Resource efficiency issues Discover the environmental issues behind

Resource efficiency issues Discover the environmental issues behind the resources you use at work. energy water pollution waste chemicals

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. Home

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. • 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. Home

Energy usage in a typical office Lifts Hot water Energy is essential to virtually every aspect of personal and business activity. Heating Cooling Artificial lighting We use both renewable and non-renewable energy sources for our energy needs. Ventilation Office equipment Source: Dept. of Sustainability and Environment Victoria Home

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. • 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. Home

Water Three key issues associated with water are: • scarcity • water quality • waste and disposal Home

Water Three key issues associated with water are: 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. • scarcity • water quality • waste and disposal Home

Water Three key issues associated with water are: • scarcity 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 • water quality • Industrial growth • waste and disposal • Agricultural development Home

Water Three key issues associated with water are: In 2004 -5 Australian households and businesses Usage by sectors (2004) consumed 18, 767 gigalitres of water, the equivalent of Electricity and gas 1% about 40 times the volume of Sydney Harbour. Mining 2% Manufacturing 3% • scarcity Water supply 11% • water quality Households 11% • waste and disposal Agriculture 65% Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Home

Water quality is affected by a number of factors. Poor water quality creates problems for humans and for the environment. Three key issues associated with water are: • scarcity • water quality • waste and disposal Home

Water quality is affected by a number of factors. Poor water quality creates problems for humans and for the environment. Three key issues associated with water are: • scarcity • water quality • waste and disposal Factors affecting water quality include: • Runoff from detergents and fertilisers • Sewage • Toxic emissions from industry • Groundwater contamination from landfill • Litter washed into drains Home

Water quality is affected by a number of factors. Poor water quality creates problems for humans and for the environment. Three key issues associated with water are: • scarcity • water quality • waste and disposal 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. Home

Water 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. Three key issues associated with water are: Breakdown of typical water use in an Australian office • scarcity • water quality • waste and disposal Home

Water Irrigation/landscaping 1% Three key issues associated with water are: Other, eg cleaning 2% Breakdown of typical water use in an Australian office Retail, eg food 3% Leakage, eg taps, pumps 26% • scarcity Cooling towers/air con 31% • water quality Amenities, eg toilets 37% • waste and disposal Source: Dept. of Sustainability and Environment Victoria Home

Pollution Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution • Air pollution Home

Pollution There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & Litter. Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution • Air pollution Home

Pollution There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & Litter. Some ways humans damage water systems are by: Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution • Air pollution • 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 Home

Pollution Sources of pollution include: There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & Litter. 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 • Water pollution • Garden fertilisers and manure • Noise pollution • Septic tanks and unsewered premises • Air pollution • Sewer overflows and damaged sewers Home

Pollution There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & Litter. Sources of pollution include: 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: • Water pollution • Human and animal wastes • Leaching from landfill • Plant matter • Kitchen wastes • Garden fertilisers • Nitrous oxides from car exhaust and lightning • Noise pollution • Air pollution • Detergents Home

Pollution There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & Litter. Sources of pollution include: 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: • Water pollution • Oil and petrol • Noise pollution • Air pollution • Treated pine • Paints and primers • Garden herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers • Some cleaning fluids • Solvents Home

Pollution Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution • Air pollution There are many types of pollutants that damage our water system: Pathogens, Nutrients, Toxicants & 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. Home

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. Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution • Air pollution Home

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. Sources of pollution include: Noise pollution can come from: • Water pollution • Use of machinery • Noise pollution • Air pollution • Loud vehicles • Alarms • Neighbourhood noise, such as barking dogs Home

Pollution Noise pollution is defined as unwanted noise that unreasonable intrudes on daily activities. It is becoming an increasing problem as urban areas grow larger. Sources of pollution include: Problems or impacts of noise depend on: • Water pollution • Noise level • Noise pollution • Air pollution • Type of noise • How it is perceived (what is music to one person might be offensive to another) Home

Pollution Air quality has a significant effect on the health of the community. This relates to both indoor air quality and outdoor air quality. Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution • Air pollution Home

Pollution Sources of pollution include: • 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. 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 Home

Pollution Sources of pollution include: • 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. 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. Home

Pollution Sources of pollution include: • Water pollution • Noise pollution Air quality has a significant effect on the health of the community. This relates to both indoor air quality and outdoor air quality. Outdoor air quality is affected by: • Motor vehicle emissions • Wood and outdoor rubbish burning • Emissions from factories and industrial plants • Air pollution Home

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. Home

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. 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 Home

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. Landfill creates environmental problems including: • Decomposing rubbish produces greenhouse gases such as CO 2. • 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. Home

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. Home

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. Chemicals enter air, often as industrial and motor vehicle emissions. Chemicals enter water via effluent and runoff. Home

Chemicals Health and environment risks include: • Industrial and motor vehicle emission of nitrogen and sulphur oxides causes acid rain. 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. • 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. Home