Climate protection is not just a matter of using energy-efficient technology. Organizational and behavioral patterns also offer great potential for saving energy. With the Bonus Scheme introduced in 2007, departments directly receive financial incentives to save energy. Under this system, a department receives an annual payment from central funds if its energy consumption falls below a previously set baseline. The payment amounts to 50% of the annual cost reduction. If energy consumption exceeds the baseline, however, then 100% of additional costs must be paid from the department’s budget. Nearly all university departments have received annual payments since the launch of the system. So far, the highest bonus of 270,000 Euros was paid to the particularly energy-intensive Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy.

Since 2000/2001, the Bonus Scheme has significantly contributed to the almost 28% (about 45 million kWh on a like-for-like basis) reduction in energy consumption. Some departments invested their Bonus Scheme revenues into additional energy efficiency measures, such as energy-efficient refrigerators and monitors.