“it is more prudent and more efficient to manage ‘how’ you interact with the environment than to manage ‘what’ you have done to the environment”

EMS Implementation Workshop

Aspects – the causes

“elements of an organisation’s activities, products or services which can interact with the environment” ISO 14001

Air Emissions

Resulting from vehicle emissions rendered by KUSU student safety buses, deliveries, staff business journeys, private car use, rail, air journeys and public transport.

Chemical consumption

It usage in commercial and non-commercial areas and by contractors on a daily and occasional basis.

Depletion of Ozone Layer

Resulting from the use of CFCs refrigerant and solvent materials used in the commercial and non-commercial areas within the Union.

Energy consumption

Use by staff, students and visitors in the commercial and non-commercial areas of lighting, heating, equipment and appliances.

Fuel consumption

From student safety buses, deliveries, staff business journeys, private car use, train and air journeys   and public transport.

Hazardous waste generation

The collection and disposal of clinical (First Aid)and Non-hazardous (Feminine Hygiene Waste) 181014 waste and Catering  (Catering Oil) and any hazard substances found to be  within the building.

Human resources

The impact of operational activities, supervision of practices, management decisions and purchasing which can interact with the environment.

Land Usage

Existing and proposed or future building and landscaping of external areas within the remit of KUSU. The hiring of sports grounds for use by the KUSU Athletic Union.

Noise pollution

Excessive noise levels affecting the local inhabitants and surrounding community caused by social activities, contractors and suppliers of goods and services and use of rail and air transportation.

Production of C02 from electrical appliances

By the installation and use in commercial and non-commercial areas by staff, students and visitors:  electric tools, vending machines, poster panels, computers,   electric heaters, catering appliances and drinks machines.

Sourcing of Products

For use and sale within commercial and non-commercial areas

Waste Generation

The collection and disposal of commercial and non-commercial waste from KUSU staff, students and visitors for incineration and recycling.

Water consumption

The amounts used in toilets, and other commercial areas, such as Bars and Catering Departments and non commercial areas such as the Cleaning Department.

Impacts – the effects

“any change to the environment, whether adverse of beneficial wholly or partly resulting from an organisation’s activities, products,  ISDO 14001

Air Emissions

Air quality is degraded by vehicle emissions.

Chemical consumption

Pollution caused by its release as spillage, discharge or contamination of land or water or by incorrect disposal. 

 

Depletion of Ozone Layer

Atmospheric changes within the world as a result of an increase in radiation as thinning in the Ozone layer occurs.

Energy consumption

Its usage causes an increase in C02 production and its effects relating to the emission of green houses gases resulting into global warming.

Fuel consumption

Its usage results into global warming, poor air quality and spillage contamination.

Hazardous waste generation

Incorrect disposal can result in the contamination of soil and water and therefore hazardous and dangerous to human, animal and plant life.

 

Human resources

The inappropriate or incorrect operational activities, supervision of practices, management decisions and purchasing can have a negative effect on environmental issues.

Land Usage

Existing buildings running methods and practices and future building construction can have a paramount impact on environmental matters.  Decisions taken on the usage of any outside space can have a great impact on the biodiversity of the ecosystem within these areas.

Noise pollution

Excessive noise causes nuisance and pollution and can affect the wellbeing and health of both human and surrounding wildlife habitats.

Production of C02 from electrical appliances and fire extinguishers

Its usage causes an increase in C02 production and its effects relating to the emission of green houses gases resulting into global warming.

Sourcing of products

Incorrect sourcing of products can result in purchasing products from unregulated bodies, ie using “sweatshop” labour, paying its workforce meagre wages, using unethical  practices in obtaining raw materials and over packaging.

Waste Generation

Unrestricted and unsupervised collection and disposal of commercial and non-commercial waste can result in all generated waste ending up in landfill sites throughout the UK and beyond.

Controlling the environmental aspects and reducing the environmental impacts within Keele University Students’ Union

The elected non-sabbatical Environmental Representative and the KUSU Ethical and Environmental Committee undertake to maintain and carry forward a working policy that constantly updates and expands environmental good practice. 

Air Emissions

Policy is in place to encourage staff both within the Students’ Union and the University as a whole in the practice of car sharing, both to and from work and whenever travel from the Union takes place.  Consolidation of mileage by sending out staff emails when planned purchases are to be made so that the duplication of travel is avoided.  20p mileage allowance is given to all KUSU staff who cycle for business travel (attendance at meetings, training, etc).  Shower and changing room provisions are in place for staff who cycle to work. All business miles are recorded and monitored by KUSU.

