Freie Universität’s energy management system is heavily based on the data we have collected and continue to collect on our energy consumption. We have been monitoring how energy is consumed in almost all buildings on campus for many years now. Furthermore, the university introduced a monetary incentive scheme to encourage departments to reduce their energy consumption.

However, in order to be effective, energy-saving measures should take technology, organization, and behavior into account as factors that influence one another. Ensuring that the technology on hand is efficient, for example, by modernizing and regularly maintaining heating and ventilation systems, is, of course, very important. On the other hand, university members can also make a difference through their behavior. For example, employees can help reduce energy consumption by only heating rooms when necessary and turning down the thermostat before leaving work for the day.