Climate protection at HFU

Climate protection is an important issue for Furtwangen University. We have had our own climate protection management team since the beginning of 2023.

Our climate protection team consists of the Climate Protection Officers on the University Board of Executives, two employees co-financed by the National Climate Protection Initiative for the “HFU climate neutral” Project and a climate protection manager from the Baden-Württemberg state network. Together, they are actively helping HFU to achieve the climate protection targets and goals of the state of Baden-Württemberg. Since July 2024, the university has officially had its own comprehensive climate protection concept with measures to be implemented and a greenhouse gas balance sheet is drawn up every year.

Teamwork with a broad impact

The balance sheet from 2019 shows our successful progress towards net greenhouse gas neutrality. Climate Protection Management is also involved in many internal processes, for example participating in meetings of the Senate Sustainability Committee and the Energy Circle. Topics such as energy efficiency and energy-saving measures, building refurbishment and mobility are important to the university, and the climate protection team is driving them forward. This can range from measures such as the “Sei Energieretter:in!” campaign, to a climate-friendly heat supply for our campuses. From the complete switch to recycled paper with the Blue Angel seal, the modernisation of the metering system for automated energy consumption recording and evaluation, photovoltaic systems, conversion to LED lighting and a carpooling app, to the conscious, small climate protection actions of each individual, the involvement of various stakeholders, e.g. through workshops and campaigns, plays an important role in all of this. The climate protection management team creates and ensures opportunities for employees and students alike to become involved in climate protection. After all, protecting the climate, our environment and adapting to the consequences of climate change affects us all!