Heat pump in Graz: Married couple reed against authorities!

Heat pump in Graz: Married couple reed against authorities!

A couple from Graz, Peter Kraus and Franziska Achleitner, has been confronted with an unexpected letter from the city of Graz, which forces them to reduce their environmentally friendly heat pump and instead put their old oil oven back into operation. The reason for this drastic measure is a lack of approval, for which a neighbor was blamed, which complained about the noise pollution of the heat pump. Kraus, who built a heat pump around eleven years ago, emphasizes that no permit was necessary at that time. "Regulation is a rule", he was told by the authorities what the two pensioners perceive as pure harassment, since they now have to reckon with a punishment of around 500 euros, while they have to fall back on their old, inefficient oil oven, as krone.at reports.

authority reacts to complaints

The city and plant authority of the city of Graz makes it clear that although the heat pump was not subject to approval at the time of their installation, it still had to be displayed. The official representative Heimo Schamberger points out that the couple had the opportunity to object to the removal notice, which they did not do. As a result, the matter became final and reached the penalty department. "The neighbors are the best building inspectors," explains Schamberger and confirms that anonymous ads often occur. The couple still has the chance to apply for a subsequent approval, but the pressure grows with every further week in which they have to deal with this intolerable Situation, as graz.at noted.