Field of action Properties & Operation

In the “Real Estate & Operations” action area, the focus is not only on traditional direct environmental aspects—as required by EMAS and DIN EN ISO 14001—but also on procurement and services as activities and processes related to sustainability. Furthermore, this action area examines how a university’s buildings and grounds can be used sustainably—for example, in an energy-efficient manner—and how the quality of life on campus can be improved.

Building blocks

  • Waste, energy and water

    The building blocks of waste, energy and water can be defined and quantified relatively clearly in terms of their consumption and the quantities of waste disposed of. The aim here is to avoid or reduce consumption or waste and, in the case of energy for example, to replace it with renewable resources.

  • Procurement

    The Procurement module aims to support purchasers and those with procurement needs at universities so that, before and during the procurement of products, processes, and other services, attention is paid to criteria regarding:

    • resource and energy efficiency
    • Recyclability, durability, and ease of repair
    • Environmental, climate, and social sustainability

     

    are met. Corresponding products, substances, materials, and processes should be given preference.

  • Mobility

    The mobility of EHB staff members has an impact on many areas, such as health and the greenhouse gas footprint. This module primarily focuses on EHB business travel and its vehicle fleet. It will also examine the travel patterns of staff members both within the EHB and to and from the EHB. The primary goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the aim is to promote health by reducing particulate matter emissions and encouraging healthier modes of transportation, such as cycling, public transit, and walking.

  • Greenhouse Gas Balance

    The Greenhouse Gas Footprint module is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—primarily CO2—and thereby help mitigate human-induced global warming. The module draws primarily on key metrics from the Energy and Mobility modules.

  • Campus design

    The "Campus Design" module focuses specifically on the outdoor areas of universities and aims to enhance the quality of the outdoor environment and its ecological value, particularly with regard to biodiversity.

  • Occupational safety

    The Occupational Safety and Health module is intended to demonstrate how protection for university staff can be improved or better organized beyond the requirements of statutory regulations. There are good examples of measures and organizational solutions that can be applied to universities. However, since institutions of varying sizes already have systems in place that differ in complexity, these structures cannot be readily transferred into the “modular system.” For this reason, work on the content of this module has been put on hold. Addressing this content requires further refinement and development of the “modular system” in order to identify synergies and assess its implementation.

  • Property management

    The property management module covers all measures that can only be implemented in cooperation with the Saxon Real Estate and Construction Management (SIB). Starting with space management for the optimal utilization of existing areas through to the renovation of existing buildings or the construction of new functional units from a sustainable perspective, the module contains a large number of starting points for a sustainable orientation. This is already evident in a possible application of the assessment system for sustainable building from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.