We report the materials used at our institute systematically, e.g. computer equipment and laboratory consumables. However, due to being a research institution and not a manufacturing company, we do not operate our experimental facilities continuously and have no regular material use. Only the costs of materials used are recorded.

With the drop in final energy consumption, the primary energy expenditure by Fraunhofer UMSICHT also dropped to 46.4 million MJ/year.

Unlike a manufacturing company, our institute cannot set absolute reduction goals due to its R&D-activities (e.g. concerning water and energy use), for the reason that Fraunhofer UMSICHT consumes different amounts of energy or water depending on the nature and scope of our projects (which include e.g. development of an innovative energy storage or improvement of the membrane technology, thus including a higher consumption of energy or water).

In 2013, the total energy consumption amounted to approx. 18.7 million MJ. In comparison to 2012, the annual consumption of electricity dropped slightly, whereas the gas consumption increased slightly. The comparison of the annual consumption of electricity per staff member (SM) in the past years shows that it was continuously reduced from approx. 18,200 kWh/SM in 2011 to approx. 16,900 kWh/SM in 2012, and further to 13,600 kWh/SM in 2013. On the other hand, the annual gas consumption remains constant at approx. 800 m³ of natural gas per employee.

With the drop in final energy consumption, the primary energy expenditure by Fraunhofer UMSICHT also dropped from 50.5 million MJ/year (2012) to 46.4 million MJ/year (2013). Correspondingly, the greenhouse gas emissions also decreased. While the total in 2012 amounted to approx. 2,700 t of CO₂ equivalent, they amounted to barely 2,500 t of CO₂ equivalent in 2013. Of those 2,500 t of CO₂ equivalent, 80 percent were caused by the consumption of electricity, 13 percent by the consumption of natural gas, and 7 percent by business trips.

Despite an increasing number of staff, the fresh water consumption has remained constant at approx. 15,000 m³/year in the past years. In 2013, the fresh water consumption amounted to approx. 14,700 m³.

At Fraunhofer UMSICHT, the amounts of waste are recorded by means of a waste code number as part of a waste balance sheet. This is of particular relevance for hazardous wastes which, however, are not regularly generated as part of the research and development activity. For residential and paper waste as well as glass waste, collection containers are available which, however, are not weighed. Based on the calculations to date, the total waste amount was 58 t in 2012 and 79 t in 2013.