Sustainability Topics
This list of 13 sustainability topics is not to be interpreted as a rigid and exhaustive knowledge framework, but rather as a valid backbone structure that can help you understand the different sustainability aspects that can be dealt with when speaking about sustainable issues in the working environment.
Please click on the desired Sustainability Topic to find out more about the practices related to each of the subjects.
Sustainability Topics (No specific order)
1.Management
2.Emissions to air
3.Land contamination
4.Workforce occupants
5.Local environment and community
6.Life cycle of building/products
7.Energy Management
8.Emissions to water
9.Use of Resources
10.Waste Management
11.Market Place
12.Biodiversity
13.Transport
- Important to the achievement of certified management systems (e.g. 14001) and/or involve the use of recognised certified schemes
- Describe strategies in support of the commissioning of a sustainable building
- Demonstrate how social and environmental impacts are considered in decision-making processes
- Describe the development and/or implementation of indicators, targets, policies or management processes that integrate business practices with sustainable development
- Communicate information regarding the social and environmental impacts of the organisation to its stakeholders
- Reduce sources of emissions of greenhouse and ozone depleting gases
- Support the use of low emission finishes, construction materials, carpets and furnishings
- Separate sources of emissions from sensitive receptors, thus mitigating negative health impacts
- Support the reduction of any contaminating agent that may affect the properties of land
- Reduce sensorial nuisance (e.g. noise, odour, visual impact)
- Promote access to work and services for people with special needs
- Support members of staff in taking project ownership
- Promote staff development (knowledge and skills)
- Support the good health of employees
5.Local environment and community
- Contribute to the local environment and to the local infrastructure to improve safety and provide opportunities for people to become healthier
- Support working in partnership with local communities and organisations to foster synergy and contribute to the development of local economy
- Promote and support community activity and volunteering
- Share resources (e.g. equipment, knowledge, skills, and buildings, with community, voluntary, educational or charitable groups)
- Take part in schemes that help disabled and long-term unemployed people to contribute to society and realise their potential
6.Life cycle of building/products
- Oversee the inclusion of environmental issues throughout the lifecycle of a project to include on-going issues once designed
- Consider the lifecycle of materials to be used for a project
- Cut down the overall usage of energy, whether it is electricity from the mains, gas or any other type of fuel used for the generation of power or heat
- Include a mixture of measures and technologies aimed at improving the performance of a given system, that is to say, maximise the amount of energy obtained in terms of the fuel supplied into the system
- Assess energy suppliers in terms of the costs and quality of energy service provided.
- Support on-site electricity generation using “clean” fuels or renewable sources
- Review potential and harness the opportunity for sustainable drainage system (e.g. porous pavements swales and basins, ponds and wetlands, infiltration trenches or green roofs)
- Minimise water use through lean design and operation
- Minimise the risk of water pollution
- Reduce use of fossil fuels
- Involve the use of storage and reuse of water, chemicals and fuel oils
- Reduce the volume of waste being generated
- Support the classification of waste and identification of further uses to waste material which do not require for it to undergo through any considerable changes
- Support the regeneration or transformation of material into other products for reuse
- Support the management of disposal of clinical, hazardous and other type of non-reusable or recyclable waste
- Use purchasing power to support the local economy and to support organisations which are contributing to sustainable development
- Increase flow of information to and consultation from stakeholders and use it to inform decision-making
- Support ethical business and actively oppose to corruption and unfair practices
- Promote ethical procurement of:
- Consumables including paper, toner and cartridges
- IT equipment in terms of energy consumption and end-of-life reuse
- Cleaning chemicals, pesticides regarding their effect on the environment
- Locally sourced/ethically produced farmed foods and purchas of organic products
- Protect and enhance native species and their habitats
- Increase the proportion of resources that are from sustainable-managed sources
- Support the minimisation of fuel consumption, preservation of air quality, reduction of traffic congestion and healthier life-styles
The information presented has been adapted from the following source: "Sustainable Practice for the Facilities Manager" (Shah, 2007)
