Environmental Efficiency Assessment Task - SIT20115, Business

This document presents a comprehensive environmental efficiency assessment, addressing various aspects of sustainable practices. The assessment covers resource usage, including personal and workplace applications, and encourages critical thinking about reducing environmental impact through practical changes like reducing energy and water consumption, and promoting recycling. It also delves into workplace procedures, such as identifying environmental hazards and implementing recycling policies, along with the legal frameworks like the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act and Environmental Protection Act. The assessment further explores strategies for improving resource efficiency, such as implementing light sensors to reduce electricity usage in a business setting. Overall, the document aims to enhance understanding of environmental sustainability and promote practical solutions for a more eco-friendly approach.

ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFICIENCY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ASSESSMENT TASK 1: RESOURCE USAGE
1.1. In the space below write down three (3) things you have learned from completing this
activity. (Short)
 Provides an index where the understanding as well as the communication is made
easy.
 Different types of services, activities and goods are compared and accessed.
 Make aware for the assessment of sustainability in life.
1.2. In the space below write down in two to three sentences of what you have learned from
this movie and fact sheet. (Short)
The story tells about the number of social as well as environmental issues and asks to
come together for forming a more sustainable world for living. It helps in looking at the things
differently, make learn some things and make laugh.
1.3. What can our society do to help Australian workplaces to implement more
environmentally sustainable practices?
The use of the energy and water can be reduced. Use of green power can be promoted. Use of
fittings as well as furnishing that has non-toxic off gassing.
1.4. What can you (yourself) improve in your day-to-day life to help our environment?
(Short)
I can walk for nearby distances and using the public transport like subways, carpooling or
metro. Doubling the errands to save driving time, fuel and emission. Online shopping can be
used for eliminating cars. Keeping track of the trash produced.
1.5. In this activity you can select an item that you use daily to research, for example a pen, a
plastic bottle or something similar.
Research how the item is made and what it is made from, and then check the environment
sustainability of the item. To show your research of the item you will be required to answer the
following set of questions in the table below.
You will be required to write the outcome in the space below. (Guide: Short)
Item to check Explanations
a) Name of the item Plastic chair
b) What are the resources/materials that the
item is made from?
Plastic
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c) Where are these materials found? It is found everywhere and inside everything.
d) How are these materials processed to
make the item?
Plastic is first melted and then put in the mould
of the chair.
e) What energy sources are used to develop
the item?
Natural gas and crude oil.
f) How is the item transported to customers? Trucks, cargo ships and trains
g) What happens to the item after they are
used? E.g. are they recycled or thrown out?
Recycled.
h) Can the item be replaced with something
more sustainable - why yes or why not?
Yes, by making the chair of conventional
thermoplastics biodegradable.
1.6. Explain options for your item and how you could utilise better practices when using the
item. Provide a minimum of 5 options or points and document in the space below. (Guide:
Short)
 Using the conventional thermoplastic biodegradable plastic that will break down and
decompose in the environment.
 Making biodegradable plastics such as aliphatic polyester out of the chair for reuse.
 Using liquid wood for making chair.
 Recycling of the cycle can be done.
 Packing can be made plant-based.
1.7. In small groups, discuss how you could minimise power or water use in a workplace.
Provide 3 ideas and briefly explain them. Your answers must be in your own words and not
be the same as others in your group. (Guide: Short)
 The leakage and the dripping faucet can be identified and fixed on time.
 Use of mulch in at the workplace to avoid the water loss from the soil and keeping the
ground moist.
 The artificial lights can be switched off and the natural lights can be used.
1.8. In small groups you will be identifying how to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle items that
your assessor will provide you with. Each group will be given two (2) items (for example
paper books or plastic bottle). List the items in the table below and discuss with your
colleagues and explain how the item can be reduced, reused and recycled. (Short)
Item name Reduce Reuse Recycle
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Paper book Using online books Donating the old
books.
Using the books to
create creative items.
Plastic bottle Using steal bottles Storing the art
supplies.
Plastic is melted and
reused.
1.9. What types of formatting techniques can be used when preparing documents? Refer to
the formatting ideas below and put a tick (✓) next to the ideas which are good and (x) for
those not so good ideas. (Guide: use ✓ and x)
✓ or x Formatting ideas
✓ I will use the Bold / Underline / Italic buttons to make headings or important sentences
more visible to the reader
x When I am in a hurry and need to write a letter to a client I just jump on the computer
and start typing – as long as the document gets to the client how it looks is not all that
important
✓ I will ask my supervisor where the company logo should be before I develop my
document.
