resource efficiency issues discover the environmental issues behind the resources you use at work....

Resource efficiency issuesDiscover the environmental issues behind the resources

you use at work.

water waste chemicalsenergy pollution

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Energy

Energy is essential to virtually every aspect of personal and business activity.

We use both renewable and non-renewable energy sources for our energy needs.

Energy

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• Electricity and gas are used in offices for lighting, heating and cooling, air conditioning, and operating equipment such as computers, printers, fax machines, cordless phones and photocopiers.

• Energy is also essential for transport, and services and products we use that require energy to be created and supplied.

• Industry and commercial consumption of energy accounts for 62% of electricity used in NSW.

If businesses can save energy or use more sustainable forms of energy, everyone benefits.



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Energy usage in a typical officeEnergy



Lifts

Hot water

Heating

Cooling

Artificial lighting

Ventilation

Office equipment

Source: Dept. of Sustainability and Environment Victoria

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Energy



• Renewable energy is naturally replenished, sustainable energy that comes from the natural environment. Eg wind and sunlight.

• Non-renewable energy cannot be replenished. Once it’s used, it’s gone. Eg coal, oil, gas.

• Most electricity in Australia comes from coal fired power stations that release high levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and pollutants into the environment.

• 36% of NSW greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity generation or use.

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Water

Three key issues associated with water are:

• scarcity

• water quality

• waste and disposal

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Water There is an increasing demand for water and a decline in water availability.

In 2004-5 Australian households and businesses consumed 18,767 gigalitres of water, the equivalent of about 40 times the volume of Sydney Harbour.Three key issues

associated with water are:

• scarcity

• water quality


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Water


• scarcity

• water quality


There is an increasing demand for water and a decline in water availability.

In 2004-5 Australian households and businesses consumed 18,767 gigalitres of water, the equivalent of about 40 times the volume of Sydney Harbour.

Increasing demand is due to a number of factors:

• Population growth

• Urbanisation

• Industrial growth

• Agricultural development

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Water


• scarcity

• water quality


In 2004-5 Australian households and businesses consumed 18,767 gigalitres of water, the equivalent of about 40 times the volume of Sydney Harbour.

Usage by sectors (2004)

Electricity and gas 1%

Mining 2%

Manufacturing 3%

Water supply 11%

Households 11%

Agriculture 65%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006

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Water


• scarcity

• water quality


Water quality is affected by a number of factors.Poor water quality creates problems for humans and for the environment.

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Water


• scarcity

• water quality



Factors affecting water quality include:

• Runoff from detergents and fertilisers

• Sewage

• Toxic emissions from industry

• Groundwater contamination from landfill

• Litter washed into drains

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Water


• scarcity

• water quality



Problems for humans and the environment include:

• Contaminated drinking water causes health problems for humans.

• Contaminated waterways result in oxygen levels being altered. This results in the growth of plants such as blue-green algae which choke the waterways, killing other plants, fish and wildlife.

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• scarcity

• water quality


Only 25% of the drinkable water in Australian cities is used for drinking and watering gardens. The rest is discharged into rivers and oceans via the sewerage system and stormwater drains.

Breakdown of typical water use in an Australian office

Water

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• scarcity

• water quality


Breakdown of typical water use in an Australian office

Water

Leakage, eg taps, pumps 26%

Cooling towers/air con 31%

Irrigation/landscaping 1%

Other, eg cleaning 2%

Retail, eg food 3%

Amenities, eg toilets 37%Source: Dept. of Sustainability and Environment Victoria

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Pollution

Sources of pollution include:

• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & Litter.

