ETH Zurich implements initial energy-saving measures

ETH Zurich has started to reduce its gas and energy consumption. In its initial round of energy-saving measures, it is focusing mainly on measures that affect the office and building areas and that have as little impact as possible on on-campus classes and research. All of ETH Zurich’s energy-saving measures support the goal of preventing energy shortages from occurring in the first place and ensuring that teaching and research can continue to function even if the energy supply situation does deteriorate.

The measures began on 1 October 2022 and are now being implemented in stages, tailored to the specifics of the various buildings. They focus on three key areas:

• The heating temperature will generally be reduced to a minimum for the 2022/2023 heating period – the room temperature in the buildings is therefore 20 degrees Celsius. In unused rooms, the temperature will be lowered even further or the heating turned off completely.
• Hot water use will be reduced as much as possible.
• The non-safety-related lighting will be reduced to the necessary minimum. This concerns both interior and exterior lighting.

“Our energy-saving measures are based on the current energy supply situation, its impact on saving gas and electricity, and the requirements of the federal government. They pose no threat to occupational safety or the health of members of the ETH community,” says Dario D’Ercole, head of ETH’s in-house energy shortage task force. The energy-saving measures are largely based on reducing consumption, which falls under the responsibility of the ETH infrastructure departments. At the same time, members of the ETH community can also do their bit.

Lower room temperature in public spaces

How does this first round of energy-saving measures affect the students, researchers and employees of ETH Zurich? They can now expect cooler temperatures, especially in the public areas of the ETH buildings. In practice, limiting the indoor temperature to 20°C primarily affects the corridors as well as publicly used rooms such as the reading rooms of libraries, restaurant dining rooms, bars, stores as well as sports halls and changing rooms.

In their offices and at their workplace, members of the ETH community can also set the room temperature so as to help make the measures more effective. This applies in particular to employees who work in the older ETH buildings, which still have traditional radiators with thermostats, and who can still regulate their room temperature themselves in some cases. They are strongly advised to keep the temperature at 20° Celsius as well – after all, lowering the room temperature is one of the most effective measures ETH Zurich can take to save energy and counteract the potential energy shortage in the coming winter. “Lowering the heating temperature by 1 degree Celsius saves around 6 percent in heating requirements – so every degree counts,” says Dominik Brem, who heads the Engineering and Systems department.

In many newer ETH buildings, however, there is a system for regulating the temperature for the entire building. In these buildings, members of the ETH community cannot set room temperature themselves. On the other hand, all members can save energy by refraining from using private heaters (fan heaters, bar heaters and the like) to raise the temperature locally. Such personal devices may not be used in ETH buildings; indeed, their use has always been prohibited in accordance with federal government regulations.

Wash hands with cold water

Reducing hot water use means specifically: Students, lecturers and staff will be provided only with cold water at the sinks and washbasins in the lecture halls, offices, workrooms and toilets to wash their hands. It does not mean anyone engaging in sport or exercise at the ASVZ will have to do without a hot shower. Such a step won’t be considered unless and until Switzerland faces an energy-supply crisis.

Turning lights off and smart lighting

When it comes to lighting, fixtures will be switched off if they are located in places like hallways and corridors, where they are used only from time to time, but not in offices or anywhere they are in use almost continuously. The lights in showcases such as those in the ETH Main Building can also be switched off without any major consequences. In addition to switching lights off, ETH Zurich is also considering adding more motion detectors so that lights come on only when needed. Moreover, ETH will continue the partnership with an ETH spin-off, which has already seen ETH replace many hundreds of fluorescent tubes with smart lighting.