Reference projects

Whether it's a rise in temperature, heat waves or heavy rainfall - climate change can be felt everywhere. For this reason, the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences strives towards making an active contribution to promoting local climate protection. To this end, an integrated climate protection concept was drawn up as part of the Federal Government's national climate protection initiative.

The objectives of the integrated climate protection concept at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences are to represent the university's energy and CO2 balance, to define specific measures for reducing CO2 emissions, to establish a climate protection management system to be permanently anchored in the university, and to develop a climate protection vision with specific objectives concerning climate protection.

On the basis of this strategy, the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences has set an objective for itself to become completely carbon-neutral by 2030. Through a detailed analysis of the energy consumption, it was possible to find savings potentials amounting to 31% of the current energy consumption. The resulting reduction in energy costs amounts to several hundred thousand euros.

Motivation
Whether it's a rise in temperature, heat waves or heavy rainfall - climate change can be felt everywhere. For this reason, the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences strives towards making an active contribution to promoting local climate protection. To this end, an integrated climate protection concept was drawn up as part of the Federal Government's national climate protection initiative.

Starting position
The Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences (HSD) is a modern educational institution in the heart of the thriving state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. It offers its students innovative Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, career-oriented education and scientific research with close ties to business and industry, modern facilities and a friendly and intercultural learning environment. With more than 11,000 students, today Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest universities for applied sciences in Germany. With 36 degree programmes in seven subject areas, it offers a comprehensive and differentiated range of courses, the profile of which is characterised by application-oriented and cross-disciplinary teaching. The main focus of the university's curriculum is on architecture, design, electrical engineering, mechanical and process engineering, media technology and computer science, social and cultural sciences and economics.

Setting objectives
The objectives of the integrated climate protection concept at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences are to represent the university's energy and CO2 balance, to define specific measures for reducing CO2 emissions, to establish a climate protection management system to be permanently anchored in the university, and to develop a climate protection vision with specific objectives concerning climate protection. The climate protection concept for Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences goes hand in hand with the objectives of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 % by 2020 and by at least 80 % by 2050 compared with 1990 levels, and for the city of Düsseldorf to become carbon-neutral by 2035. The climate protection strategy of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences identifies the measures necessary on the path to this objective by 2030.

Scope of services
The concept is based on an analysis of resource consumption and the resulting CO2 emissions. On this basis, the potential opportunities for preventing, reducing and offsetting CO2 emissions are identified. Using these scenarios, three different development approaches up to the year 2030 are used to demonstrate how the existing potential can actually be realised and what results can come of it. These scenarios serve as a basis for the establishment of climate protection objectives. The climate protection objectives also constitute the basis for the guidelines on climate protection drawn up jointly with stakeholders from Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. Based on the factual analysis and the scenarios, a range of possible measures was developed, evaluated and prioritised with the involvement of local stakeholders. This will result in a programme of measures for climate protection activities in the coming years, which will be complemented by proposals for the implementation process. Development of the strategies for communication, continuity and monitoring completes our services portfolio.

Result
On the basis of this strategy, the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences has set an objective for itself to become completely carbon-neutral by 2030. Through a detailed analysis of the energy consumption, it was possible to find savings potentials amounting to 31% of the current energy consumption. The resulting reduction in energy costs amounts to several hundred thousand euros.

With a team of 280 employees, BERZELIUS Stolberg (BBH) is one of the largest and most modern lead smelters in the world. BERZELIUS Stolberg GmbH has been certified for many years in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, DIN EN ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 as well as the Ordinance on Specialised Waste Management Companies. Since 1999, we have supported the company in reviewing the effectiveness of the implemented regulations and opportunities for improvement through internal environmental, quality and occupational safety audits.

Energy and resource efficiency has been an important topic for Messe Düsseldorf for many years. Through taking part in the ECOPROFIT programme and setting up an energy management system in accordance with the international standard ISO 50001, the company is succeeding in continuously increasing energy and resource efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions.

The energy management officers coordinate the system - an energy team makes it a reality. Furthermore, not only do energy audits serve to audit existing processes, but also to keep employees informed and to compile their ideas.

In November 2019 Messe Düsseldorf GmbH received its first certificate according to the new ISO 50001:2018.

wertsicht has supported Messe Düsseldorf in setting up the energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 and has since provided support by carrying out internal energy audits and making preparations for the energy assessment and management review.

Based on the company's objectives and mission, we developed common guiding principles and the associated target culture of the company. Based on the underlying values, attitudes and competencies of the target culture, instruments of strategic personnel development such as leadership principles, competence-oriented measures for management and employee development, performance reviews, competence-based job and position descriptions, company-wide employee surveys, systematic on-boarding and personnel marketing concepts as well as a holistic company health management system (BGM) were developed, implemented and assessed.

Additionally, measures for the development of managers based on values and competencies were designed and implemented for all management levels in the company.

In the process of transformation of our company from a classic traditional trade company to an innovative, digitized industrial partner for leather and textile processing, we have defined and developed our corporate vision and the associated corporate strategy and objectives along with our executive management.

We analysed the company's culture in terms of the ability and willingness of managers and employees to adapt to the change. Obstacles that represented significant risks for the implementation of our vision were found, among other things, in the understanding of leadership at the various executive levels, in the fears and worries of the employees, in the lack of trust of the workforce and in non-transparent processes. These obstacles were gradually eliminated through a dialogue between the management and the workforce and through the implementation of measures and strategies for a sustainable change aligned with the vision of our company.

The leitmotif and objective of this programme is to work together towards sustainability. Companies are individually and jointly guided towards developing and implementing specific measures that can quantifiably relieve the burden on the environment and the climate. ECOPROFIT provides practical support for the long-term development of companies.

Since 2008, the state capital Düsseldorf and the state NRW have enabled Düsseldorf companies to participate in the ECOPROFIT starter programme and thereby to join the ECOPROFIT network. The annual energy saving report of the 59 Düsseldorf ECOPROFIT companies:

• 32 million kWh of energy (equivalent to the energy consumption of 1,682 three-person households)
• 13,600 t CO2 (equivalent to the CO2 emissions of 1,495 people)
• 108,000 m² of water and just under 200 t of waste
• 48,000 € average annual cost savings for each company

Value analysis is carried out on behalf of the City of Düsseldorf by the beginners' relay team and the ECOPROFIT-Club.

You can find more information at www.duesseldorf.der/oekoprotit.