RE:Start: The University of Kassel opens new Green Office

The Green Office of the University of Kassel opened on July 6 on Holländischer Platz campus. It is the Central point for contact, organization, networking and coordination of all areas and members of the university.

Universities are currently expected to play a pioneering role on the path to sustainable development. Sustainability issues should not only be increasingly addressed in research and teaching, but also be applied in day-to-day university operations. The University of Kassel can already look back on many years of successful environmental profile development.

In order to further advance the initiated process, the university has now established a Green Office. It was officially opened by the Chancellor of the University of Kassel, Dr. Oliver Fromm, on July 6, 2022 as a central contact, organization, networking and coordination point for all areas and for all university employees. The premises are located in the former AStA offices at Nora-Platiel-Straße 2 on the Holländischer Platz campus. Five employees will promote the sustainable development of operational processes as a cross-sectional task across departments and facilities. The team bases its work on guidelines for sustainable development at the university, that relate to the improvement of environmental performance and steering measures that help to promote internal university commitment to a sustainable organizational culture. In addition, the focus is on increasing transparency, improving communication and participation in the development process.

In the sustainability guidelines for the University of Kassel the protection of nature and the environment is understood as an important task in all decisions and activities. Since fundamental changes are only possible when working together, the Green Office follows a participatory approach that relies on the commitment of everyone: Interested students and employees can get involved in sustainable campus development through many participation formats and contribute directly to the sustainability process.

Dr. Oliver Fromm, Chancellor of the University of Kassel, emphasized, " The Green Office takes a participatory approach that involves all university stakeholders and departments in the development process and relies on everyone's commitment."

The Green Office is part of the Re:Start program. With the Program, the HMWK is funding six projects at the University of Kassel on the topic of sustainability with a total funding volume of 1.75 million euros as part of the innovation and structural development budget (from 2021 to 2025). In addition to the establishment of the Green Office, these include measures to influence usage behavior, sustainable transportation at the University of Kassel (concepts and measures for sustainable mobility and logistics), climate adaptation measures for sustainable open space management, an energy master plan for CO2 neutrality, and energy optimization in plant operation.

Green Office opening hours:

Tues. to Thurs. 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

and by appointment at: greenoffice[at]uni-kassel[dot]de or Tel.: 0561 804-2519

(Nora-Platiel-Str.2, Room 0104 A)

Open to all students, staff and employees.

Contact:

Nadine Chrubasik

Sustainability Manager, Integrated Sustainability Management in Operations

Phone: 0561 804-2519

E-mail: chrubasik[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Georg Mösbauer

Head of occupational Safety and Environmental Protection

Representative for Occupational Safety, Health, Environmental Protection and Sustainability in Operations (AGUN)

Phone: 0561 804-3811

E-mail: moesbauer[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Website: www.uni-kassel.de/go/greenoffice