Hochschule Offenburg Unveils Energy and Climate Protection Plan and Introduces New Climate Protection Manager
The participatory energy and climate protection plan developed by Hochschule Offenburg, which totals approximately 200 pages, was jointly presented by Tobias Braun, the state’s climate protection manager for non-university institutions of higher education in the Freiburg Building Authority District (Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Kehl University of Applied Sciences, Freiburg University of Education, Freiburg University of Applied Sciences, and DHBW Lörrach), and Chancellor Dr. Bülent Tarkan, as head of the Green Office, have now jointly presented. It contains an analysis of the current situation, including a mobility survey and an energy and greenhouse gas balance sheet; identifies potential for increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy; examines greenhouse gas reduction pathways and scenarios, and presents a catalog of 34 measures along with monitoring mechanisms for their implementation, with the goal of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. “In doing so, we are supporting the state’s goal of making universities climate-neutral by 2030,” explains Bülent Tarkan.
A key focus of the climate protection plan is student commuting, which currently still mostly takes place by car. The planned “Süd” train stop, a second bus line, and improved cycling infrastructure—including lockable bike parking—are intended to change this. In terms of sustainable energy supply, additional solar panel installations on university buildings are planned. And even details that may seem minor at first glance—such as trash bins that facilitate easier recycling—can contribute to further improving the ecological footprint.
The “Climate Protection Concept and Climate Protection Management” project was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the National Climate Protection Initiative. Hochschule Offenburg was also successful in the second round of the funding program: As of April 1, 2026, it has a new climate protection manager, Natascha Brückmann. A native of Zell am Harmersbach, she has many years of experience in this field.
“Climate adaptation was already a topic during my bachelor's degree in Ethnology and Geography at the University of Freiburg,” says the 38-year-old. In her master's degree program in Geography of Global Change, the mother of two also focused on education for sustainable development, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development at both the international and regional levels. She subsequently served as a coordinator for environmental management, among other roles, at Parker Hannifin in Offenburg. In 2016, she joined Furtwangen University as an advisor for sustainable development and environmental management officer, where she led the Sustainability Board. Her responsibilities included committee work, supervising final theses, university projects, sustainability communication, and public relations. After her fixed-term contract expired, Natascha Brückmann, working as a freelancer, validated Furtwangen University’s environmental management system before becoming an environmental protection specialist at Burda Druck GmbH in 2021. As the Environmental Management Officer and Certification Systems Officer there, she also dealt with sustainability regulations and compliance.
“But after five years, I was open to something new, and the job posting from Hochschule Offenburg came at just the right time,” the 38-year-old explains her move. She was drawn to the exciting environment with plenty of research, innovation, and networking in the field of sustainability. And the fact that the “Climate Protection Management” project followed immediately after the development of the climate protection concept showed her just how much the University values making progress in this area. Natascha Brückmann summarizes her impressions and goals after her first 100 days in office as follows: “A great deal is already happening at the University in terms of sustainability. Together with Tobias Braun, I’d like to channel these efforts even more effectively to further increase their impact.”
Further information on sustainability at Hochschule Offenburg, as well as the Energy and Climate Protection Concept, is available at www.hs-offenburg.de/hochschule/nachhaltigkeit.