement in their respective housing support laws.

While RE measures are promoted in industrial and commercial buildings mainly at federal level through the Umweltförderungsgesetz (UFG – Environmental Aid Act), the development of the legislation and RE measures for residential buildings falls largely within the sphere of competence of the federal states.

The support of RE measures in the building sector is provided as part of the ‘Environmental Assistance in Austria' (UFI) field of action (§ 24 par. 1 UFG). The measures also include the energy efficiency promotional programme (§ 23 (2) UFG). This budget consists of the compensatory payments which arise from missed obligations set out in the Federal Act on the enhancement of energy efficiency targeting businesses and the federal government. The energy efficiency promotion programme to be implemented within the framework of the national environmental promotion aims in particular at fulfilling the objectives set out in Sections 4 and 7 EEffG on national targets and benchmarks. For this purpose, the subsidies to be granted in the energy efficiency promotion programme are to be aligned as best as possible with these objectives for an efficient and effective use of resources. The subsidies should be allocated to energy efficiency measures of households by 40% and to renewable energy investments by at least 34% (§6 (2f) subpar. 2 UFG).

Since the implementation of measures in the residential building sector lies in local competence, the conditions of eligibility and the amount of support in the respective federal states are regulated differently. The promotion of measures takes place exclusively in the form of financial support for investments (most of them one-off, outright investment subsidies).

Obligated entities

Industrial and commercial buildings:

  • companies, businesses 
  • contracting companies 
  • non-profit associations 
  • charitable associations 
  • local public authorities, where there are market-oriented practices
  • energy supply companies

Residential buildings: 

  • Mostly natural persons, houseowners, tenants, owners of dwellings, authorised builders
  • In some cases local authorities, legal persons or non-profit associations for residential homes and employee housing

Competent authority

Industrial and commercial buildings: Settlement agency: Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH (KPC); Residential buildings: The support of RE measures lies in the competence of the respective local authorities

Obligation on regional level

Yes.

Austria

Further information

Basic information on legal sources