UPSU Environmental Aspect and Impact Report
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CONTENTS
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Premises………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4, 5,6. 7
External Environment …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Supply Chain…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
Operations……………………………………………………………………….13
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INTRODUCTION
The University of Plymouths student Union recognises that its daily activities may result in adverse impacts on the environment: The purpose of this report is to
ensure key environmental aspects of the organisations operations are identified and the significance of their environmental impact are assessed to allow
improvement objectives and the implementation of necessary control measures.
The following report covers key environmental aspects and impacts undertaken within the organisation which we create, control or have reasonable influence
over.
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Premises
External environment
Supply Chain
Operations
Premises – Includes the main aspects of the use of the physical environment of the building in which we are housed.
External environment – Includes the main aspects of our effect on those externally to our premises and the impact on the local neighbourhood and
environment.
Supply chain – includes the aspects associated with production and delivery logistics of products supplied (Carbon Foot print) and the activities of invited
vendors who use our facilities.
Operations – includes the aspects of our activities covering ecological information on cleaning products, waste management, recycling used for sanitation and
those activities that do not fall into any of the above categories.
Noise- Includes the main aspect of excessive noise levels affecting members, staff, local inhabitants in the surrounding community caused by social activities,
contractors and suppliers associated with UPSU
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Premises
 Activity-Heating / ventilation / Gas supply
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Aspects-Use force air ventilation to supply fresh air, cooling and heating to the building
Impacts- Use of energy / contamination of Land/ Water / Air: Greenhouse emissions to air(Co2) ,Climate change
Key Responsibility- Facilities Manager in Liaison with the University
Absolute Impact- High
Objective Target - To reduce energy consumption and costs associated with heating and ventilation, ensuring efficient use of operating systems. To
work collaboratively with the Institution in gaining data on utility consumption through reports from the buildings BSM (Building Management System)
establishing baseline data , systems for tracking progress and to work towards agreed reduction targets.
Gas Reduction / Increase percentage listed below:
Gas Usage
Student Union
KWh
01 January -31 December 2015
15,820
01 January -31 December 2016
14,976
Decrease / Increase Percentage
0.066%
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Objective Target
1% over 2 years
 Activity-Energy Consumption
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Aspects-Electricity in offices for lighting / heating / phones and Pc’s and other appliances
Impacts – Resource depletion ,greenhouse gas emissions to air (Co2),Climate change
Key Responsibility-CEO / Directors and SMT
Absolute Impact –High
Objective Target –To work with the University in establishing baseline data on energy consumption / formulate lighting and electrical equipment
responsibility plan. Staff inducted into shutdown procedure, Use of electronic screens to display Green impact energy saving information. Presence /
absent lighting in toilet areas and low /re-new able energy ,work collaboratively with University in purchasing energy from renewable sources.
Energy Reduction / Increase percentage Listed below:
Electricity usage
Student Union
KWh
01-January-31 December 2015
542,214
01-January-31 December 2016
528,652
Decrease / Increase percentage
0.025%
Objective Target
1% reduction
over 2years
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Sample of renewable energy from the University ref HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) data
 Activity-Water Consumption
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Aspects –water consumption in toilets, commercial outlets such as the bars and catering and non-commercial departments such as the cleaning
department.
Impacts-Uncontrolled usage and wastage of natural resource.
Objective-To control the use of water consumption through the use of water reducing measures ,training and water saving meters in the toilets
Key responsibility-Facilities Manager and departmental managers
Absolute Impact-High
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Water reduction / increase percentage listed below
Water usage
01-January-31 December 2015
01-January-31 December 2016
Decrease / Increase Percentage
Objective target
Student Union
Cubic metres
9,760 Cubic
Metres
10,011 Cubic
Meters
0.025%
1% reduction
External Environment
 Activity- Mobile SU / Mini Bus Use
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Aspects-Use of Fossil fuels, Behaviour of drivers and mechanical condition of vehicle. legal compliance
Impacts-Non-renewable, Greenhouse gas emissions to air (Co2), noise and public disturbance.
Objective – Reduction of Co2 impact through efficient driving tuition .All drivers to have passed Minibus test to include driving Green (Fuel efficiency
driving tips) review car share schemes ,adopt where possible.
Key Responsibility-Sports development Manager / Facilities Manager
Absolute Impact-Low
Percentage reduction / Increase N /A
Objective Target- 5% reduction over 2 years
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 Activity- Noise
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Aspects- Excessive noise levels, Impact on the surrounding community, welfare of members and staff.
Impacts- Excessive noise levels through social activities affecting the local inhabitants and surrounding community resulting in a poor relationship
with external partners. Prolonged external works affecting the local community, members, staff, prolonged exposure to high noise levels for staff
members.
Objective-To limit noise emissions from the building, to work in partnership with the local environmental officer , attend the local have your say
meetings in order to raise any potential issues / events that may cause concern. noise level readings to be carried out for large external events and
internal events,
Key responsibility-CEO, Directors, staff, members
Absolute Impact-High
Objective Target-To limit noise emissions from the building, to work in partnership with the local environmental officer , attend the local have your
say meetings in order to raise any potential issues / events that may cause concern. noise level readings to be carried out for large external events
and internal events,
(Occupational Noise assessment carried out) The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 is the statutory instrument in the UK for
implementation of the Physical Agents (Noise) Directive (2003/10/EC). These regulations, which have replaced the Noise at Work Regulations 1989,
require employers to prevent or reduce health and safety risks to employees associated with occupational exposure to noise.
Accordingly, Inacoustic has been commissioned by the University of Plymouth Students Union, to undertake assessment of occupational noise
exposure of their employees in the Student Union Bar.
The assessment has been undertaken to determine whether the noise levels experienced by employees carrying out a variety of tasks throughout the
Student Union are likely to exceed the lower or upper ‘exposure action values’ (EAVs), or ‘exposure limit value’ (ELV) stated in the Regulations, by
determining the maximum permissible duration of exposure to each task before the EAVs and ELV are exceeded. Where the EAVs or ELV are likely
to exceeded, mitigating measures have been recommended. The Regulations which form the criteria for this assessment are described in more detail
in the full report
Supply Chain
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Activity-Waste produce from suppliers ie non-recyclable packaging, coffee beans ,coffee cups, carbon footprint ,environmental and ethical
credentials
Aspects-Energy efficiency of products ,suitability for recycling ,suppliers environmental impact ,hazardous waste content
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Impact-Customer / membership perception, Environmental damage by association, use of energy, waste of resources, and contamination of
land/water/air Co2 emissions.
Objective-To ensure selected vendors / suppliers have sufficient green credentials ie energy efficient, ethically sourced products, local produce
where applicable and products that can be recycled.
Key responsibility-Director of Commercial Operations& Development
Absolute impact-Med
Percentage reduction / Increase –
Objective Target-
Operations
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Activity- Staff travel, Document printing ,waste management ,recycling ,ecological and biodiversity impact
Aspects-Use of fossil fuels, printing of documents and paper usage, toner cartridge usage and disposal, marketing material production and
disposal, Disposal of old equipment potential hazardous waste
Impacts-Non-renewable, resource, greenhouse gas emissions to air (Co2 ),use of raw materials and natural resources, non-biodegradable
cleaning products, uncontrolled waste management ,land contamination, fly tipping
Key responsibility-Facilities Manager, Head of Finance , collaborate working with Estates Facilities Manager
Objective Target-to reduce mileage by private hire in favour of more environmental friendly methods ,car sharing scheme etc, reduce paper
usage –reuse where appropriate and re cycle all waste through appropriate waste stream, Obsolete equipment disposed of through appropriate
university waste stream.
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