From Environmental Impacts to Principles and resulting Practices...Here we look at the relation between Envirornmental "Impacts" and the "Principles" used to control them, and the resulting "Practices" that are implemented. The links take you directly to our 'Environmental Practitioner Programme' - devised for people like environmental "champions" & "respresentatives".
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Environmental Impacts
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Environmental Principles
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Environmental Practices
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Check out range of environmental impacts. Chloroflourocarbon (CFCs) damaged the ozone layer. |
If there is a serious risk to the environment, organisations should not wait until the certainty of scientific evidence has arrived. |
Ban Asbestos Stop Smoking. Spot Significant Risk |
| Work processes cause environmental impacts to land, air, water and biodiversity. e.g nitrogen fertilisers reduce biodiversity, consume a lot of energy, produce greenhouse gases, contibute to ozone depletion in stratosphere, and pollute rivers.. |
Cleaner Production is about producing goods whilst using cleaner processes. CP looks to reduce or remove contaminants from processes or products at source - rather than trying to clean up using expensive "end of pipe" technologies. In common use, the term extends to cover resource use... |
Substitute hazard Suppress evaporation Reduce emissions Modify process Clean up process Go Organic |
| Impacts upon the environment include: Total loss of finite resources such as coal and other minerals. Land degredation caused by mining. Deforestation leading to desertification. Loss of biodiversity |
Resource Use is driven by concerns about finite resources, as well as usual cost concerns. The market says that as a finite resource runs out, the costs of it will rise. Good resource use makes the same quantity of goods whilst using fewer resources. Good resource use equals doing more with less and is reflected in each of the 3 following principles.. |
Identify material use Calculate ratios of product/process |
| Burning fossil fuels leads to climate change and locally poor air quality. In depth information on impacts of energy |
Energy Efficiency is being driven by controls on climate change as well as sensible economic sense. Much energy use is inefficient as it concentrates on speed rather than efficiency |
Measure energy Monitor energy use Switch Off Use renewable sources |
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Wasted resources.  |
Waste minimisation is the prevention or reduction of waste - anything that you dont need, at source. |
Reduce waste Reuse materials Recycle product Refurbish machines Mend and Repair Compost food waste |
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Water pollution: |
Water control is a major issue. The quality of fresh water is increasingly compromised by chemical pollutants making sourcing and treating water a complex and expensive process. In many parts of the world there are severe water shortages. So much effort is being put into making sure water gets where it is needed in decent condition. Water control improves with better understanding of the "water cycle" and the recognition that there is no 'new' water. |
Turn taps off Use grey water Control Leakages Prevent Flash-flooding |
| Failure to manage environmental aspects of your work results in pollution of land, air and water from process activities. Reduction of emissions and discharges cannot be achieved without control. |
An environmental management system aims primarily at measuring and setting auditable targets to reduce the overall environmntal impacts and improve the environmental performance of a company or of an organisation. |
Follow environmental Policy Help set targets Write Procedures Suggest improvements Train employees Carry out audit |
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Recycling nutrients, moderating the water cycle and climate, building soil, pollinating plants, maintaining habitats or homes for other species, are all at risk from reduced biodiversity. The United Nations reports that 80% of species decline is a result of habitat destruction. |
Conservation is more than preserving and valuing wild spaces such as Nature Reserves. It is the support of biodiversity by maintaining all habitats and demonstrating stewardship and not exploitation. This means valuing wild places and maintaining wildlife, including the wildlife refuge at the corner of your car park! |
Make Garden. Put up a bird box Establish wildlife. Build a pond Provide bird & Butterfly food sources Plant trees provides food & shelter and improves air quality |
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Failure to take environmental considerations into account leads to:
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Eco Design takes notice of the possible environmental impacts in the design of a product. This means applying all the environmental principles and taking lessons from nature when designing new products.The best way to do this is make use of all sorts of natural patterns, materials and processes. |
Draw with natural structures & designs Design for natural efficiency Innovate using models from nature Copy natural design. Adapt natural patterns |
