Energy-saving measures at the University of Bayreuth
The current energy crisis also has an impact on the operation of the University of Bayreuth. For the year 2022, we anticipate an increase in total energy costs – i.e. for electricity, heating, cooling and natural gas.
Successes already achieved in collective efforts to save energy that go beyond the government-mandated energy-saving measures:
The intense focus on the topic of "energy" and the urgent appeal to save energy have helped to create and strengthen a communal energy-sensitive awareness at the University of Bayreuth. This is indispensable in view of the current energy price increases and to prevent an energy shortage situation, and it also fundamentally supports the sustainability of university operations. In addition, the currently extremely high costs for energy sources also provide an incentive to save energy. Unfortunately, the University of Bayreuth has not yet received any special funding - in contrast to other universities in other federal states - and must therefore cover the additional costs for energy from its regular budget. This also gives reason to critically examine what consumption is taking place at the University of Bayreuth and where a reduction might even be possible without affecting operations.
FAQs on the current situation and the political situation
Like private individuals, the University of Bayreuth must pay attention to energy consumption. At the moment, the increased energy prices are expected to result in an additional financial burden of around 30 percent compared to 2019. In addition, the Bavarian cabinet has decided that Bavarian universities and colleges (as well as all other buildings and structures in the Free State) should save 15 percent energy. These go back to savings targets set by the European Union, which obligates EU states to reduce their gas consumption by at least 15 percent from August this year.
The Christmas closure at the University of Bayreuth has a long tradition: For many years before covid and energy crises, both teaching and administration were paused at the University of Bayreuth from Christmas Eve to Epiphany. We are sticking to this Christmas closure period, but we will not extend it in 2022/23. The calendar conditions in the Christmas period 2022/23 also mean that heating, winter services etc. can be "cut back" for 16 days. The University of Bayreuth will achieve savings through this and at the same time contributes to sustainability.
The University Governing Board of the University of Bayreuth already committed to face-to-face teaching at an early stage. Despite financial burdens, the University of Bayreuth takes its social task and responsibility seriously and is doing everything in its power to continue university operations throughout the winter without major restrictions.
The University of Bayreuth, like everyone else who uses energy, has concluded a contract. The contract specifies the costs for a certain amount of energy. If the actual amount purchased is less than 85 percent of the agreed annual amount, it could be reclaimed. For this to happen, however, more than 15 percent of the energy costs would have to be saved. Saving more than 15 percent is unrealistic, however. Therefore, the University of Bayreuth does not have to expect penalty payments.
Energy Task Force: Contributors
- Provost Dr. Nicole Kaiser (Chair)
- Personal Assistant to the Provost: Inga Elvers (Coordination)
- Vice President for Sustainability Prof. Dr. Susanne Tittelbach
- Head of Buildings & Grounds Maintenance Reinhard Schatke
- Buildings & Grounds Maintenance, Head of Real Estate and Building Management: Gerald Weber
- Buildings & Grounds Maintenance, Head of Operations Engineering: Markus Scherm
- Buildings & Grounds Maintenance, Electrical Engineering: Holger Quindt
- Head of ITS: Dr. Andreas Grandel
- Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability: Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger
- Representatives of the faculties, contact persons for energy matters:
- Faculty I (MPI): Prof. Dr. Jürgen Köhler
- Faculty II (BCG): Dr. Alexander Frank (Deputy Prof. Dr. Stephan Schwarzinger)
- Faculty III (RW): Dr. Markus Seufert (Deputy Gerhard Schlegel)
- Faculty IV (SpLit): Prof. Dr. Sylvia Mayer
- Faculty V (KuWi): Volker Grunert
- Faculty VI (Ing): Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Brüggemann (supported by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Jess)
- Faculty VII (LEG): Prof. Dr. Susanne Baldermann
- Employee Council: Carmela Hoffmann (Deputy Ulrich Voit)
- Students: Laura Hufnagl (Chair StuPA) (Deputy Felix Kaiser)
The University of Bayreuth has set up an energy task force. This has been meeting regularly since the summer and has also drawn up a multi-stage energy emergency plan.
The energy emergency plan specifies both simple instructions for action, such as turning down heating, and the procedures to be followed in the event of a brownout or blackout. Further information on gas supply is available the Federal Network Agency here or here.
The buildings of the University of Bayreuth are of different ages and thus the water systems of the buildings are technically at a different level. Where it is technically possible, the hot water has been switched off centrally or boilers have been taken off the grid. Where it is technically necessary for the water to have an appropriate minimum temperature due to old water pipes and the associated risk of legionella, you will still find hot water.
Switching off the car park lighting and designating individual illuminated night parking spaces was discussed in detail in the energy task force and in the University Governing Board. Since experiments continue in some laboratories at night and have to be supervised accordingly, switching off the lighting must be dispensed with for safety reasons – especially for women.
