Greetings from President Prof. Matthias Willems

initial situation

The THM buildings in Giessen and Friedberg have a total area of ​​approximately 118,473 m² (area type: NF1-9, as of 2022) and were mostly built before 1980. In recent years, the plant technology has been largely upgraded, but many plants still have significant savings potential due to their age and technical status.

For example, an energy management system was implemented in order to be able to display a central and building-specific recording of energy consumption in detail. By initiating study work to investigate energy supply and procurement at the university and by developing concepts for energy-related renovations as part of the ECO₂ project, further ideas and measures are being developed.

project goals

In 2015 the heads of state and government from over 150 countries decided on a common goal to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius. In accordance with this, the Hessian state government plans to organise it entire administration on a CO₂-neutral. This will be achieved through the three fields of action "reduction, substitution and compensation." The Technical University of Central Hesse also aims to achieve a CO₂-have neutral operation and thus successively ensures greater energy savings, the expansion of electromobility and renewable energies. (click to enlarge)

Source: Hessian Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (HMUKLV), https://co2.hessen-nachhaltig.de/strategie.html

energy concept

The energy concept is the basis for future planning of measures that are to be implemented in the short, medium or long term in order to reduce CO₂-emissions from the university and increase energy efficiency.

It includes the following fields of action:

Current measures are mainly focused on minimising energy consumption. Due to the expansion of renewable energies at both locations, less green electricity is purchased from outside (since 2017, THM has almost exclusively purchased green electricity). Further substitution measures are planned for the future, such as the purchase of CO₂-neutral biogas for heating the Friedberg site. The promotion of environmentally friendly mobility is being promoted through the expansion of bicycle parking spaces and the expansion of the charging infrastructure. In the future, the area of ​​procurement as well as biodiversity and species protection should play an even greater role at the THM and gain in importance. The catalogue that has been developed includes 60 measures, one third of which have already been implemented. There are always new ideas arising, often inspired by employees and students.