KUSU cannot claim for domestic air travel expenses.

Chemical consumption

HACCP policy and COSHH guidelines are adhered to by KUSU and wherever possible the use of chemicals is avoided. 

Depletion of Ozone Layer

Non-ozone pollutant refrigerant is used in all KUSU bottle fridges and in KUSU catering fridges and freezers R134A and R404A gases are used.  KUSU Environmental policy prohibits the use of bleach. 

Energy consumption

To conserve energy - lighting and electrical equipment responsibility plans and closedown procedure plan for a Union shutdown are in operation and all staff are inducted into the procedures.  Stickers and posters are located around the Union to remind its occupants on the need to conserve energy.  Timer switches wherever they can be installed are used on all appliances throughout the Union.  Lobbying of the University to help with funding in changing all KUSU stage halogen lighting to LED lighting to both save energy and help lower temperature within the KUSU Ballroom cooler is currently underway and.  Occupancy sensor lighting is installed where possible whenever refurbishment of areas takes place.  Low energy lighting is stipulated in all refits. 

Fuel consumption

Regular maintenance checks, ie tyre pressures and oil levels are made and records are kept relating to mileage on all safety buses and our maintenance van.  All KUSU vehicles undergo a full annual garage service.  Instructions are given out by our Security staff to all drivers on how to drive KUSU vehicles to conserve fuel and to drive safely.  All mileage made on Union business is recorded.  A new small safety bus has been purchased to transport students home safely during the evenings.

Where possible products are purchased from vetted suppliers dictated through the National Trade Directory, purchasing consortium NUSSL.  Products that cannot be purchased this way are sourced wherever possible by local suppliers.

Hazardous waste generation

Duty of care waste handling and transfers are followed and obtained with all KUSU hazardous waste.  Up-to-date and applicable environmental legislation is kept in KUSU Premises Department and together with the University’s Estates Department environmental laws and the special waste regulations are carefully monitored.

 

Human resources

The waste management and recycling procedure is included within the Staff Handbook.  All staff are inducted on these procedures and also have a duty to follow the electrical equipment and lighting responsibility plan which proves a valuable tool with day to day work procedures. 

Staff are encouraged to report maintenance work that is needed and KUSU employs its own maintenance person.  Well documented log books are kept so that all maintenance work is recorded. 

KUSU management have made provisions for staff that cycle to work.  Bike stands are provided, together with showers and locker facilities.  Staff who cycle to meetings, etc. (business travel) can claim 20p per mile expenses.

Access to the University’s Occupational Health Manager regarding healthy eating, stopping smoking, management of stress, etc can be found in the KUSU Staff Health & Safety Handbook. 

Senior management ‘s interest and taking a leading role in trying to find an alternate source of energy, rather than air conditioning to cool the KUSU Ballroom has resulted in another member of staff putting forward an idea to use LED stage lighting to help combat heat.

Land Usage

The thermal envelope of the KUSU building desperately needs to be improved and any refurbishment or extension of its building must result in a comfortable ambient temperature being achieved with minimal environmental and monetary running costs. 

The re-roofing of the main roof of the Students’ Union is currently underway and this will result in the additional insulation which will help make the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The modification of the roof falls to bring all rainwater to the rear of the building is being undertaken which will allow at a future time the possibility for surface rainwater to be captured and recycled.  All roof lights and roof level windows to be replaced with insulated polycarbonate units and aluminum double glazed frames with electrically operated ventilation.  The replacement of the roof light above the Ballroom dome with new aluminum lantern type lights incorporating provision for future extract fans/ventilation and the installation of a remotely operated light exclusion blind which will enable the use of natural daylight to be utilized when needed and also the provision of roof edge protection to enable the safe use of the roof at all times.

The refurbishment of six dilapidated garages into workable storage and workshop space at a relatively small cost, rather than the knocking down and re-building will prove a valuable asset.  

The creation of an outside space from a litter strewn scrubland into a seated area with honeysuckle and indigenous hedgerow,  and areas with plants and grasses chosen to encourage insects and wildlife which is managed by the KUSU Premises Department and the KUSU Volunteering team has been hugely successful.  Bat and bird boxes within this area have been installed in November 2009.  Summer bedding planting 2010 and 2011 using highly scented plants has taken place within this area and has been a monumental success in encouraging bees into the area.

A full arboreal survey was undertaken before work on the outside space began, ensuring that trees of importance were not removed or disturbed during refurbishment work.

