Siemens 2013 Annual Report Download - page 79

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In Vienna, % of all travel is via public transportation,
well above the average of % for the rest of Europe’s cities.
What’s your formula for success?
Dr. Michael Häupl: We listen carefully to the wishes of our city’s residents, and
they want public transportation that not only runs frequently and on schedule
but is also attractive and comfortable. That’s long been part of who we are in
Vienna. What’s more, we take the long view with our pricing policies: we sold
an additional 100,000 annual passes simply by lowering the daily price to €1.
This report opens with a question: “More quality of life
or more economic growth?” Is it possible to have both?
Dr. Michael Häupl: We see it happening here in Vienna, where 48% of Austria’s
tax revenue is generated. A flourishing economy is the basis for our success.
In the end, you can only have a high quality of life if there’s a very healthy
economic foundation.
The Siemens Green City Index gave Vienna high marks
for sustainability but saw room for improvement in CO
emissions. What is Vienna doing to protect the climate?
Dr. Michael Häupl: Our record isn’t so bad. Vienna, a major metropolis, has
lower CO
2
emissions per capita than all the Austrian states – but even that’s
too high for us. That’s why we’ve defined emission limits for all new and reno-
vated buildings and why we’re pushing alternative energy sources. I have high
hopes for even smarter technologies that will enhance traffic management,
for example, or enable public transportation to run at more frequent intervals.
But since our investment budget is limited, we also need creative financing
concepts – above all, ideas we can implement in cooperation with businesses.
What is the optimal energy mix for Vienna?
Dr. Michael Häupl: About 75% of the electricity we use is generated in Vienna.
In the years ahead, we’ll greatly expand the amount of electricity we produce
from hydroelectric, wind and solar sources. At the same time, we’ll introduce
smart grids, which will allow us to better balance fluctuating supplies of
power with actual demand.
What initiatives would you like to launch in Vienna
in the coming years?
Dr. Michael Häupl: Our city’s growing, and that’s a very good thing. We’re build-
ing housing and roads, and we want to safeguard Vienna’s high quality of life
for future generations. One example of the initiatives we’ve launched is an
urban development project called “aspern Vienna’s Urban Lakeside.” It’s a brand
new community where a wide range of technological innovations will ensure
intelligent power distribution and maximum energy efficiency. Our local power
provider, Wien Energie, and our grid operator, Wiener Netze, are cooperating
with Siemens in an accompanying project focused on intelligently networking
infrastructure technologies in an environment comprising housing, office space
and commercial areas. Another initiative is the Vienna municipal utility’s public
platform “Wir denken Wiener Zukunft,” which translates as “We’re thinking
about Vienna’s future.” In keeping with Vienna’s smart city concept, the platform
provides a venue for discussing topics related to the city’s future development.
What contribution would you like to see Siemens make to
the future of Vienna?
Dr. Michael Häupl: Siemens has had a profound influence on Vienna ever since
the late 19
th
century and remains without a doubt the flagship of industry in our
city. I hope we can continue our joint projects in the areas of transportation and
energy as well as partnerships with universities in the field of healthcare.
Things are going well, but from my perspective, we could pick up the pace in
some areas.
 – Dr. Michael Häupl has been the
mayor of Vienna since . After
completing his university studies in
zoology and biology, he began his
career at Vienna’s Natural History
Museum. From  until his election
as mayor, Dr. Häupl headed the city’s
Office of Environmental Protection
and Sports.
 – “aspern Vienna’s Urban Lakeside”
is one of the largest urban develop-
ment projects in Europe. The Vienna
Business Agency, which, in keeping
with its charter, provides support for
the city’s economic development,
is the project lead. One of the first
buildings constructed in the commu-
nity was the aspern IQ technology
center, pictured above. The Center is
home to Aspern Smart City Research, a
joint project of Siemens, Wien Energie
and Wiener Netze. The project’s
experts are looking for ways to intel-
ligently network environmental,
energy and building technologies in
order to promote sustainable urban
development.
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