Climate Protection at the HTWD

Germany aims to be climate-neutral by 2045. In order to achieve this goal and make an active contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, HTWD is developing a climate protection concept as a first step, which maps out the roadmap for our future climate protection efforts.

Modules

Climate protection is a cross-cutting issue that affects all areas of a university and requires the involvement of all university members (students and staff). The climate protection concept of the Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTWD) focuses on 5 fields of action and includes the following main topics:

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Balance

To analyse the current situation, the university's consumption was monitored and an energy and greenhouse gas balance was drawn up in accordance with the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) standard. 2019 was defined as the base year for the balance sheet due to the Covid pandemic.
In the 2019 reporting year, the university had a final energy consumption of 13,540 MWh/a due to the consumption of thermal energy and electricity and a carbon footprint of approx. 5,800 t CO2eq.

Around 70% of greenhouse gas emissions are generated on campus, e.g. through the supply of heat and electricity and the consumption of natural gas. Around 24% of greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the mobility behaviour of university members, e.g. commuter mobility, business trips or vehicle fleet.

Potential Analysis and Scenario Development

According to the potential and scenario analysis, a significant reduction in emissions is possible by 2035 through the use of various measures. Switching to green electricity in particular has great potential. This could save around 1,600 tonnes of CO2eq per year in the future.

Stakeholder Participation

Climate protection cannot be implemented single-handedly; it requires the support of university members and important stakeholders in the region. Participation enables active involvement in the development of measures and thus increases acceptance. In future, various formats will be organised in which stakeholders can contribute and further develop their ideas on the measures of the climate protection concept. These include, for example, workshops, information events, committees and working groups.

Catalogue of Actions

The analysis of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions provides an initial indication of where the major emitters are located at HTWD. Possible measures that are suitable for HTWD and that should contribute to climate protection at the university are collected, evaluated and derived as part of stakeholder and participation events. The following criteria are included in the prioritisation:

• Greenhouse gas reduction potential
• Costs and financing (budget/third-party funding)
• Realisable potential

These measures are intended to increase climate protection in the fields of action under consideration and achieve the reduction targets.

Further Modules

To review the effectiveness of implemented measures, a controlling concept will be developed that allows continuous monitoring of all relevant data sets. To ensure that climate protection management is established on a permanent basis, a continuation strategy is developed that reveals how the continuation can succeed beyond the initial climate protection concept project. Transparent and targeted communication is important along all components of the concept in order to provide information and communicate opportunities for participation.

Contact

M.Eng. Sebastian Leinhos

Climate protection manager

• U 246
• +49 351 462 2004
• Email

Funding

The integrated climate protection concept of the Dresden University of Applied Sciences is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (www.bmu.de) and supported by the project management organisation Zukunft - Umwelt - Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH (https://www.z-u-g.org/nki/).

With the National Climate Initiative (www.klimaschutz.de), the Federal Ministry for the Environment has been initiating and funding numerous projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions since 2008. Its programmes and projects cover a broad spectrum of climate protection activities, from the development of long-term strategies to concrete assistance and investment support measures. This diversity is a guarantee for good ideas. The National Climate Initiative helps to anchor climate protection on the ground. It benefits consumers as well as companies, local authorities and educational institutions.

Funding indicator: 67K18774
Duration: 01.05.2023 - 30.04.2025