Environmental Awareness

Safety, Health and Environment Unit e-learning Environmental Awareness

Welcome to the Environmental awareness e-learning training course for University of Kent staff. This course is designed to allow you to demonstrate understanding of Environmental awareness and the knowledge of how to apply this information in your workplace. The course should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete and will contain a short quiz at the end to test your knowledge • Topics include: • Awareness of Environmental Issues and Sustainability • What the University is doing to manage its Environmental Impacts • The basics of our Environmental Management Systems • Environmental Management and good practice in the workplace. If you have any questions whilst completing this module please contact Catherine Morris: Environmental Coordinator on ex. 7647. Environmental Awareness e-learning

There are a number of different ways of defining the terms ‘environment’ and ‘sustainability’. The University of Kent manages its Environmental impacts in a sustainable way. This means that the relationship between the environmental, social and economic factors is considered. Defining the Environment Environment Sustainability "The surroundings in which an organisation operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelation" “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Environmental Awareness e-learning

Global Environmental Concerns Climate Change The rise in mean global temperature caused by the release of heat trapping gases. Scientists predict that this will result in an increase in ‘extreme’ weather events leading to flooding, droughts and the melting of sea ice Resource depletion When natural resources are used at a higher rate than they can be replenished. The Earth has a finite set of resources that support our way of life including: gas, oil coal, trees, water, soil and plants There are 5 key environmental issues that affect us all: Pollution The release of substances that cause harm to humans, property and the environment. Pollution can be to air, land or water Statutory Nuisances Activities that might be prejudicial (damaging) to people’s health or interfere with a person’s legitimate use or enjoyment of his/her property. These can include: dust, noise, smells, piles of rubbish and emissions of smoke and fumes Loss of Biodiversity A reduction in the number and variety of animal and plant species on Earth. Human life depends on diversity within ecosystems, both within and between species Environmental Awareness e-learning

Local Environmental Concerns There are a number of environmental issues which are of particular importance to the South East Water Resources Our river and coastal habitats and our vital water resources are already under pressure from climate change. We also need to accommodate 666,000 new homes by 2026. This will only be possible if we change the way we live in the South East to protect the environment for the future. Some river flows could fall by as much as 35% by 2050, as population and climate change pressures bite. But the average person in the South East uses 156 litres of water per day. This will have to fall to 130 litres if future demand is to be met. Waste Management Household recycling rates have improved and the proportion of municipal waste going to landfill has fallen below half for the first time. But we still send more waste to landfill than any other region and if we continue at current rates, the region's landfills could be full in five years. Biodiversity The South East is home to rich and varied wildlife some of which depends on traditional agricultural practices dating back thousands of years. However, pressure from climate change continues to impact on species and habitats, an increasing human population creates additional challenges, and invasive non-native species are now an established problem. The South East is a great place in which to live, to work and to relax. Our challenge now is to ensure the decisions and actions we all take will secure the sustainable prosperity of the region over the next decades, and protect the high-quality environment we currently enjoy for future generations. Environmental Awareness e-learning

Environmental Successes Global - The Ozone Layer The hole in the ozone layer – a decrease of stratospheric ozone – was first reported in 1974 and linked to the increasing presence of a class of man-made compound called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) The Montreal Protocol (1987) was introduced to regulate and phase out the production of CFCs. Since this came into force, the thinned area has stopped getting bigger and may even close over the Antarctic by 2050. The fight to save the ozone layer is an environmental success story and demonstrates that concerted international action can provide the opportunity for the environment to repair itself. National – Acid Rain Acid rain - caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides – resulted in extensive damage to trees, buildings and water bodies across Europe in the 1970’s. Since then, governments in Europe and the US have made significant efforts to reduce the release of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere from industry with positive results. Acid rain has now been all but eliminated in these areas Local – Great Crested Newts Since the 1940s, populations of Great Crested Newts have declined in most of Europe due to loss of habitat through land development and agricultural expansion. Protection measures including protected breeding sites and translocation to ‘newt safe’ areas have meant that the University’s population of the newts remains undisturbed. Environmental Awareness e-learning

The drivers for Environmental Management Social responsibility Personal – As individuals, we are all responsible for the environment. It is recognised that even apparently insignificant individual actions can lead to big changes Corporate – Businesses can use their understanding of their impact on the wider world in a positive way by taking a responsible attitude and going beyond the minimum legal requirements. The University has an obligation to set a good example to its students who will continue the behaviours learnt during their time at University Legislation What the University must conform to by law Other Requirements The University is required by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to measure and report on environmental data Canterbury Council imposes strict Environmental requirements for new buildings Reputation Staff, Students and the general public are increasingly looking to the University to demonstrate that it manages its impacts in a sustainable way Financial Reducing the University’s use of natural resources and avoiding waste will ultimately save money Environmental Awareness e-learning

