Energy efficiency indicators

Due to the high level of dependence on energy imports that are associated with increasing uncertainty, the efficient use of energy is becoming increasingly important. Austria's contractual obligation to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 13% relative to the 1990 level by 2010 (Kyoto objective) and the EU directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services 2006/32/EC (energy efficiency directive) constitute additional reasons for using energy as efficiently as possible. Under the EU directive, Austria is obliged to make savings amounting to 80.4 peta joules (PJ) in 2016, to be reached by way of energy services and other energy efficiency measures. This figure corresponds to 9% of the annual average amount of final energy consumption for 2001-2005 (excluding emissions trading companies and the federal armed forces).

Following the decline in the previous year the energy consumption has increased notably in the year 2010 in Austria: gross domestic consumption increased by +91 112 tera joules (+6.7%), final energy consumption (FEC) increased by +59 157 tera joules (+5.6%). Energy consumption in Austria has also increased significantly since 1990.

In the period from 1990 to 2010, gross domestic consumption rose from around 1.05 million tera joules (TJ) to 1.46 million TJ. This corresponds to growth of 38.5%. In order to compensate for climate-related fluctuations in the field of space heating and cooling, final energy consumption (FEC) was adjusted for temperature, i.e. attuned to the average long-term temperature. The temperature-adjusted FEC shows an increase of 46.0% over the period under consideration.

The development of energy intensity in Austria varies depending on the level of energy consumption under consideration. In future, an annual saving of around 1% of final energy consumption will be required between 2008 and 2016 in order to meet the savings target set by the energy efficiency directive.

In the household sector, final energy consumption (temperature adjusted) for space heating and air conditioning increased from 1990 to 2010 (5.3%) while a larger increase in the average floor space of dwellings (+18.1%) is noticeable. At -28.6%, there was a significant decrease in the heating intensity of households – calculated as FEC for space heating for the total floor space of main residences – from 1990 to 2010. This corresponds to an annual efficiency gain of 1.6% over the period under consideration. However, there was a considerable increase (24.8%) in the remaining final energy consumption of households (excluding heating and traction) from 1990 to 2010, which impacted on the development of energy intensity by causing growth of 14.3% (0.8% p.a.), i.e. energy efficiency deteriorated significantly in this area.

From 1990 to 2010 the stock of passenger cars (diesel and gasoline) showed a distinct growth from 2.9 million passenger cars to 4.4 million (+48.1%). In the same period the total mileage (driven kilometers) of domestic transport with passenger cars increased by 52.9%. The domestic energy intensity of diesel and gasoline driven cars – calculated as FEC per domestic mileage – decreased since 1990: The energy intensity of diesel driven cars declined by 14.9%, that of gasoline driven cars by 19.8%.

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Energy intensity in Austria 1990 - 2010
Energy intensity of the manufacturing industry (without traction) 1990 - 2010
Energy intensity of households (without traction) 1990 - 2010
Energy intensity of domestic transport - passenger cars 1990 - 2010

Austrian Energy Agency

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