On October 17th, the Austrian Alpine Club awarded nine of its mountain huts with the environmental quality seal – more than ever before in a single year. The goal is for at least half of the Austrian Alpine Club's managed huts to carry the seal by 2033.
Nine huts between 902 and 2.608 meters
At its annual general meeting in Salzburg, the Austrian Alpine Club Mountain huts in four Austrian states have been awarded. The range extends from the Braunberg Hut at 902 meters in Upper Austria to the Badener Hut at 2.608 meters in Tyrol. Never before have so many mountain huts received the environmental quality seal of the Alpine Clubs in a single year. The seal has existed for more than 25 years and is awarded to mountain huts in Austria, Germany and South Tyrol.
The nine excellent huts
- Salzburg: Eckbert Hut (1.144 m, Berchtesgaden Alps), Gamskarkogel Hut (2.465 m, Ankogel Group), Gwechenberg Hut (1.375 m, Tennen Mountains), Roßberg Hut (1.000 m, Tennen Mountains)
- Carinthia: Fraganter self-catering huts (1.770 m, Goldberg group), Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte (2.347 m, Kreuzeck group)
- Upper Austria: Braunberg Hut (902 m, non-alpine), Gablonz Hut (1.550 m, Dachstein Mountains)
- Tyrol: Badener Hütte (2.608 m, Venediger Group)
From small hydropower plants to dry toilets
What makes a cabin worthy of the seal of approval is already evident in this year's selection: photovoltaic systems, a small hydropower plant, a biological wastewater treatment plant, dry toilets, as well as regional food and organic catering. The criteria extend far beyond electricity supply. Among other things, climate protection measures, future-proof drinking water and wastewater systems, waste prevention, reduced air and noise emissions, and climate-friendly procurement are required.
"Living sustainability every day"
For Alpine Club President Wolfgang Schnabl, the record number applies primarily to those who implement the seal in their daily operations. In the association's press release, he says: "This year, more huts than ever before in a single year have been awarded the environmental quality seal. [...] At the same time, it is a visible sign of the great commitment of the Alpine Club sections that own huts and the hut operators who live sustainability in the Alpine region every day."
The seal is also explicitly intended to show guests how committed the Alpine clubs are to environmental and climate protection. Its reach is significant: with their mountain huts, the Alpine clubs in Austria, Germany, and South Tyrol are the largest accommodation providers in the Alpine region.
2033 already within reach
Since 2024, the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) has been supporting outstanding mountain huts with a dedicated funding program. According to its climate strategy, at least 50 percent of its 146 managed huts should bear the ÖAV seal of approval by 2033 – the same year the association aims to achieve climate neutrality. Currently, 81 ÖAV huts meet the criteria, 70 of which are staffed. This means that, mathematically, only three more managed huts are needed to reach the 50 percent mark – and there are still seven years until the self-imposed deadline.
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