The goal of the Austrian Alpine Club is ambitious: As part of its climate strategy, at least 50 percent of its managed Alpine Club huts should be largely emission-neutral in operation by 2033 and thus meet the strict criteria of the “Alpine Clubs’ Environmental Quality Seal”. The aim of this seal is to keep the climate footprint of the huts as small as possible. On the occasion of its annual general meeting with around 500 officials in Steyr, the Austrian Alpine Club awarded the renowned “environmental quality seal” to the Sonnschien Hut (Stmk), the Tilisuna Hut (Vgb) and the Youth and Seminar House Obernberg (T).
A total of 225 huts are operated by the Austrian Alpine Club. For over 25 years, awards have been given to those among all Alpine Club huts that are particularly distinguished in terms of the environment and meet the strict, constantly evolving criteria of the environmental quality seal of the Alpine Clubs in Austria, Germany and South Tyrol.
Ambitious goal by 2033
The Austrian Alpine Club is now setting itself an ambitious goal as part of its climate strategy: by 2033, at least half of its managed Alpine Club huts should meet the criteria of the environmental quality seal and be largely emission-neutral in operation. In the Austrian Alpine Club, 67 huts currently bear the seal, so at least 46 huts are expected to follow by 2033.
The basic requirements for the award are sustainable, energy-efficient and climate-friendly operation and management of the hut. In addition, the hut owners must identify with the Alpine clubs’ mission statements, climate protection concepts and sustainability strategies. When making new investments, the responsible hut-owning Alpine club sections must not only focus on the current state of the art, but also on sustainable forms of operation and resource-saving measures in order to reduce the negative environmental impact as best as possible.
This seal is also intended to draw the attention of guests and hut visitors to the ecological commitment of the Alpine clubs and their commitment to environmental protection. In order to support the Alpine Club sections and their hut tenants in running their huts in a climate-friendly manner, the Austrian Alpine Club has been offering its own funding for Alpine Club huts with an environmental seal of quality since 2024.
Huts in Styria, Vorarlberg and Tyrol freshly awarded
The announcement and awarding of the renowned environmental quality seal was once again one of the highlights of this year’s annual general meeting of the Austrian Alpine Club in Steyr. Those responsible for the Vienna Alpine Club Austria section were pleased about the coveted award: yours Sonnschien Hut (1,523 m) in the Hochschwab Group (Stmk) was awarded the environmental seal of quality. The Sonnschien Hut, which has been extensively renovated in terms of energy and thermal efficiency, is the first Alpine Club hut in the Austrian Alpine region to have a hydrogen system.
Furthermore, the Tilisuna Hut (2,211 m) in Rätikon (Vbg) of the Vorarlberg Alpine Association was awarded the environmental seal of quality at the annual general meeting. The innkeepers attach great importance to regional suppliers, climate-friendly nutrition and offer vegetarian and vegan dishes.
That too Youth and seminar house Obernberg (1,400m) in the Stubai Alps (T) from the Innsbruck Alpine Club meets the strict sustainability criteria of the environmental quality seal and can now bear this seal. Since the renovation in 2021, the house has had a new appearance and was also equipped with the Tyrolean Renovation Prize 2024 awarded in the “Commercial Properties” category.
Further information about the newly awarded huts:
- Sonnschien Hut, Hochschwab Group, Styria (Alpenverein Austria)
- Tilisuna Hut, Rätikon, Vorarlberg (Alpenverein Vorarlberg)
- Youth and seminar center Obernberg, Stubai Alps, Tyrol (Alpenverein Innsbruck)