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Some ways humans damage water systems are by:

• Emptying paint down the drain

• Washing cars or boats on the driveway

• Disposing of car oil down the drain

• Excessive use of aerosols

• Careless use of pesticides and herbicides

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Pathogens are microscopic organisms (eg viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites). A dangerous common pathogen is E.coli bacteria. Sources of E.coli include:

• Animal faeces

• Garden fertilisers and manure

• Septic tanks and unsewered premises

• Sewer overflows and damaged sewers

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Nutrients, eg nitrogen and phosphorus, can pollute waterways resulting in excessive plant growth choking waterways and causing fluctuations in oxygen levels. Sources of nutrients are:

• Human and animal wastes

• Plant matter

• Garden fertilisers

• Detergents

• Leaching from landfill

• Kitchen wastes

• Nitrous oxides from car exhaust and lightning

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Toxicants are substances, which at certain concentrations, are poisonous to living things. Many products used inside and outside homes and workplaces contain toxins such as:

• Oil and petrol

• Treated pine

• Paints and primers

• Solvents

• Garden herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers

• Some cleaning fluids

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Litter is the most visible sign of water pollution, and its presence indicates that other contaminants may also be present.

Litter can include:

• foams, plastics, food containers, cigarette butts and other items discarded on streets.

Most of this rubbish is washed into gutters and then into the stormwater system, which discharges to waterways and bays.

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

Noise pollution is defined as unwanted noise that unreasonably intrudes on daily activities.

It is becoming an increasing problem as urban areas grow larger.

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

Noise pollution is defined as unwanted noise that unreasonably intrudes on daily activities.


Noise pollution can come from:

• Use of machinery

• Loud vehicles

• Alarms

• Neighbourhood noise, such as barking dogs

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

Noise pollution is defined as unwanted noise that unreasonable intrudes on daily activities.


Problems or impacts of noise depend on:

• Noise level

• Type of noise

• How it is perceived (what is music to one person might be offensive to another)

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

Air quality has a significant effect on the health of the community. This relates to both indoor air quality and outdoor air quality.

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Poor air quality affects people’s health and well being. It can cause:

• Irritation of skin, eyes and throat

• Headache, drowsiness and general irritability

• Unpleasant odour and taste symptoms

• Neurotoxic symptoms such as anaphylaxis

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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution

Indoor air quality is impacted by:

• Use of gas cookers and un-flued gas heaters

• Chemicals and toxicants such as formaldehyde

• Biological pollutants such as fungi, dust mites, moulds, pest droppings

The CSIRO estimates that the cost of poor indoor air quality in Australia may be as high as $12 billion.


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Pollution


• Water pollution

• Noise pollution

• Air pollution


Outdoor air quality is affected by:

• Motor vehicle emissions

• Wood and outdoor rubbish burning

• Emissions from factories and industrial plants

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Waste

Every business generates rubbish. Some goes into the bin, some into the recycling.

What goes into your bin ends up in the rubbish tip as landfill.

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Waste



What kinds of rubbish are discarded on any given day in an office?• Paper• Packaging• Plastic wrap• Food scraps• Drink containers• Pens• Paper towels• Ink and toner cartridges• Damaged or broken office equipment

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Waste



Landfill creates environmental problems including:

• Decomposing rubbish produces greenhouse gases such as CO2.

• The emissions from these gases create air pollution and bad odours, which interfere with quality of human life.

• Chemicals released from the decomposing waste can leach into the soil and water.

Landfill takes up a large area of land, which could be used for better purposes such as housing, farming or community space.

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Chemicals

Many chemicals have been introduced into the environment by humans. Many are the products of waste from industry and agriculture. These chemicals are toxic and pose significant health and environmental risks.

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Chemicals


Chemicals enter air, often as industrial and motor vehicle emissions.

Chemicals enter water via effluent and runoff.

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Chemicals


Health and environment risks include:

• Industrial and motor vehicle emission of nitrogen and sulphur oxides causes acid rain.

• Carbon dioxide causes the greenhouse effect and climate change.

• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) cause the destruction of the ozone layer and creates the possibility of ultraviolet radiation.

• Overflow of chemical fertilisers and nutrients from farms and gardens can lead to growth of toxic algae in rivers.

resource efficiency issues discover the environmental issues behind the resources you use at work....

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