Shaping a sustainable future

Since January 2019, Zeppelin University has been sourcing green electricity generated entirely from renewable energy.

ZU's ZF Campus is connected to the local heating network in the Fallenbrunnen district. The energy it needs is produced in a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which generates electricity and heat at the same time and is therefore more efficient.

With funding from the Klimaschutz-Plus programme of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector, a certified energy management system in line with ISO 50001 was introduced in December 2022. An energy consultant supports Zeppelin University with this and prepares the regular external audits of ZU's energy management.

The lighting systems have been gradually converted to LEDs. Corridor lighting is controlled by motion sensors to save energy.

On ZU's ZF Campus, ventilation and heating in the new building (connected to the local heating network) are controlled automatically. Speaking of ventilation: the windows were replaced in 2018, which has significantly improved the building's energy performance.

In the older building on ZU's ZF Campus, heating is controlled based on actual use and the temperature is automatically lowered when an office is unoccupied. Thanks to concrete core activation in the new building, a low flow temperature in the heating system is sufficient. The temperature of the building's core is kept constant all year round, so in winter the rooms do not have to be heated up through radiators alone. The ventilation systems across the entire campus recover heat.

In November 2023, a photovoltaic system with an output of approx. 25 kWp was put into operation on the roof above the Graf Soden Forum on ZU's ZF Campus.

Since 2024, we have been leasing a photovoltaic system with an output of 32 kWp on the SeeCampus from Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH.

In 2018, two small electric cars were purchased for the IT and Facility Management departments, whose staff often have to travel between the two campuses. With two exceptions (one diesel and one hybrid vehicle), Zeppelin University's small vehicle fleet is fully electric. Through the FRIZZ car-sharing project, ZU students and staff can register to use electric vehicles for a fee. These vehicles can be charged at both campuses.

In 2023, a cargo bike was purchased with financial support from the Zeppelin Universitätsgesellschaft (ZUG). The bike is available to all staff and is intended to make getting between the two campuses easier. Further information can be found on the ZUniverse intranet.

Zeppelin University's travel policy stipulates that public transport is to be used for business trips by default. Flying is not permitted within a no-fly zone covering Germany, Austria, Switzerland and parts of other neighboring countries that are easily reachable by train.

Alongside a meat dish, the cafeteria always offers a vegan or vegetarian option every day. Because meals are pre-ordered, only as many meals are prepared as are actually requested, which keeps food waste low. Ingredients (vegetables, meat, bread and cakes) are largely sourced locally. Most of our drinks are also sourced locally in reusable bottles.

Zeppelin University has been a certified Fairtrade University since 2019. A range of Fairtrade-certified products, such as coffee and chocolate bars, is available.

Food from the cafeteria is only served for eating on site. For several years now, coffee has only been served in cups or in your own containers. Our mineral water and soft drinks come in reusable bottles from the Allgäu region.

In August 2020, the university's management decided to switch to recycled copy paper certified with the Blue Angel ecolabel. We also take part every year in the Papieratlas ("Paper Atlas"), which includes a competition among universities for sustainable paper procurement. In 2024, Zeppelin University came in 5th place, putting it among the top performers (details here). Back in 2022, it had already been named "Most Improved University of the Year".

We use our furniture and IT equipment for as long as possible. And for our library, the sharing economy is nothing new: after all, sharing media is a living example of sustainable practice.

Together with our neighbors in the Fallenbrunnen district, the Swiss International School and the RITZ, we have already held two Clean Up Days of our own in the Fallenbrunnen. Within one hour, we collected 170 kg and 240 kg of waste respectively. We would like to thank Zeppelin Rental, Zeppelin Systems, Sonett and the City of Friedrichshafen for their support.

Every year, Zeppelin University takes part in STADTRADELN with its own team. In this nationwide campaign, participants log the kilometers they cycle over a three-week period. Despite strong competition from schools and large companies, the ZU team has already made it into the top 10 in Friedrichshafen.

We regularly contribute a range of activities to the European Mobility Week in Friedrichshafen, which takes place every September. In past years, these have included a test day for e-bikes and e-scooters, a mobility corner in the library, and panel discussions on the future of mobility and public transport.