Energy-saving measures at the CAU
Dear university members,
Over the coming months, the nationwide energy-saving measures will also be necessary at the CAU, and for this we ask for your assistance. As a university, we are explicitly required by the state of Schleswig-Holstein to meet the federal saving targets. At the same time, our common goal is to maintain operations and hold lectures in the winter semester on site with digitally supported teaching formats. This means, we are particularly affected by the rising energy costs, which will tie up financial resources and as a result will not be available for research and teaching.
Your University Board
Checklist for university members
being present: in the office?
- thermostats to max. 2.5
- keep door closed
end of workday / being absent?
- switch off all standby devices
- close windows
- turn down ventilation (if possible)
- lights out
Absent longer (>24h) / Holiday / Sick
- thermostats to max. 1
being present: in the laboratory?
- thermostats to max. 2.5
- keep door closed
- try to optimise research equipment, refrigerators and air hoods
- check large devices with high energy consumption
- Close digestories when not in use
end of workday?
- switch off all standby devices
- close windows
- turn down ventilation (if possible)
- lights out
klik provides tips
Many devices in the office, laboratory and workplace consume energy without it being obvious. "klik klimakonzept 2030" provides information on what each individual can do and which tools are provided by the university.
The CAU's step-by-step plan
In preparation for the energy-saving measures, a step-by-step plan was drawn up based on data from previous years. It is to be implemented in offices, seminar rooms, laboratories, libraries, etc. starting in October. The energy-saving measures explicitly include electricity, since both Europe as well as Germany generate large amounts of electricity with gas. It is therefore important to start saving electricity now. All the measures listed here can help to ensure that we do not have to accept more serious cuts at a later date and that our funds continue to benefit research and teaching.
Whether and under which conditions it will be necessary to implement a higher energy saving level is currently being worked out with the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Level 1
20% saving
University operations in teaching, research and administration are largely unrestricted.
All university members save energy and follow appeals.
Energy officers are appointed in individual office and campus areas.
Instructions regulate the implementation of the first measures.
- Reduction of the room temperature to 19°C, according to the government’s specifications in the Ordinance on Securing the Energy Supply through Rapid Impact Measures (EnSikuMaV).
- Reduction of the water temperature in the sports centre's swimming pool by 1°C in the large pool and by 2°C in the teaching pool.
- 40% home office and use of desk sharing
- Switching off water heaters (e.g. continuous-flow heaters, boilers) in offices and sanitary facilities
- Ban on heating communal areas (foyers, corridors, side rooms)
- The ‘warm’ operating times for buildings are generally restricted to 10 hours from Mon-Fri.
- Whenever you are not at your desk/workplace:
- turn off the lights
- close the windows
- turn down ventilation systems and close fume cupboards
- if technically feasible, switch off all equipment on standby!
- If you are going to be away for more than 24 hours (except for weekends and bank holidays), turn the radiator thermostats down to ‘1’.
- When you are in the rooms, set the radiator thermostats to ‘2.5’ and keep the doors closed!
- Bringing heaters or heating blankets in to work with you and using them is prohibited! In the event that this rule is violated, the offending equipment will be removed and the office will be informed.
- Measures must be taken to optimise the use of research equipment, fridges and fume cupboards in laboratories, and wherever possible, synergies must be practiced, even across working groups.
- Check whether it is absolutely necessary to use large energy-intensive equipment (e.g. mass spectrometers, fume cupboards…), if necessary you can ask for assistance from the department for Technical Operation and Service.
- Plan larger events (conferences, symposia…) during the warmer seasons, if possible.
- Follow the instructions for correctly airing rooms (the English version will follow shortly)
- Turn off the lights in corridors, lecture halls, seminar rooms or practical rooms when you are finished.
- Individuals with disabilities and those of equivalent status, or people with a proven chronic illness who would experience particular difficulties as a result of the reduced room temperatures should contact the Occupational Health and Safety Service with a medical certificate.
Level 2
26% saving
- Campus-wide 2°C temperature reduction
- 2°C temperature reduction in the swimming pool
- Offer to work from home
- Unused areas are taken out of service
- Normal library operating hours
Level 3
47% saving
Measures from levels 1 and 2 are extended to include:
- maximum possible home office quota
- closure of the sports centre
Level 4
59% saving
Measures from levels 1 to 3 are extended to include:
- laboratory times are reduced by 50%
- library operating hours are reduced
- lecture halls are taken out of operation
Background to the measures:
The Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) is currently presuming various scenarios to describe the situation in the gas storage tanks until 1 November. The aim is to have the gas storage tanks at 95% capacity by 01.11.22. The measures by the gas pipeline operators are currently working against this target, such as the continued disruption to gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. EU ministers have agreed on a 15% savings target across Europe. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs speaks of 20%. If this savings target is not achieved in Europe, in Germany, in the individual federal states and thus also at the CAU, we are facing a gas shortage which will result in scenarios with considerable restrictions.
The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on 01.09.2022 recently decided that, due to the significance of universities as educational institutions and in light of the major need for specialist staff, it is absolutely essential to treat universities and research institutes as “protected customers”, like schools. Maintaining on-site teaching and learning is described as a priority, resulting from the experiences gained from the previous two years of the pandemic.
The Federal Government and the states are also currently reviewing the option of financial support for universities to overcome this crisis. The CAU anticipates that the energy costs will more than double from 8 million to 18 million euros, despite extensive measures to reduce energy consumption.
These measures to cut energy consumption fall to Facility Management at the CAU. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the buildings and their uses, you yourself will have little influence on centrally managed functions. However, saving energy is a joint task. Each and every one of us can do our bit towards making sure that we achieve as much savings potential as possible, which is why we ask that everyone makes an active contribution.
Contact
Contact for university members
CAU's Facility Management supports and advises university members on the implementation of energy-saving measures. Please contact us if you have any questions or problems:
Contact for students with disabilities
Severely disabled students or those with a proven chronic illness who would experience particular difficulties as a result of the measures should please contact the officer for students with a disability/chronic illness for advice, Ms Dagny Streicher.
