Thermal refurbishment and species protection

These two issues are important for consciously dealing with the challenges of our time, but are not necessarily compatible, as some (protected) species are seriously endangered by restoration work. This requires sensitivity, which is perhaps not so easy to muster for large construction projects.

In apartment buildings, this can affect large populations. Pipistrelle bats and swifts are particularly affected, as are barn swallows, house martins, sparrows and kestrels.

Just three loose Eternit panels are enough to hide up to 50 female bats and their young. An attic can be home to up to 3,000 animals.

Anyone familiar with the process of a large construction site can imagine that very few builders (can) wait for the little swifts to fledge, as in a best-practice example of the conversion of a residential building in Vienna 10.

Nevertheless, there are realistic measures that can help the animals find shelter.

Installing nesting boxes as replacement housing

Original cliff dwellers such as swifts breed at heights of 6 meters or more. Nesting boxes specially tailored to their needs could be installed at appropriate heights.

Special eaves boxes offer a good option. They can be placed inconspicuously under an insulation layer and are not visually noticeable.

Create cavities

Various artificial crevice roosts are available for installation on the house wall or in the façade.

Protection from sunlight and wind is an issue for the bat. The cracks are sealed for this purpose.

Alternating roosts on differently oriented facades is helpful if it gets too hot or cold for the animals.