At the University of Konstanz, we really care about energy usage and strive to ensure our campus operates sustainably and energy-efficiently while meeting the needs of everyone at the university. In the summer of 2022, the working group on energy conservation was created to coordinate energy conservation measures at the university. The working group's members are from all areas of the university involved with the topic of energy – from Facility Management to the deans and the Staff Unit Sustainability.
Since spring of 2022, the University of Konstanz has been actively reducing its energy usage. In addition to the measures implemented mostly in the background by Facility Management, students and staff also make key contributions.
In March 2023, for example, the project EFFEKTIVA started with the purpose of promoting sustainable use of buildings as well as increased energy efficiency and conservation on campus with a focus on technical implementation, acceptance and action. As a pilot project, targeted energy conservation measures are being implemented in the ML laboratory building. Some examples include reducing the air exchange rate in individual laboratory rooms where this is possible, shutting off rarely used temperature rooms and switching to decentralized solutions as well as optimizing the energy efficiency of electrical appliances, like raising freezer settings to -70°C. Users are included in the process via surveys and options for joint discussion. The knowledge gained from this project will be applied to energy conservation measures in other buildings.
Thanks to this joint effort, weather-adjusted natural gas consumption in 2023 was reduced by 31% and electricity consumption by 8% compared to 2021.