Completed projects

Zukunftswerkstatt

To spread the efforts for more sustainability to all areas of the University of Jena, the Green Office has initiated a process to develop a sustainability strategy. In the strategy, measurable goals and corresponding measures were defined for all areas of activity at the university.

In order to utilize the expertise and creativity available at the University of Jena, the process relied on broad participation. For this purpose, all university members were called upon to participate in the working groups of research, teaching, operations and transfer and to contribute to the development of the specific goals.

The strategy was adopted in December 2023. You can find it here de.

Mobility Study

Tram stop at the campus of the Friedrich Schiller University at Ernst Abbe Platz in Jena

Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)

We have set ourselves the goal to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by mobility at the University of Jena.

As a first step, a university-wide mobility survey was therefore conducted in March and April 2022. This is intended to help identify potential savings and create demand-oriented offers for environmentally friendly mobility and working conditions. We are pleased with the broad participation of the university community with over 4,200 completed participations!

The results have already been evaluated and presented to the respective departments. These serve as a basis for future decisions. Results concerning the urban infrastructure have already been forwarded to the responsible office of the municipality. Further information on mobility opportunities at the university and the mobility report can be found here.

Sustainable Campus Guide

How can I save CO₂? Where can I get the best vegan lunch? And what other sustainable offers are there in Jena and on the university campus?

The Sustainable Campus Guide answers these and many other questions. In this way, the Green Office would like to facilitate sustainable practices in the everyday life of student and bundle the necessary knowledge.

Bike repair day and bazaar

Bike repair day at Ernst Abbe Campus

Image: Sabrina Stangl

In May 2023, students and employees of the university had the opportunity to repair their broken bikes on Ernst-Abbe-Platz. With the support of helping hands from the ADFC Jena-Saaletal, brakes were renewed, tubes were changed and much more.

For the European Mobility Week in September 2023, there was a bicycle bazaar where bicycles that were no longer in use could find new owners.

Due to the great popularity, we want to offer regular bicycle events in cooperation with the ADFC in the future.

Schillers Insektenhäuschen

Schiller's insect house offers insects various nesting opportunities.

Image: Robin Muggenthaler

Schillers Insektenhäuschen (Schiller's insect house) was built by the Green Office as part of the university summer festival and installed in the Schiller Garden.

Many species find nesting opportunities there, e.g. wild bees, ladybugs and butterflies. Insects are very important for biodiversity. They pollinate plants, serve as prey for other creatures and are important in pest control.

Due to the decline in natural nesting sites, an insect hotel helps to preserve insect populations.

Sustainable procurement

The PEFC logo for sustainable forestry. It was photographed through a magnifying glass.

Image: Jens Meyer (University of Jena)

As an educational institution for more than 18,000 students and the largest employer in Thuringia, the University of Jena purchases large quantities of products, such as paper, every year.

For this reason, the Green Office collaborated with the Department of Finance and Procurement de to develop more sustainable standards for procurement. By purchasing more sustainably produced products, environmentally harmful impacts can be reduced, and market demand can be steered toward more environmentally friendly production methods.

In addition, targeted initiatives, such as swap networks, shall lead to the avoidance of new purchases of equipment and materials, thereby saving resources. Here you can find more information about sustainable procurement at the University of Jena.

Sustainable search engine Ecosia in the administration of the University

One of the Green Office's first projects was the establishment of a sustainable search engine on all computers in the university administration. In collaboration with the administrative IT department and the Digitization Office, the Green Office compared sustainable search engines and tested their suitability for everyday administrative use. A test phase of three month certified that the Ecosia search engine is well suited for administrative operations. Ecosia has now been installed as the standard search engine since October 1, 2021.

At Ecosia, the profits generated by advertising are used to plant trees. With over one million search queries by members of the University of Jena, almost 25,000 trees have already been planted (March 2024).

Pallet furniture event

One bench built out of paletts

Image: Robin Muggenthaler

The Corona pandemic impaired life on the campus of the University of Jena. Falling case numbers in summer 2021, however, let the need for places of personal exchange rise again.

To reconquer the campus together with the students, the Green Office therefore organized an event to build pallet furniture. In order to consider environmental sustainability in addition to social sustainability, only used, FSC-certified pallets were utilized.

This resulted in more seating options at the Ernst Abbe Campus and at the university sports grounds. Special thanks go to the colleagues from Division 4 and the University Sports Center for their active support.

Sustainable research and teaching at the University of Jena

The University of Jena offers teaching and research programs on the topic of sustainability in a wide variety of areas. To make it easier to find courses related to sustainability, a folder has been set up in the Friedolin websiteExternal link where lecturers can list their lectures and seminars.

The Green Office has summarized sustainable research projects on a website.