No one should freeze in winter. That is currently the big goal in Europe and also in Austria. But what happens if there really is a complete gas stop? How well prepared is Vienna currently? There are some suggestions, but they are not being announced yet.
While concrete emergency plans are already being drawn up in many cities and municipalities in our German neighbors, the general investigation in Vienna is only just beginning, according to the municipal authorities. The suggestions are then evaluated and an action plan is drawn up – which can be implemented in late autumn or winter, depending on the need. One thing is already clear: private households and the vital infrastructure of the city are supplied for the longest time.
Due to the latest developments and the promulgation of alert levels, the crisis management team of the City of Vienna last week instructed the construction department to conduct a global investigation into the possible room for maneuver in gas embargoes and to make appropriate proposals. However, the concrete proposals remain silent.
Exhibition hall as a warm-up hall for the poor?
An emergency measure could be to set up the exhibition hall in the second district as a heated emergency shelter for the elderly and low earners. So that those affected who can no longer afford heating can warm up. During the corona pandemic, a care center for infected people was set up here and the hall was also used as emergency shelter. To save energy, the indoor pools could also be closed in winter. Above all, the pool heaters require an enormous amount of energy.
Bold forecast
Due to the high energy consumption, the warming mushrooms in the outdoor terrace and the popular Christmas lights in the shopping streets would also be affected in the event of a gas shortage. When asked by “Krone”, both city councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) and Wiener Stadtwerke claimed that even if all supplies from Russia were stopped, the reserves in the gas storage facilities and the other gas supplies would be sufficient. A bold forecast.
Heating is currently – not yet – an issue with temperatures, but a few tips can already save a lot of energy:
In any case, the time will come after the summer when energy consumption increases.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
