Freie Universität Berlin reduced annual energy consumption by over 26% (or about 41 million kWh) between 2000/2001 and 2011 through various technical, structural, organizational, and behavioral measures. Since 2012, energy consumption has remained roughly at this level, with slight fluctuations and a slight increase in building space, and has recently been falling again.

Energy

In 2023, Freie Universität consumed approximately 108 million kWh, marking the lowest consumption in the last two decades with a decrease of 33 percent. Excluding the increase in space since 2010, the university's energy consumption actually fell by 40 percent between 2000/01 and 2023. In view of the significant increase in student numbers and third-party funding since 2010, this development is exemplary in the German university landscape.

Emissions

Considering CO2-free electricity since 2010, CO2 emissions decreased by almost 90 percent from 57,200 tons to 7,800 tons, including the area increase. Excluding area growth, CO2 reduction is over 91 percent.

The current energy procurement balance and the CO2 balance are as follows:

Energy: consumption and costs 2023

- 107,908,000 kWh (-33% compared to 2000/01, weather-adjusted, incl. increase in floor space)

- 96,730,000 kWh (-40% compared to 2000/01, weather-adjusted, without increase in floor space)

- 23,9 million €

- Energy costs saved since 2002 (cumulative): 74,762,000 €

CO2: energy-related GHG emissions 2023

- 5,800 t CO2 (-87% compared to 2000/01, incl. area growth)

- 4,900 t CO2 (-89% compared to 2000/01, without increase in area)

Measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in the carbon footprint (2021-2023):

2021		2022		2023
SCOPE 1	4,627 tCO2e	SCOPE 1	4,627 tCO2e	SCOPE 1	5,177 tCO2e
SCOPE 2	356 tCO2e	SCOPE 2	2,581 tCO2e	SCOPE 2	687 tCO2e
SCOPE 3	334 tCO2e	SCOPE 3	2,423 tCO2e	SCOPE 3	No data available
TOTAL	5,317 tCO2e	TOTAL	9,631 tCO2e	TOTAL	Not analyzable

The goal of climate neutrality by 2025 includes CO2 emissions from Scope 1 and Scope 2 as well as emissions from business trips.

Scope 1 emissions are based on the purchase of natural gas (with biogas content) and heating oil and the energy use of the vehicle fleet. Scope 2 emissions are based on district heating with fluctuating CO2 factors.

Scope 3 emissions include emissions from business trips, commuter traffic and paper consumption.

The carbon footprint for electricity, district heating and natural gas is based on the CO2 data from the supply contracts and energy suppliers. The CO2 factors for business trips and the vehicle fleet are based on UBA data.

Further data can be found in our environmental statement (only available in german).

Water: consumption and costs 2023

- 159,228 m3 (-44% compared to 2004)

- 1,101 Mio. €

Waste: Volume and costs 2022*

- 813 t residual waste

- 55 tons of hazardous waste

- approx. 358,000 €

*The figures for 2023 are not yet finalised

The data presented relates to the entire building stock of Freie Universität, including the Botanic Garden. The heat consumption contained in the data was weather-adjusted on the basis of heating degree values.

CO2 factors 2023 according to energy supply contracts: Electricity: 0 g/kWh (CO2-free electricity purchase since 2010), district heating: 55,6 g/kWh, natural gas: 201 g/kWh (16.8% biogas share), heating oil: 266 g/kWh.

If you have any questions about the data presented here, please contact the Sustainability & Energy team: nachhaltigkeit@fu-berlin.de.