Environmental Guidelines for the Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg
(Environmental Guidelines.pdf - 18Kb) 
Environmental Guidelines for the Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg
Preamble
As a research and educational institution for the coming generation of decision-makers, the University of Freiburg has a special societal responsibility. Since the task of running a mid-sized university involves the consumption of a large volume of energy and materials, the university also exerts a substantial influence on the environment.
It is thus essential for the university to strive for an overall concept for sustainable development and a university-wide implementation of the Copernicus Charter, an action plan developed by the Association of European Universities (CRE) which goes beyond environmental conservation in that it also initiates environmental education programs and interdisciplinary networks on the regional and international levels. Moreover, the University of Freiburg has set itself the goal of growing together as a living network and thus promotes internal communication on environmental conservation and information exchange between all of its students, staff, and faculty members.
The University has resolved to adopt the following guidelines as a binding foundation for achieving these goals:
Legal Regulations
The university has set itself the goal of making a contribution to environmental conservation and sustainability which fully complies with and exceeds current legal regulations.
Use of Resources
The economical and efficient use of all resources (space, energy, water, raw materials) has top priority. Concretely, the university will act according to the following hierarchy of principles: reduction in material usage – recycling – procurement of new materials. An analysis of material and energy flow will serve as the basis for economization. In addition, it has been planned to modernize the administrative structures of the university by decentralizing the responsibility for resources, thus creating further incentives for increasing efficiency.
Ecological Damage
The university will strive to prevent negative effects on the environment (sewage water, noise, waste, air pollution) before they occur or – if this is not possible – to reduce them to a minimum.
Involvement and Training of Employees
The environmental consciousness and expertise of employees will be promoted by regular informational and training seminars. These seminars will show employees how to provide a good example to their students and include them in the discussion on implementing and setting environmental goals, thus ensuring an optimal integration of the environmental guidelines in university practice.
Research and Instruction
In order to ensure freedom in research and instruction, it is necessary for us to assume responsibility for its consequences, and this requires for sustainability to be integrated as a central part of research and instruction. Conscious of its function as a disseminator of knowledge, the university wishes to raise the awareness of its students for the consequences of human influence on the environment and discuss possible strategies for a solution. Additionally, new courses of study with a bearing on sustainability will be launched.
Promotion of Projects
The university administration will coordinate, head, and provide financial backing for projects which primarily serve the goal of sustainable development. The university will attach great importance to the principle of interdisciplinarity in this endeavor and will thus include it as a criterion for decisions on investments.
Procurement and Investments
The university will take environmental parameters into account when making decisions on investments and will favor environmentally friendly options wherever possible. Furthermore, the university will make efforts to convince its suppliers and contract partners to improve their ecological performance as well.
Construction
The university will endeavor to dramatically improve its ecological record by renovating and modernizing its existing building stock. Ecological aspects will be considered from the outset in all construction projects, and efforts will be made to use environmentally friendly materials, optimize land utilization, and improve the efficiency of future management. Green spaces and water will also be maintained according to environmentally sound principles. The solar university concept will ascribe great significance to renewable energy right from the beginning.
Working Environment and Health Protection
The health and safety of the students, staff, and faculty of the university have priority and will thus be promoted by a university-wide health management plan.
Public Relations and Environmental Report
A yearly environmental report will communicate the current environmental situation at the university as well as future goals to the public, thus making the environmental policies of the university comprehensible and transparent. The goal is an open dialog in which the university is ready and willing to listen to suggestions from outside. With its scientific competence, the university will contribute to the public discourse on environmental conservation and sustainability and also bring its ideas to bear in the process of the local agenda 21. Further goals are increased regional cooperation with the private sector and continuing education programs for various target groups outside of the university.
Continuous Improvement with Environmental Management System
The existing environmental management system of the University of Freiburg will be developed further in order to achieve continuous improvement in the environmental record of the university.