Measurement results from several research and pilot projects have demonstrated that it is possible to carry out socially responsible, climate-friendly renovations of multi-story apartment buildings using heat pumps. We’ll show you how to complete the task successfully.
The Energieinstitut Vorarlberg’s new, free online series offers professionals in architecture and construction a concise update on a variety of topics related to energy, materials, and innovations. Twice a year, we invite you to kick off your evening with some fresh inspiration.
Target audience: Professionals in architecture and construction, interested members of the public
Cost: Free; registration is available until the start of the event
Location: online via Zoom Registration deadline: January 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Click here to access the online presentation; use the name of the current month as the access code
While the use of heat pumps is already widespread in new construction—particularly in single-family homes—this is not yet the case in retrofits, especially in multi-story residential buildings and other structures such as office buildings. Heat pumps are often not recommended for these buildings, partly due to a lack of expertise. The interplay between the building envelope, renewable energy, and heat pumps requires an integrated approach. This approach is often hastily abandoned in favor of concepts that are easy to explain and have been tried and tested (e.g., wood chip heating systems and infrared heaters).
Measurement results from several research and pilot projects have demonstrated that it is possible to carry out socially responsible, climate-friendly renovations of multi-story apartment buildings using heat pumps. Tobias Hatt and Thomas Roßkopf-Nachbaur from the Vorarlberg Energy Institute explore this topic and use examples to illustrate how an integrated planning process can help achieve this goal.