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Get Involved

Note - sign: Heating on 2, light off
Photo: Sonja Kutzner /SiNC

What can I do to help?

Environmental and climate protection is the result of many small decisions, not all of which can be controlled centrally. In our daily lives, we have the opportunity to take many small steps that save energy and resources, thereby reducing our personal carbon footprint.

The problem: Everyone needs to do their part to achieve the best possible outcome.

The good news: Everyone can do something!

Here’s what all university members can do:

  • Submit suggestions for improving climate protection at the university
  • If you notice technical issues in buildings (e.g., broken light bulbs, heaters, toilet flushes, etc.): Report to UP Facilities Management: Service Desk, Department 5 (Intranet) or call 977-2010.
  • Sort waste where possible (e.g., dining halls and cafeterias) – Only waste that is properly sorted by university members will be disposed of separately by the cleaning staff!
  • Conserve resources
    • Print and copy sparingly, using both sides of the page.
    • Use recycled paper as often as possible; this is also possible for color printing.
    • Use paper towels and tap water sparingly
  • Conscious heating and ventilation:
    • Never set the heating higher than necessary; level 3 is usually sufficient (3 = 20°C, 4 = 24°C, 5 = 28°C); setting it to level 5 does not (!) make the room warm up any faster.
    • Only ventilate by opening windows fully with the heating turned off; never leave windows tilted.
  • Delete unnecessary emails and files from your UP-Box (saves server space and thus electricity for cooling)
  • Eat vegetarian or vegan more often (award-winning cafeteria)
  • Use public transportation & bicycles (repair stations on campus)
  • Sign up as a climate ambassador
  • You can find more detailed information on climate-friendly working and studying here.
Photo: Nextbike.de

Here’s what students can do:

Red staircase in a foyer with a large glass window and a view of the courtyard
Photo: Karla Fritze

Here’s what employees can do:

  • Use the employee bicycles to travel between locations
  • Take advantage of the new, heavily discounted public transportation company pass (Intranet) – e.g., €11.50/month for the Potsdam AB area
  • Participate in the energy-saving contest and get funds back for the department.
  • Use the recycling exchange to acquire and pass on equipment, furniture, and chemicals.
  • Where it has proven effective, continue working from home and holding online meetings instead of business trips.
Students sit at workstations in a large reading room at the university library
Photo: Tobias Hopfgarten

What Faculty Members Can Do:

  • Register their own courses related to sustainability (form)
  • Incorporate sustainability topics into their teaching
  • Support the Studium Oecologicum
  • Continue offering online courses where they have proven effective!
  • If appropriate, accept double-sided printed theses
  • At the end of lectures, remind students to close windows and turn off lights and heaters (slide template)