How the University of Kent manages its Environmental Impacts The University’s Environmental Management System (EMS) underpins everything we do to manage the impacts our activities have on the environment Our EMS has been developed to ISO14001 which is the International standard for Environmental Management and is based on the ‘plan–do–check–act’ cycle for controlling and continuously improving an organisation’s environmental performance. This enables us as an organisation to identify and control the environmental impact of our activities, products and services; to continuously improve our environmental performance; and, to implement a systematic approach to set and achieve environmental objectives and targets. Staff members from both the Safety, Health and Environment Unit and the Estates Department make up the Environmental Sustainability Team who are responsible for the development and on-going management of the system. Key outcomes and progress is reported to SHEEC (Safety, Health and Environment Executive Committee) chaired by the Deputy Vice–Chancellor. • Key features of the EMS • New Environment Policy • Development of plans and procedures to manage impacts in key areas: Waste; Energy; Water; Transport; Construction; Materials, Emissions and Discharges; and Biodiversity • Environmental action plan • Engagement of staff, students and the public Environmental Awareness e-learning

Environment Policy The University’s new Environment Policy was signed by the Vice-chancellor and Chair of Council in March 2012 and sets out the context, strategy, commitment and direction for our Environmental Management System The main objectives and commitments of the Policy are to: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the University’s Carbon Management Plan Improve energy efficiency to reduce energy requirements in accordance with the University’s Carbon Management Plan Reduce relative water consumption Prevent pollution Manage waste by minimising, storing, recycling and disposing of waste and packaging in a responsible manner Reduce the impact of the University’s transport arrangements and choose alternative transport options where feasible Manage the use, storage and disposal of materials to reduce environmental impact Manage green spaces to promote biodiversity Investigate green procurement options and encourage the University’s suppliers to support its objectives Work with staff, students and other contacts to understand their own environmental impacts and assist them to make improvements where possible. Environmental Awareness e-learning

Operating Plans The Estates Department have produced a series of operating plans for the key areas of: These plans set out the responsibilities and procedures which allow the University to: • Control risks • Limit and reduce negative impacts • Promote positive impacts • Monitor progress • Develop programmes, targets and objectives for strategic improvements Environmental Awareness e-learning

What does this mean for me? Everyone has role to play in the Environmental Management System Staff whose job activities have the potential to impact significantly on the environment will receive additional training either from their line manager, online or directly from a member of the Environmental Sustainability Team. However, there a number of simple actions you can take every day which will help the University to reduce its environmental impacts and reach our targets for improvement. Over the next few pages you will find some simple guidance based on the operating plans for our key impact areas such as waste and energy. Some of these tips are best practice, some are University policy and some are a legal requirement so please read them carefully and try to implement them back at your place of work. The best way to reduce you and your school or department’s environmental impact is to sign up for Green Impact…. Now in its 4th year, Green Impact is an environmental accreditation scheme for schools and departments (or any team of 9 or more people). Participating teams receive a workbook to complete online with Bronze, Silver and Gold criteria leading to different levels of award. All participating teams are invited to the awards ceremony at the end of year where awards are presented by the Vice-Chancellor Environmental Awareness e-learning

Energy – Heating • Most of the heating of offices and teaching spaces on the Canterbury campus is controlled by the University’s Building Management System (BMS). The Estates department – who control the BMS – heat offices to a minimum of 20°C which is above the legal requirement for offices. • Because the system uses a series of sensors to monitor the temperature in offices, using additional heating sources such as electric heaters can interrupt the working of the system and cause the heating to be shut-off. Therefore the use of electric heaters is prohibited by the University unless arranged through the Estates department in exceptional circumstances. • Make sure radiators are free and not blocked by desks or other furniture • Dress appropriately for the outside temperature • If you feel your work space is consistently too cold, contact the Estates helpdesk Energy – Electricity The University uses almost £1m of electricity each year across the Canterbury and Medway campuses which translates to Carbon emissions of over 6000 tonnes per year. By 2020 the University has a target to reduce its emissions of CO2 by 23% against a 2005 baseline. Of this figure 86 tonnes of CO2 needs to be saved through increased environmental awareness resulting in staff taking small but significant actions to reduce electricity use such as…. • Turning off lights, computers and other electrical equipment at the end of the day • Turning off your computer screen if you are going to be away from your desk for more than 10 minutes Environmental Awareness e-learning