✓ I will use the bullets and numbering features to make points easy to locate and read by
others
✓ I will use the align buttons to ensure that the words and sentences start at the correct
spot of the document where I want them to be
✓ I will speak to my supervisors and select the right font to make sure the document
looks the same as other documents in my workplace.
x Regularly I develop documents which have only 4 or 5 pages, I don’t think that there is
a need to insert page numbers because the documents are not that big
x I must put my student ID on every page of this assessment task. To do this simply: • I
can double-click to open the Header and Footer feature at the top of the page and •
Type my student ID in the Header or Footer space prepared • This will make my
student ID visible on each and every page of this assessment pack
✓ I must put page numbers on documents which are more than 2 pages. I just type each
number at the bottom of each page as I go and this sometimes takes a while because
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some documents are 30 pages.
✓ I am producing a flyer for my friend who has a small business, I can use different
columns from the layout menu on the MSWord program for this.
1.10. How can formatting a document enhance its readability and appearance?
a. The document is easier to read
b. Logos are used and inserted in the same spot on each document which is good for the
organisation
c. Clients can easily see that the document belongs to the company
d. All of the above (✓)
e. None of the above
1.11. Each organisation will have their own guidelines for their staff to ensure that they are safe
at work. Select appropriate rules from the space below: (Guide: tick (✓) the appropriate answers
– there are more than one correct answer)
Guideline Examples of company rules:
Ergonomics We teach our employees that:
(✓) monitors must be at an eye level when working to minimise neck
straining
(✓) office equipment is regularly checked for health and safety
(✓) monitors are brightly lit not to make staff eyes strain too much
(✓) all staff should look away to a different spot from their monitor every
20 minutes to refocus eyes so they are not strained at the end of the day
() None of the above
Work periods and
breaks:
(✓) In our office we ensure that all staff take scheduled breaks for
morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
() People should just sit and work hard and eat at their table because they
lose concentration when they get off the computer
(✓) We believe that all staff should be changing their work tasks
regularly because it makes the day more interesting and they do not get as
tired
1.12. Explain why a company would have a “style guide” for the creation of documents. (Short)
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Style guide is a document that provides the information for the presentation of the
language as well as graphic perspective. The company use the style guide to maintain the
consistency of the brand and things like design and writing. It makes sure that the employees at
the workplace create a cohesive as well as clear way for reflecting the corporate style. The style
guide set standards for the internal along with the external corporate documents, it is a reference
source.
1.13. Use the ‘Help’ function in Word to search for the steps required to insert a Header and
Footer in a document. List the steps below. (Short)
 Click on the header area that is near the top of the page or the footer that is at the bottom
of the page. This opens the design tab under the header and footer tool.
 For placing the information in the centre or the right side click on the insert alignment
tab.
 In the position group of the design tab, click centre and click ok.
 Put the information in the header of choice.
 For going back to the document click close header and footer on the design tab.
ASSESSMENT TASK 2: LEGISLATION
2.1. What does environmental sustainability mean?
Environment sustainability can be defined as a kind of responsibility to conserve natural
resources in order to protect global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing in present and in
future (Dalezios, 2017). It helps in ensuring that all the environmental resources are being
protected and maintained for future generate or not.
2.2. What is an environmental hazard and how is it different from a safety hazard?
Environmental hazard is a kind of event that has potential to threaten surrounding natural
environment or adversely affect people's health. T further includes natural disasters and pollution
as well. It is different from safety hazard because in safety hazard is a kind of hazard in which
risk level to which a person is exposed increases (Sheffield & et. al. 2017)(Timoshanko, 2020).
If safety hazards are not delt with then it can result in immediate effect and can further risk
health and safety of a person.
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2.3. If you identify an environmental hazard in a workplace who would you report it to? tick
(✓)with appropriate answer
✓ Possible answers
My supervisor
My friends at home
✓ WorkCover NSW
The Premier of NSW
2.4. Names at least one (1) workplace procedure or policy that an organisation should have in
place, so staff are working more sustainably
Recycling policy can directly help staff members in working more sustainably that includes
recycling and reusability.
2.5. Research the internet and explain what organisations are required to do under the National
Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act?
Organization in civil or construction sector mostly require to do under National Greenhouse and
Energy Reporting Act (Sheffield & et. al. 2017)(Timoshanko, 2020).
2.6. Research one (1) local Government Council website and discuss what councils are doing to
improve sustainability for their area?
https://www.nsw.gov.au/search?q=sustainability
It is one of the local government council website and for improving sustainability within
their area they are focusing upon creating environmentally sustainable homes.
2.7. List at least one (1) Environmental Law or Legislations that a workplace would refer to.
Environment protection Act, 997 is an act which is applicable to workplaces
ASSESSMENT TASK 3: IMPROVE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
3.1 One area that the Old Pub should improve
One area that Old Pub should change is put a light sensor to save energy when no one is
in dark areas. This will directly help them in reducing their electricity usage. Process is to reduce
electricity.
