Currently, it does not look like Freie Universität’s energy supply will be at risk during the winter of 2022/2023. The Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post, and Railway), responsible for energy security in Germany, considers universities and schools to be “protected institutions.” In doing so, they are making a clear political statement regarding the significance of educational institutions.

However, the Bundesnetzagentur has also made it publicly known that our country-wide consumption of natural gas must be reduced by 20% over the 2022/2023 winter period in order to avoid a national gas shortage. The State of Berlin has called for all universities and colleges across the state to reduce their consumption by at least 10%. At Freie Universität, we believe that we will be able to achieve this goal thanks to our strategic, ad hoc energy-saving program. Coupled with the fact that Freie Universität already reduced its energy consumption by 30% over the past 20 years, saving an additional 10% is no small feat. However, this is something that the university can and must do as part of its social responsibility toward avoiding an energy crisis.