Noise pollution

Signage on all exits of KUSU about noise and its effect on the wellbeing and health of both human and surrounding wildlife habitats are in place.  Insulation, where possible of walls within the KUSU Ballroom venue was undertaken to help keep noise levels down.  

A lobbied area is to be created from the KUSU Ballroom area leading into the Outback area is currently being undertaken.  This will potentially help baffle escaping external entertainment noise.

The University proposed gift of additional land which can be incorporated into to the Students’ Union highly successfully Outback area will be planted with a selection of trees to be chosen by the University Estates Department and KUSU Premises.  This again will help to baffle evening noise pollution to surrounding areas, help increase biodiversity and it is anticipated it will also become a desirable and tranquil day time area.

Production of C02 from electrical appliances and fire extinguishers

New electrical equipment purchased by both KUSU and for and behalf of KUSU by the University is energy efficient.  The majority of fire extinguishers are located in areas out of reach from the general public.  Any in areas where the general public could have access are properly secured circumventing misuse.

Sourcing of products

Purchasing of goods to ensure that the calculation of whole lifecycle costings, energy efficient and ethically managed is done through the Premises Department and the Finance & General Purposes Committee.   The University’s Disability Advisor and the University Estates and Buildings Department are consulted so that the legislative laws and practices are followed.

Most products are purchased through the purchasing consortium of NUSSL.  Office furniture is only bought from new if it carries the Forestry Stewardship Council symbol.

Waste Generation

Little of the waste generated by KUSU is sent to landfill.  Paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles are collected two or three times per week and sent for recycling.  Smaller schemes for batteries, printer cartridges, cds, postage stamps,etc are collected for recycling by the KUSU Premises Department and sent for recycling on an ad hoc basis. 

KUSU endeavours to minimise waste and modern technology is helping, eg emails instead of paper memos, etc.  However, innovative schemes and practices if feasible will continue to be taken on board to ensure that best practice is followed in the handling and disposal of generated KUSU waste.  KUSU consistently evaluates the life cycle of products and amends relevant waste generation documents, as and when required.  KUSU is receptive to new ideas from individuals and outside groups including Deep Green Thinking a University led training scheme and the Keele University Recycling Committee.

Water consumption

Water saving devices and percussion taps are fitted in all toilets within KUSU that have seen refurbishment work within the last 15 years.  The remaining toilets on the ground floor will be fitted with water saving devices and touchless sensor taps.

KUSU fully makes use of its recently updated website to inform the wider community, staff and students of environmental improvements and issues to gauge further opinions and to help procure innovative solutions.

KUSU work closely with the University’s Environmental Manager, Huw Evans who attends the KUSU’s Welcome Fair and is responsible for the monthly Deep Green newsletter.

December 2008

Updated November 2011

Improvements

HUMAN RESOURCES

The banning of KUSU giving out plastic bags at KUSU 2010 Welcome Fair and the giving out of 3,500 cotton “Bags for Life” to new and returning students at the KUSU 2011 Welcome Fair, which has proved an enormous success as students have retained the bags and are using them on a daily basis.

LAND USAGE

The lobbying of the University to improve the thermal envelope of the building by the re-roofing of the main flat roof and installing substantial insulation into its design.  Also the installation of a lantern type dome in the centre of the Ballroom ceiling which will have  ventilation access to help alleviate heat build- up within this area.  The staged replacement of the original metal Crittal single glazed window and frames  within the building for double glazed units with work beginning in January 2012. The usage of recycled materials within the major refurbishment of the ground floor,  ie recycled glass wall tiling in washrooms.  

WELL BEING / HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

The granting  by Newcastle Borough Council of a permanent licence for the  weekly “Farmers Market” comprising of local traders selling their own products and fruit and vegetables to promote low cost food miles and healthy eating and the Food Standards Agency awarding the market with a 5 point rating (the highest score possible).

The gifting of extra land for the external garden “Outback” area by the University which will be a welcome addition to a very pleasant grassed area which is already planted with primroses, cyclamen, honeysuckle  and daffodils and planted with summer  bedding by student volunteers and the KUSU Premises staff in the more formal areas. 

ENERGY  CONSUMPTION / NOISE POLLUTION / AIR QUALITY

The introduction of new lobbied areas, both in the ground floor area of the building and in the Ballroom area to help with alleviate noise pollution.  The refurbishment is to include water saving washroom fittings and new low energy lighting throughout the area. 

The exciting prospect of a member of KUSU Premises staff working with the Estates Department in the choosing and planting of a suitable selection of trees which will help baffle noise from late night gigs taking place in the Ballroom area and also to provide a welcoming  additional wooded environment to our Outback garden area.

December 2011