3.2 Explain how the new item or process will benefit the Old Pub
This new item of light sensors will help Old Pub to reduce their electricity consumption i.e. when
no one is around and room is in dark, lights will automatically get turned off and will eventually
will help them to reduce their energy consumption and save overall operational cost.
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3.3. Research environmentally sustainable products or processes that could be used at the pub
and insert your findings below or print the research and attach it to this assignment
They can focus upon using databases and emails as a new products that can help Old Pub as it is
an environmentally sustainable product because to will directly help them in reducing usage of
paper and wastage.
3.4. Research two (2) environmental legislation relevant to your item and briefly explain how
they relate.
Relevant environment legislation to new item are: Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This legislation helps in ensuring ecological sustainable
development. Another act applicable to this new item is Australian Energy market act, 2004.
3.5. Assess the item, or the change, from question 3.1
Calculate the WHS risk
Risk Score: L
Calculate the Environmental risk
Risk Score: H
STUDENT RISK MATRIX RESPONSES
ITEM FROM Q3.1
WHS RISK Consequence No treatment is required
WHS RISK Likelihood could occur but only rarely
WHS RISK SCORE Low
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Consequence
Moderate Impact
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Likelihood
Could occur at some time
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
SCORE
High
3.6
Action Plan - Implementing more Environmentally Sustainable item or a process into the Old Pub
Name of the item or
process
Light sensor
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Why does this item or
the process need
changing?
save energy when no one is in dark areas
process is to reduce electricity
Timelines – by when
will the item or process
be implemented – list
different timelines and
goals
Research
timeline
Timeline to
complete a risk
assessment &
analysis of items
or process “life
cycle”
Timeline for
purchasing the
items
Timeline for
implementation
and review
timelines
3 months 1 month 1 month 3 months
What are the outcomes
of the safety risk
assessment and
environmental risk
assessment of the old
item
when there were no light sensors installed there was extremely darkness and
they need to tun the lights on every time. If they did not do that then changes
that any one can get hurt increased.
What was the result of
the Life – cycle
assessment of the item
or process?
results of life cycle assessment were: after implementation of these sensors,
it can directly help in saving energy of office, reduce electricity load. When
it is required to be disposed off then is transported to be recycled then it is
redesigned and is ready to be used again.
How will the Item be
replaced?
this new item will not replace any existing item but will be installed with
other electronic items
Cost per item or
process implementation
whole implementation process will be completed in $20,000
Where it can be
purchased and by
whom?
Old Pub owner can purchase it from any online e-commence site
Staff training or
coaching of a new
process or how to use
new item
all the staff members will be provided training about ways in which new
light sensor will work so that they can use electricity accordingly.
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Who will be
responsible for what
part of the
implementation process
project manager of this new implementation project will be responsible for
its implementation
4.2. PREPARE DOCUMENT
Document
purpose
The purpose of the document is making the employees clear of the font
and style they have to use while making a document at the workplace.
Audience The staff, managers and the clients that are relaxing at the workplace can
read the document.
Ideas for
improving
sustainability in
the Pub
- Changing the old appliance used in the pub with the new ones to
reduce the electricity bill.
- Change the plasma TV in the main games area as it is expensive.
- Using the technology for ordering system to speed up the service
process at the pub.
- Increase the natural light source for reducing the use of artificial
light.
Word processing
software chosen
and why?
Microsoft word is chosen for the work. Because it is the recognized as
well as pirated word processor. It is the universal system for using. It is
able to fulfil the highest demands of typographic. It is able to create all
types of official documents along with this it is able to process the custom
templates.
Feedback The purpose of the activity is to explain the importance of the style guide
and the use of the document for the business.
4.3. CREATE YOUR DOCUMENT (45 minutes – 1 hour) a) Use the following points to create
your document of your review to Robert and his family as per below within the designated
timeline. (Long)
PAGE PAGE DETAILS
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1 Cover Page
The Old Pub Style Guide
Old Pub
Renovating the business to
more environmentally
sustainable.
John Wick
The image of the item
Border around the cover page
2/3 Action Plan - The new changes in
the Pub will reduce the
electricity bill and the
wastage of the water.
- Reduce paper waste
- Customer service will
be increased
- Recycling capacity
will be increased
- Local Community
representatives and the
Council’s
Environmental
Committee voted for
the application
success.
Advise when the item will be purchased
The item for the new idea will be purchased when the implementation of the plan will be
successfully approved by the mayor. As soon as the plan for the new idea will be implemented
the items will be displayed and then will be purchased by customers. This will encourage the
new idea which is being initiated.
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