Living a sustainable approach

With its Overall Sustainability Concept, the KU plays a pioneering role among German universities. We can also make a significant difference in our daily university and work lives. For example, through responsible cooperation on a small scale, a daily focus on sustainability on the campus, and the willingness of all KU members to take shared responsibility.

To ensure this succeeds, the KU’s Facility Management has compiled many important tips on sustainability on this page—ranging from energy conservation and waste separation to campus cleanliness.

Saving energy

• Electronic devices are real energy guzzlers — even when they’re not in use and left running in standby mode. So please remember to always turn off screens, projectors, batteries, printers, computers, etc., completely in meeting rooms and offices.
• The same applies to the lights in offices and meeting rooms. Please always turn them off when you leave a room.
• Please also close the windows when you leave a room.
• Ventilation is important to ensure fresh air for working and studying. Especially in winter, however, it makes sense to ensure a quick air exchange by ventilating thoroughly rather than leaving windows ajar. Usually, five to ten minutes with the windows fully open is sufficient to ensure effective air exchange and improve indoor air quality.
• The heating systems on the campus are centrally controlled, and the room temperature is set effectively accordingly. Therefore, the heating should not be adjusted manually if possible.

Keeping things tidy & organized

• The offices and all other rooms at the KU are cleaned regularly. This includes mopping the floors and emptying the trash cans.
• Your desks often hold personal documents that should not get mixed up. Therefore, each employee is responsible for keeping their own workspace tidy. Please clean your monitors, phones, and everything else on your desk yourself.
• Everyone wants to feel comfortable in the break rooms, so it is everyone’s shared responsibility to keep them clean. This includes keeping the refrigerator tidy, descaling the kettles, disposing of your own trash, and washing dishes.

Proper waste disposal

• Waste separation is a key component of campus cleanliness and sustainability. Paper waste can be disposed of in the trash cans in the offices. For many other types of waste, recycling bins are available in the hallways.
• An exception is empty bottles. These cannot be disposed of in university buildings. However, glass recycling bins are available on the campus or in the immediate vicinity, for example at the corner of Uniallee and the Main Library or at the fire station.
• Unfortunately, food spoils quickly — even in the refrigerator. To ensure everyone can use the refrigerators without hesitation, it is important to empty them regularly and label your own items.
• Electronic waste does not belong in the general waste. But you don’t have to drive to the recycling center yourself. Cables, technical devices, batteries, etc., can be dropped off at the Computer Center.
• The custodians handle the disposal of old printer toner cartridges.
• Special disposal bins for document shredding are available in numerous buildings on the campus (UH, MP 7, SR, KAP, ZB, KGB, and bins at the WFI).
• If you have extra waste from cleaning out, moving, or rearranging, or if you’re unsure where to put it, feel free to contact the building maintenance staff. They handle many other types of waste disposal.
• If you’re unsure where your waste belongs, you’ll find helpful tips in the Eichstätt District Waste Guide.

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please feel free to contact info(at)ku.de