Sustainability at Our Student Halls

Waste, Energy, and Environment

Sustainable and economical action starts with consciously saving energy, resources and costs. That’s why it’s important that you…

• Switch the lights off when you leave the room.
• Avoid unnecessary light sources, e.g. many lights switched on in one room.
• Save hot water (water heating is the second largest energy consumer in the household after the heating!).
• Close all taps after having used them and check that they do not leak.
• Use the electric kettle to boil water and not the hotplate, as it consumes more energy.
• Use the pot or pan size matching the size of the hotplate when cooking.
• Use the pot lid while cooking; this makes the water boil faster and uses less energy.
• Do not use dented or crooked pots and pans, as they transfer the heat badly.
• Regulate the heat correctly, i.e. reduce the temperature in time, e.g. when the water boils.
• Avoid using microwave ovens, as they consume a lot of energy.
• Pay attention to the energy consumption when you buy a new device. Only buy a new device when the old one has really done its duty in order to reduce electronic waste.
• Turn off secret power guzzlers like stand-by devices.
  • If a device has no proper off switch, that can be easily switched off.

Technical energysaving measures

For renovation work on our halls of residence in particular, state-of-the-art heating and ventilation systems and building control systems were installed. Building control systems serve to control HVACR systems e.g. according to the outdoor temperature/daylight and thus save heating costs and energy. Furthermore, the Kiona system was installed in the large student halls of residence to save heating energy. The system continuously analyses weather data (temperature, wind, solar radiation, rain, snow) and calculates the most suitable heating control on this basis.

The “En:key” system for intelligent heating control was installed in the Mainzer Straße 2a hall of residence, which was modernised between 2021 and 2023. The system uses a room sensor to determine whether someone is in the room and regulates the room temperature accordingly. We also run En:key in the student residence at Straße des 18. Oktober 17.

Fixed rents without any additional payments often tempt people to use power, water, and heating carelessly. Residents’ behaviour is the most important source of heat, electricity and water savings. Regular information is a first step in this direction.

The student residences are heated using district heating and supplied with electricity from renewable energy sources.

Photovoltaic power stations and thermal solar energy plants

The Studentenwerk Leipzig operates three photovoltaic power stations, two of those on the roofs of halls of residence. The third power station is located on the roof of the Center for Humanistic Studies of Leipzig University and was partly financed by students’ loans.

Location and year of construction
Residence hall Nürnberger Straße 42-48, 2003
Residence hall Mainzer Str. 2, 2006
Cafeteria Beethovenstraße 15, 2007

In addition, there are four thermal solar energy plants to generate thermal energy on the roof of or installed to halls of residence. The largest is located on the roof of the hall of residence at Johannes-R.-Becher-Straße. The generated heat is applied directly to the halls of residence and thus reduces the consumption and costs of the district heating.