All car park lighting is dimmed from 10 p.m. to save energy.
We have already implemented the following:
We would like to thank everyone who has made their personal contribution and all the larger areas and units who have contributed to the following consumption optimization with their ideas and measures.
Laboratory areas
By raising awareness among research groups – also in the context of targeted energy consultations – optimized energy consumption has already been achieved in various laboratories, e.g. by adjusting working temperatures or equipment operating times.
IT and media infrastructure
Significant savings have already been achieved by restructuring energy-intensive servers, blade centres and high-performance computers. In addition, the automatic shutdown of unused computers in the PC pools and the activation of the energy-saving modes of projectors and other media technology at the University of Bayreuth have been optimized.
Greenhouses (ÖBG)
In individual greenhouses, savings could be achieved by reducing the temperature for heating or raising the temperature for cooling by two degrees in each case and shutting down a foil greenhouse on the heating side, without harming the plants that are the subject of research and teaching. In addition, measures are already being worked on for a more energy-sensitive solution for cooling the greenhouses in summer through shading and insulation.
Cafeteria
In addition to the measures for reduced heating or cooling or ventilation, it was possible to take several larger cold rooms out of operation in the Frischraum area through redensification. The energy-saving measures are also evident on a smaller scale. For example, the self-serve refrigerators in the Frischraum are now only used for storing and presenting drinks (without refrigeration).
Lighting
Throughout the University, the process of converting the lighting to LED, which began several years ago, continues to progress. We would also like to thank all the departments and working groups that have made purchases (conversion of LED lighting) from their own funds, which also help to reduce energy consumption.
Energy Task Force
Sincere thanks also go to all the contributors to the Energy Task Force. With their scientific knowledge and technical know-how, they have contributed to the development of a reliable set of data covering the various energy requirements at the University of Bayreuth. Based on this, they have developed and implemented various energy-saving solutions and measures that also take individual characteristics into account.
Current energy-saving measures at the University of Bayreuth
As the University of Bayreuth, we want to be prepared for any energy bottleneck that may occur and for the increased and possibly further rising energy costs. Therefore, we have already implemented centrally controlled energy-saving measures.
In addition, each person can individually contribute to saving energy in all our buildings, e.g. by saving lighting or heating in offices and rooms for teaching events. With optimised usage behaviour, savings of approx. 5% are possible as a result.
Further savings can certainly also be achieved in the natural sciences and engineering laboratories, which by their nature have particularly high energy consumption. The people working here are familiar with the respective technical equipment and can therefore decide in the best possible way which measures are appropriate and target-oriented.
The UBT is doing everything in its power to continue university operations throughout the winter without major restrictions – this applies especially to teaching in attendance! However, it is indispensable that we as the University of Bayreuth get through the winter prudently with regard to energy consumption! Let us be proactive! We therefore expressly ask for your individual support in this endeavour!
Centrally managed measures
- Existing ventilation systems were set to 19° Celsius heat.
- In accordance with legal requirements, building entrance areas and communal and circulation spaces, even if they are student workplaces, will only be heated in the future to prevent damage to the building. Therefore, please do not make any changes to the thermostats in these areas on your own.
- The twilight values of the outdoor lighting were corrected and the lamps are now already dimmed at 10 p.m.
- The central information board at the campus entrance is switched off between 8 p.m. and 6.30 a.m.
- Campus monitors are switched off at night and on weekends.
- Where possible, the corridor lighting has been switched to timer control
- Where possible, corridor lighting is automatically switched off at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4pm.
Where possible, hot water is turned off in the sanitary areas.
- The CIP pools are switched off at night, and all PCs shut down in case of inactivity, even during the day. During the closure of a building, the PC pools are also closed
- Successive decommissioning of old IT systems with, from today's perspective, a poor ratio of computing/system performance to energy consumption/output (e.g. old exchange server)
- Inefficiently cooled system rooms were moved to efficiently cooled system rooms
- Workstations that can be used in different ways and are heated in accordance with legal requirements are available in the libraries. However, in order to also save energy in the area of student workstations in libraries and CIP pools, there will be adjustments to the opening hours in the course of the semester according to observations regarding use of the libraries. In doing so, we will follow our (own) obligation to have as normal an in-person semester as possible. Adjustments will therefore focus primarily on the marginal times of the previous opening hours, in which - also following the observations of the previous semesters – few visitors are usually present. Please take note of the new opening hours.
