Environmental audit at University of Latvia Juris Benders UL Institute for Environmental Science and Management

1. Environmental audit at University of Latvia Juris BendersUL Institute for Environmental Science and Management # Object and background for environmental audit # Structure of environmentalaspects – university specificity # Organization of Environmental audit # Definition and assessment of environmental aspects # Sectorial Environmental policies # Benefits of Environmental audit

2. Object and background for audit The main building of University of Latvia, situated at the very centre of Riga (Raina boulv. 19) A rectorat, main administrative departments, representation halls, cantine, Faculty of Teology, part of Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, as well as, institutes and Departments (including Institute for Environmental Science and Management) are situated there. Building Raina 19 is a place for highest representation at national level ! Building Raina 19 is an architecture monument - object, which is included into list of UNESCO protected objects.

3. Object and background for audit Environmental audit was performed within study process in MSc study programme “Environmental management” – course “Environmental policy” in 2000. Study visits with elaboration of Environmental policy related documents – that is a principal part of study course. Theoretical and methodological bakground had been presented in lectures and seminars.

4. Environmental aspects Direct environmental aspects – aspects on which the organization have control; usually connected with operation of organization, for example generation of waste, energy consumption Indirect environmental aspects – aspects, which the organization can not manage: usually connected with products or services

5. Environmental aspects

6. Structure of environmental aspects – University case Environmental aspects regarding to: • management issues in building (mainly direct impacts and “-”) • study process (mainly indirect impcts and “+”) Environmental aspects - management issues in building (office) in the area of: • water management; • energy management; • indoor environment and waste management; Environmental aspects - study process in the area of: • study and research; • environmental awareness and social-economic development;

7. Definition of environmental aspects # Definition - are they: • direct or indirect; • with “-” or “+” influence; • regarding to building (ofice) management or study process; # Assessment - are the impacts significant? Totally about 40 environmental aspects have been identified – 18 of them have ben recognized as significant

8. Definition of environmental aspects Definition and assesment of Environmental aspects had ben performed/organized in 5 working groups: 1.Water management; 2.Energy management; 3. Indoor environment and waste management; 4. Study and research; 5. Environmental awareness and social-economic development;

9. Organization of Environmental audit Pre - audit measures: Theoretical and methodological bakground – lectures and seminars. Elaboration of Environmental audit plan (time and place). Definition of possible Environmental aspects. Definition of audit methods to be used.

10. Organization of Environmental audit Pre - audit measures: Elaboration of list of documents, university institutions, university management, academic and technical staff – to be audited. Elaboration of list of objects (technical units, classrooms,etc.) to be audited. Elaboration of questionnaires. Coordination with university management about planned audit.

11. Organization of Environmental audit Audit measures: Environmental audit was realized as a study visit by students during 2 days. Realisation of planned visits (including University top management). Use of questionnaires or interviews, observations, document studies. Making records.

12. Organization of Environmental audit After - audit measures: Summarization of obtained data: questionnaires, interviews, observations, document studies, records. Definition of all recognized Environmental aspects. Assessment of most important Environmental aspects. Formulation of draft versions of sectorial Environmental policies. Formulation of final sectorial Environmental policies. Elaboration of UL Environmental policy. Formulation of main Environmental objectives.

13. Organization of Environmental audit After - audit measures: Elaboration of UL Environmental Action Programme. Presentation of audit results and their evaluation. Summarization and preparation of brochure “Environmental Policy and Action Programme at the main building of University of Lavia”. Presentation of brochure to the top management of University.

