Lustenau earns four e ratings for energy efficiency in Austria

The municipality of Lustenau in Vorarlberg, Austria, received four "e" ratings for its energy efficiency efforts under the e5 program.

These ratings reflect the town's commitment to sustainable construction and climate protection. The municipality aims to reach five "e" ratings during its next certification in four years. The town improved its energy profile by opening the Campus Rotkreuz, a center containing a kindergarten, primary school, special education center, and gymnasium.

The facility uses sustainable building methods, such as energy-saving lighting that reduced electricity consumption by 25 to 27 percent compared to older tube lights. A kitchen at the campus prepares 600 daily meals for children and a senior home using regional food and electricity from a rooftop photovoltaic system. Lustenau also uses biomass district heating to provide warmth to up to 200 buildings via 12-kilometer pipelines. The municipality says this system saves 3,000 tons of CO2 annually.

Additionally, the town installed a photovoltaic system at the Reichshofstadion that produces 200 kilowatt peak, enough to power about 70 households. Local residents funded this "citizen power plant" by purchasing 151 "Sonnenscheine," or sunshine units. The e5 program evaluates municipalities on criteria ranging from spatial planning to electricity consumption. Verena Beiser of the Energieinstitut Vorarlberg says the program focuses on long-term climate protection rather than just individual projects.

Mayor Patrick Wiedl stated that the municipality leads by example to encourage residents to adopt energy-efficient habits.