Individual energy saving
In order to comply with the energy-saving measures prescribed at state and federal level regarding the heating of public buildings and workplaces, including maintaining a temperature of 19° Celsius in offices, we are particularly dependent on your individual usage behaviour and active cooperation:
- Introduction of core working hours for university operations: In order to make the best possible use of the existing potential for saving energy in the day-to-day operations of the university, from now on and for the time being up to and including March 2023, work on all UBT premises will only be permitted on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., based on the agreement regarding flexible working hours for non-academic staff. If activities outside these core hours are necessary, they must be approved by the respective supervisor and then reported to taskforce.energie@uni-bayreuth.de with reasons for the necessity. On weekends, work on UBT premises is only permitted for the purpose of conducting already planned courses and for holding conferences. Basic exceptions to the above regulations on core working hours apply explicitly only to library staff whose presence is necessary due to opening hours, and subsections of Buildings & Grounds Maintenance, whose presence is necessary for security reasons.
- Set the heating thermostats to position 2-3! Please do not turn your heating thermostats higher under any circumstances! This would result in those offices that are "behind" your room in the heating chain no longer heating up to 19° Celsius.
- Radiators should be freely accessible so that they can develop their heating effect. Pieces of furniture that cover radiators should be moved accordingly.
- Ventilate the rooms with the windows completely open. After a few minutes there will be sufficient air exchange. Do not ventilate using the tilt function; this will cause the rooms to cool down.
- Workplace IT:
- Always switch off PC workstation equipment such as PCs, notebooks, printers completely (no stand-by mode) if the equipment is not needed for a longer period of time, e.g. overnight.
- Decommissioning or reduction of peripheral devices, especially e.g. (old) and decentralized printers → use central multifunctional devices instead (these have a Blue Angel label), elimination of decentralized fax machines
- Save paper and toner: only print when necessary, double-sided, b/w, toner-saving mode or concept printing. Switch off mobile heating or cooling devices in offices
- Prohibition of electric blankets and heaters in UBT rooms.
- Use daylight as often as possible and switch off lights, especially when leaving rooms.
- In kitchenettes: Adjust refrigerators to the necessary use, run dishwashers only when fully loaded, check which electronic devices (e.g. kettles) can be switched off.
- Introduction of core working hours for university operations: In order to make the best possible use of the existing potential for saving energy in the day-to-day operations of the university, from now on and for the time being up to and including March 2023, work on all UBT premises will only be permitted on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., based on the agreement regarding flexible working hours for non-academic staff. If activities outside these core hours are necessary, they must be approved by the respective supervisor and then reported to taskforce.energie@uni-bayreuth.de with reasons for the necessity. On weekends, work on UBT premises is only permitted for the purpose of conducting already planned courses and for holding conferences. Basic exceptions to the above regulations on core working hours apply explicitly only to library staff whose presence is necessary due to opening hours, and subsections of Buildings & Grounds Maintenance, whose presence is necessary for security reasons.
- Set the heating thermostats to position 2-3! Please do not turn your heating thermostats higher under any circumstances! This would result in those offices that are "behind" your room in the heating chain no longer heating up to 19° Celsius.
- Radiators should be freely accessible so that they can develop their heating effect.
- Only switch on energy-intensive devices (cooling and heating units, vacuum systems, ultra-low temperature coolers, etc.) if absolutely necessary.
- Reduce recirculation if possible for safety reasons (night setback switch)
- Only run the cooling water if necessary – ensure that the water is circulated.
- Defrost freezers regularly, if possible only operate at -18 °C.
- Ultra-fridges: if possible, operate at -70 °C.
- Switch on only the necessary lighting: switch off lights when no one is in the lab and, if they are, switch on only the necessary lighting.
- Check whether laboratory equipment can be switched off for longer periods and only be operated for pooled measurement campaigns.
- When replacing old equipment: if possible, take energy consumption into account when purchasing, check optimal installation (removal of waste heat).
→ Laboratories naturally have a particularly high energy consumption, so savings are especially important there. The people working there are very familiar with the respective technical equipment and can decide in the best possible way which measures are sensible and target-oriented. Mr. Markus Scherm from the ZT is available as an energy consultant for specific questions.
Dates can be booked in e-learning at https://elearning.uni-bayreuth.de/course/view.php?id=35574.
- In accordance with legal requirements, building entrance areas and communal and circulation spaces, even if they represent student workplaces, will only be heated in future to prevent damage to the building.
- Please do not change the settings on your own. If you notice thermostats that are turned up higher, please turn them back to the appropriate level.
Switching off at night and off-peak times
- If possible, use smaller teaching rooms, as less energy is required.
- Check room bookings in CampusONLINE exactly and cancel them if they are not used (even for individual dates), as the central control of the air supply depends on the booking entered in each case.
- Shut down projector after class, switch off lights
The principle in all considerations has always been: we proceed prudently, plan precautionarily and for various eventualities, and involve all those affected. Overall, we hope to be well positioned for the coming months with an emergency plan for energy at the University of Bayreuth that has been developed in the TaskForce, because both announced changes in the energy supply and sudden events, such as a spontaneous power blackout, have been considered in the best possible way.
University Provost Dr Nicole Kaiser in an interview about the current energy-saving measures at the University of Bayreuth.