14. Assessment of environmental aspects 1.Water management: • unsufficient quality of drinking water; (in canteen and sanitary rooms) • unsufficient water accounting; (which leads to uncontrolled water consumption) • unsufficient placement of sanitary rooms; • unsufficient qualification of technical staff;

15. Assessment of environmental aspects 2.Energy management: • high energy consumption (unsufficient energy efficiency – construction of windows, roof); • high energy consumption (usage of devices with high energy consumption – lighting, ventilation devices); • low understanding and awereness about energy consumption;

16. Assessment of environmental aspects 3. Indoor environment and waste management • unsufficient air quality, high content of dust (bad ventilation system); • use of unsufficient quality building materials; • classrooms are not suitable for qualitative study process; • lack of separated waste sorting;

17. Assessment of environmental aspects 4. Study and research: • environmental science have not plenty integrated into study programmes; • unsufficient motivation of academic staff to increase their qualification in the area of environmental science; • unsufficient information about current environmental education issues at university;

18. Assessment of environmental aspects 5. Environmental awareness and social-economic development: - unsufficient level of knowledge about Environmental issues; • low level of Environmental awareness - academic staff is not considering on Environmental questions (aspects) into their daily actions; • unsufficient communication process on Environmental issues at university and country; - University Environmental policy is not integrated into University strategic documents;

19. Criteria for definition of environmental aspects # Sustainable consumption of natural resources # Development of indoor environment # Sustainable study process # Development of environmental awareness

20. Criteria for definition of environmental aspects The given criteria only partially are connected with formal environmental legal requirements The given criteria mainly are with more higher requirements comparing with existing legal system The selection of given criteria have been motivated by: • pedagogical considerations; • future perspectivity – development considerations; • good practice in University Environmental management systems;

21. Environmental policy – what does it require # Environmental policy should be elaborated acording organization’s actions and characteristic impacts to environment, should relate to organization’sproducts and services # Environmental policy should include the obligations on: - continuous Environmental management improving; - pollution prevention measures; - compliance with Environmental legislation; # Environmental policy should be available and clearified (communicated);

22. University of Latvia Environmental policy-Water management sector University of Latvia is undertaking to supply qualitative drinking water. University of Latvia is undertaking to provide a rationale consumtion of drinking water. Water should be used also within visual esthetics context: for example aquariums, fountains.

23. University of Latvia Environmental policy-Energy management sector University of Latvia is undertaking to follow energoefficiency principles, to reduce consumption of energy. University of Latvia is undertaking to use energoefficient heating devices, as well as improve heating isolation measures. Audit of energoefficiency, action programme for energoefficiency measures are principal issues to be introduced.

24. University of Latvia Environmental policy- Indoor environment and waste managementsector University of Latvia is undertaking to improve indoore air quality (including dust content). The planning of reconstruction and buiding measures should follow the environmental requirements. University of Latvia is undertaking to develop indoor environment creating psychologically compatible environment. The measures for office waste reduction and promoting environmental sound actions with waste should be developed.

25. University of Latvia Environmental policy- Study and research sector The integration of Environmental science into University of Latvia study programmes should be key action, thus providing the interdisciplinarity of study process. The development of pedagogical quality (qualification of academic staff) and material-technical quality of study and research process. The availability to environmental information at university is an important precondition.

26. University of Latvia Environmental policy-Environmental awareness and social-economic development Increasing of environmental awareness and responsibility, as well as, active involvement in environmental sound actions, should create a principal platform for University of Latvia sustainable development. The creation and implementation of Environmental Management system into University of Latvia – to be integrated into University management

27. Benefits of Environmental audit For students: # Understanding of Environmnetal policy formulation and development process, Environmnetal Management systems implementation. # Managerial skills for environmnetal audit and group work. # Creative and interdiciplinary approach for investigation of own university.

28. Benefits of Environmental audit For academic staff of UL Institute for Environmnetal Science and Management: # Improvement of study course “Environmental policy” realisation. # Improvement of Environmental audit methodology. # Improvement of academic experience in Environmnetal Management. # Preparation step for new project application “EMS at University of Latvia”

29. Benefits of Environmental audit For University of Latvia: # Initial considerations and discussions about need for EMS. # EMS resource – Environmental survey brochure presented by Institute for Environmental Science and Management. # Use of particular proposed measures within reconstruction, building and planning actions.