Waste The University of Kent currently recycles over 54% of its waste and a target of 60% by July 2013 has now been set. In order to achieve this we will need to recycle an additional 55 tonnes of waste each year that would otherwise have gone to landfill. The Environmental Protection Act (1991) imposes a duty of care upon organisations which means that we have a requirement to segregate our waste. Most of our day-to-day waste can be broken down into 3 main categories: 1) Mixed recycling is managed through the green bag system. These bins can accept paper, card, cans, tins and some plastics (type 1 and 2 – most plastic drink and milk bottles). If you are unsure what type of plastic you have, look for the symbol which can usually be found on the bottom. Note: Many recycling bins in offices are older bins which state ‘paper only’. This is incorrect: all green sack bins on both the Medway and Canterbury campuses accept mixed recycling. • We also recycle………… • Books • Batteries • Clothing • Electrical Equipment • Cooking oil • Metal • Printer Cartridges • Furniture • ………and much more 2) Glass recycling points are located across campus, to find your nearest point please visit www.kent.ac.uk/recycling 3) General waste At present we are unable to recycle food waste, polystyrene, tetra-paks, carrier bags and other non-recyclable plastics. Please place these items in your general waste bin For more information, to download posters or to locate your nearest recycling facility please visit www.kent.ac.uk/recycling Environmental Awareness e-learning

Water Our non-residential buildings use nearly 65,000m3 water each year – that’s the equivalent of 26 Olympic swimming pools – for drinking, washing and flushing toilets. While this figure is 10% lower than last year, we have targets to use even less water in the future. You can help by….. • Reporting leaks and drips to the Estates helpdesk • Using a washing-up bowl or plug rather than washing up under a running tap • Encouraging others to use water wisely Transport Staff travelling by car on University business contribute 138 tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere each year. Before you jump in your car please consider the following… • Do you really need to go? – the University has conference calling and video conferencing facilities which could eliminate the need for any travel • Could you car share with a colleague? – most meetings involve more than one person from a department attending. The University offers an additional 5p per mile for car sharers • Could you car share with anyone else? – the University car share scheme allows you to search for other staff making the same journey and matches you up • Could you use public transport? – the University is well served by buses and trains For more information on sustainable transport options please visit www.kent.ac.uk/estates/transport Did you know… A dripping tap can waste up to 90 litres of water per week. That could cost up to £11 per year in water and wastewater charges! Environmental Awareness e-learning

Environmental Management Success The University first started working on environmental management in the 1980’s, well ahead of most UK universities. Since then we have had numerous successes and our carbon emissions per student have decreased dramatically. Carbon Trust Standard The University has recently been re-awarded the Carbon Trust Standard. Originally one of only 8 Universities to be awarded this standard, it requires us to measure our carbon footprint, meet an absolute reduction in CO2 and prove that we are managing Carbon in an appropriate manner. Lighting efficiency upgrades The University upgrades inefficient lighting, heating and other services across campus every year as part of a continuing improvement programme. In 2009, upgrading the Templeman library lighting to efficient T5 and LED bulbs resulted in annual savings of over £9,750 – that’s 68 tonnes CO2. Improving Recycling Facilities Over the last few years, the provision of recycling facilities has expanded dramatically and been standardised across campus. The most visible is the introduction of the new dual-bins which are now spread across the Canterbury campus. This has resulted in an increase of recycling rates to almost 55%. Environmental Awareness e-learning

Reporting Incidents • In order to manage environmental incidents and to prevent them from re-occurring, it is important that any accidents, spills or signs of pollution are reported. If you see any of the following on campus please contact a member of the Environmental Sustainability Team • Spills of potentially hazardous liquids or solid materials • Evidence of non-natural liquids and solids entering surface water drains • Discolouration and/or smells in streams and ponds • Oil leaks from vehicles or machinery • Fly-tipping • Please note that reports related to equipment, fixtures, fitting including lighting and building related reports should be directed to the Estates helpdesk Environmental Sustainability Team Contacts Andrew Briggs (Fire safety and Environment Advisor) ex. 7630 Catherine Morris (Environmental Coordinator) ex. 7647 Environmental Awareness e-learning

Where can I find out more? University of Kent Environmental Information www.kent.ac.uk/estates • Recycling information and maps • Green Impact information • Sustainable transport information • Current and planned environmental projects • Successes • Data, facts and figures • Links to policies, procedures and guidance documents Environmental Management System and Environment Policy www.kent.ac.uk/safety/env • Environment Policy • Environmental Management System Documents Thank you very much for participating in the Environmental Awareness e-learning module. To complete this training please take a few minutes to complete the short quiz Environmental Awareness e-learning

Environmental Awareness