The environmental pollution caused by universities in the form of energy and material consumption could be considerably reduced by an effective choice of organisational and technical measures. Examples of environmental protection measures can be seen at several universities, but a professional environmental management system (EMS) for universities with a systematic approach to reduce the consumption of resources is lacking. At the University of Osnabrück, the basis for a university-related EMS has been developed for the first time in Germany, the use of which is also possible by other universities. Beginning in autumn 1999, this EMS will gradually be implemented at the University of Osnabrück.