University of Kassel exceeds sustainability targets

The report, which is published every three years, is an important tool on the path to becoming a sustainable university. In it, the university management documents relevant measures, reviews its sustainability goals in research, teaching and operations, and sets new targets for the coming years. According to the report, which has now been published, the university exceeded its own target figures in the years 2014 to 2016, in some cases significantly.

For example, the number of students in environmentally related courses grew from around 8,100 (winter semester 2013/14) to around 10,800 (winter semester 2016/17; the target was 9,000). The targeted third-party funding volume of the departments conducting research in the environmental field grew from just under 14 million euros (2013) to just under 15 million euros (2016).

The university's electricity consumption decreased by 6 percent in terms of surface area and 7 percent in terms of number of people from 2013 to 2016 (the target was 5 percent for each). CO2 emissions per capita decreased from 0.454 tons (2013) to 0.379 tons (2016) (target was 0.45 tons). One factor in this was the energy-efficient construction of new buildings. Residual waste per capita per year fell from 14.3 kilograms to 11.8 kilograms (target was 12 kilograms) thanks to a new waste management concept.

"With this report, the University of Kassel is committed to sustainability in research, teaching and operations. As a university, we are jointly pursuing the goal of developing our university in a way that is ecologically, economically and socially sustainable in the long term," said University President Prof. Dr. Reiner Finkeldey. "The University of Kassel is demonstrating that it is visibly and measurably living up to its responsibility for a future worth living." Organizational innovations have also been crucial to the success of recent years: "As a pilot university throughout Germany, the University of Kassel has implemented the concept of 'intracting,'" reports Chancellor Dr. Oliver Fromm. This involves investing savings from energy-saving measures in new measures. "For example, we renew lighting or circulation pumps in this context. We have also converted a large part of the university's vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric cars," Fromm continues.

In addition to successes in environmental sustainability, the report also points to progress in social sustainability: as an open university, the university is taking steps to level out social differences in individual foundations for university study. As an inclusive university, it has improved the accessibility of pathways and buildings as well as documents and information technology. As a family-friendly university, it has increased childcare spaces and expanded childcare hours. As an intercultural university, it has significantly expanded support and assistance for foreign students and refugees in particular. It has also improved the proportion of women among young scientists and professors.

The University of Kassel also has ambitious plans for the next three years: these include further intensifying environmental research; energy consumption for electricity and heat is to be further reduced, and the amount of self-generated green electricity is to increase thanks to new photovoltaic systems. Improvements for students and employees who cycle to the university are also planned.
 

Contact:

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communications, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
www.uni-kassel.de