Sustain Cup 2024 – The university has voted

From 30 September to 20 October 2024, all HSRW employees were invited to take part in the SustainCup HSRW as individuals or teams with suggestions for making everyday working life at HSRW more sustainable. The prize money was between 250 and 1,000 euros, to be used for a purchase by the participating department.

A jury selected the top 10 ideas from the 18 submitted. The decisive factors for the evaluation were the reference to sustainability, the feasibility and the added value for the HSRW. HSRW employees were now invited to vote for their favourite project by Tuesday, 19 November.

218 employees have now decided:

First place goes to the efficient seminar room of the future. The idea providers suggest using technical solutions to improve the energy efficiency of communally used rooms. They recommend setting up a pilot seminar room with modern sensors and actuators to test energy-saving potential. For example, the room should have automated heating and lighting controls, CO₂ sensors and energy-saving LED lights. Students from the Faculty of Technology & Bionics will accompany the one-year project and compare the efficiency of a comparable room without optimisations in order to precisely quantify savings and transfer them to other rooms.

Second place went to the innovation and sustainability concept KLEX Garden. The idea initiators want to further develop the KLEX Garden behind Building 3 as a relaxing and inspiring oasis for all HSRW members and would like to make the garden accessible to the entire university. According to them, the KLEX garden offers ideal opportunities for breaks in the greenery, working outdoors or as a ‘digital detox zone’ to consciously switch off. The garden is also a natural discovery space for employees and students with children, which helps to promote health and well-being. The garden also creates a valuable habitat for insects and animals and promotes social interaction. Additional seating and natural elements such as a barefoot path could be integrated into the realisation.

In third place was the Webex exchange programme for employees. One employee had the idea of using a Webex group to give employees the opportunity to swap used items such as mobile phones, prams or household appliances. Her suggestion promotes resource conservation and cost savings by allowing used items to be reused within the university. In addition, a swap shop strengthens sustainability awareness, promotes a sense of community and is easy to implement, as the exchange takes place in a targeted Webex group for interested employees.

We would like to congratulate the winners and thank them for the variety of ideas submitted by our colleagues. Now it’s time for implementation!