In 2007, the city of Ulm was awarded the European Energy Award for their remarkable local energy management and their efforts against climate change.

Examples of these efforts are a biomass power plant operated by the Fernwärme Ulm GmbH (10 MW electrical output) and the world's biggest passive house office building, the so-called Energon, located in the "Science City" near the university campus.

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Moreover, the city of Ulm boasts the second largest solar power production in Germany. For all new buildings, a strict energy standard (German KFW40 standard) has been mandatory since April 2008. The Ulm Ministry has been powered fully by renewables since January 2008.