Since the turn of the year in 2012/13, Freie Universität Berlin has closed during the academic holidays at Christmas/New Year for up to two weeks. The annual closing is meant to increase general work efficiency while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. During this period, ventilation systems and laboratory as well as IT equipment are switched off wherever possible. University buildings’ temperatures are reduced to 12-14°C with a few exceptions. The Unit for Sustainability and Energy Management manages and coordinates this process, which requires close cooperation with specialized departments as well as property, operations, cleaning, and personnel management. These measures have helped save 150,000-250,000 Euros in annual energy consumption. To identify energy optimization opportunities, energy audits are conducted during the closing time.

The next closure period will take place from December 22, 2026, to January 3, 2027.

Further information on the topic and checklists for preparation fo the workspace can be found on our news-page.

You can find an article about the closing time in the Sustainability Report 2026 [PDF] (starting on page 87).