• Sojaanbau auf einem Feld
    We do research on Biomass
  • We do research on Resources
  • We do research on Mobility
  • Reife rote Äpfel - Apfelwiesen in Südtirol kurz vor der Apfelernte
    We do research on Nutrition
  • We do research on Industry & Products
  • Chain carouse
    We do research on Energy

Welcome to ifeu

ifeu researches and advises on all important environmental and sustainability issues worldwide. With over 45 years of experience, it is one of the most important ecologically oriented research institutes in Germany. Our work is characterised by experience, independence, practical relevance and a goal-oriented approach. At present, ifeu has over 100 employees from the fields of natural sciences, engineering and social sciences at its sites in Heidelberg and Berlin.

ifeu News

Award for greenhouse gas calculator for healthcare institutions

At Heidelberg University's IMAPCT DAY 2025, research projects that promise great benefits for the economy and society were honoured. In the KliOL project, ifeu, in collaboration with the Heidelberg Institute for Global Health (HIGH), developed a greenhouse gas calculator for healthcare institutions, which is available free of charge in collaboration with the Competence Centre for Climate Resilient Medicine and Healthcare Facilities (KliMeG) and is already being used by many clinics.

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Less - different - communal: strategies for a fulfilling, resource-conserving life

Whether socially, materially or ecologically, the earth's resources are limited. Accordingly, in recent years there has been a growing awareness in Germany and other European countries of the need to use our planet's social, material and ecological resources sparingly.1 The desire to consume ‘less’ and ‘differently’ is increasing, but how we move from wanting to act and firmly integrate planet-friendly behaviour into our everyday lives is usually difficult. This is precisely where the two-part joint project ‘SuPraStadt - Quality of life, participation and resource conservation through the social diffusion of sufficiency practices in urban neighbourhoods’ comes in. At the end of the overall project (SuPraStadt I + II), the results have now been published in up-to-date, tried-and-tested instructions for reading, listening and trying out.

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Study on the evaluation of measures in municipal climate action is available

In the project “Instruments for municipal climate action work (IkKa)”, ifeu has developed a methodology for evaluating climate action measures that supports municipal climate action managers in selecting and prioritizing measures. The results have now been implemented in the online-based software “Maßnahmen-Planer” and are thus available to this target group. All background information on the methodology can be found on the project website.

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Projects

Policy Workshop Sufficiency II

Better quality of life, less environmental consumption - Policy Workshop Sufficiency II

How can the monthly information on heating and hot water consumption be prepared for consumers in such a way that it is comprehensible and motivates them to adopt energy-saving behavior?

Businesswoman show graph target carbon global warming

Shaping municipal climate action ambitions in a targeted manner

Orientation framework for effective climate action targets in municipalities

On behalf of the German Environment Agency, a standardised definition of greenhouse gas neutrality in municipalities is to be developed. Furthermore, recommendations for operationalisable climate…

LKWs und Autos auf einer Autobahn

enERSyn - Electric Road Systems as part of truck electrification

Analysis of technical, economic, environmental and energy-systemic synergies of Electric Road Systems (ERS) with other truck electrification technologies

In this project, we investigate the future role of dynamic power supply for electric trucks from a technical, strategic and energy-economic point of view.

ifeu- Podcast

Scientists from ifeu talk to editors from the Berlin communications agency Ahnen&Enkel about current research topics. Only available in German.

Directly to all episodes

Carbon Calculator

Calculate your personal CO2 footprint and optimise it for the future. ifeu has created the data basis for the UBA Carbon Calculator and is constantly developing it further.

Calculate now