Communication Skills AS1: Improving Environmental Impact at UONL

This report critically examines the environmental impact of the University of Northampton (UONL) and evaluates various strategies for improvement. It analyzes the potential of investing in solar plants, adopting digital technologies for a paper-free environment, and promoting the use of E-bikes among staff. The report discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each option, considering factors like cost, effectiveness, and potential drawbacks. Ultimately, it recommends that UONL invest in solar panels due to their long-term cost savings, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and minimal water wastage. The report concludes that environmental protection is crucial and that proactive measures, such as investing in solar energy, are essential for UONL to minimize its environmental footprint.

Communication Skills AS1 Scenario
and Assessment Articles Trimester 2

Table of Contents
Introduction:.....................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Analysing the different available measures for improving the impact on the environment:......3
Recommendation:............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................6
References:.......................................................................................................................................7

Introduction:
The practising of Environmental protection methods is necessary for every commercial
organisation in order to minimise exploitation of mother nature in the form of cutting trees for
paper or using fossil fuels for meeting the energy requirements. The protection of environment is
essential in today's situation where the importance to save nature rises. For this report University
of Northampton(UONL) is taken consideration. The company provides a wide range of
undergraduate degrees to the students in UK. The report will critically explain about the different
options available for the firm in order to reduce negative impact of its operation on the
environment. In addition to this, the report will also recommend the best strategy which will
support the company in improving its impact on the environment.
MAIN BODY
Analysing the different available measures for improving the impact on the environment:
There are different available options in front of the UONL from which the company can
practise by taking measures for minimising the impact of its operation on the environment. The
options which are available are investing in solar plants, doing investments related to purchasing
E-bikes for the staff usage or it can be using upgraded digital technologies for teaching as well as
performing administrative functions in order to eliminate usage of paper(Al-Jamimi, Al-Azani
and Saleh, 2018). The following points will critically analyse the above discussed measures:
First option:
Making investments on solar energy:
The first option for UONL company is to make investment in buying solar panels in
order to save the electricity bills and more importantly reducing the reliance on using fossil fuels
on meeting energy requirements. The purchasing of solar plan is good option for reducing the
level of damage to the environment as this is the most sustainable option available. The
following are the benefits as well as disadvantage of using Solar panels are:
Advantages:
 The one of the most critical benefit of using solar plants is that it requires no water to
operate. The very low reliance on water helps the company to eliminate usage of excess

water which leads to the saving of water in the most effective manner(Vilela, Bassin and
Peixoto, 2018).
 The other benefit of using solar panel as the energy source is that it produces no pollution
as compared to the fossil fuel sources of energy. The using solar panel will not produce
any harmful carbon dioxide as well as methane gases which is harmful not only for the
environment but for the health of humans also(Khalil and et.al., 2021).
Disadvantages:
 The one of major demerit behind using solar power panels for energy resources is that
these panels are heavily dependent on the sunshine to operate effectively. In case there is
low or no sunlight the system will not work properly.
 The solar panels does not guarantee the indefinite usage as the solar panels can get
damaged which will need immediate replacement leading to extra costs.
Second option:
Using digital technologies for paper-free business activities:
The going paper-less strategy for the company is also a good option as this will help the
firm in reducing the impact on environment regarding saving trees from cutting or using less
volume of water. The following are the advantages as well as disadvantages of using digital
technologies in going paper less mode are:
Advantages:
 The storage of information in the digital format will be helpful for the university as it will
reduce the cost incurred on printing papers as well as storing large amount papers can be
inconvenient. This also supports the university in eliminating shredding service cost
incurred in the paperwork.
 The other major merit of going paper-less by the university supports it to introduce online
database software through which all the employees of company can seek information
whenever they need to collect. In addition to this, it will also facilitate working in remote
areas by employees where the employees can communicate with each other even when
situating in different part of the world(Sule and Mishra, 2020).
Disadvantage:

 The high usage of digital software for performing classes can negatively hamper the eye
site of the students. In addition to this, it can also motivate students to indulge in UN-
ethical activities which can negatively impact their education career.
 The attack from hackers is the biggest risk that the university can be exposed if the
security standards are not maintained properly.
Third option:
Spending on E-bike:
In the rapidly evolving era of technology and digitalisation every organisation that is
indulged in finding the solutions to streamline their work and develop sustainability wants a new
idea (Golicic and et. al., 2020). The introduction of e-bike incentives schemes encourage and
support sustainable development and provide advantages in terms of reducing the overall
negative impacts on the environment. By using the electric bikes the pollution caused by the use
of fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and creates harmful effects on the overall
ecological balance of the planet. On the other hand there are certain risks that come along with
the use of electric vehicles such as e-bike which are costly and lack sufficient charging stations
across the state. There are lot of pros and cons about the stability and stability of electric bikes in
reducing carbon emissions and declining pollution that are elaborated below.
Advantages:
With the help of electric bikes the carbon emissions can be lower and over pollution can
be declined that creates less harm to the environment. Moreover the use of electric engines in
electric bikes reduces the noise pollution and emissions of carbon that improve the air quality
and reduces the chances of illness. The cost of maintaining electric bikes is very less and the use
of batteries make it more comfortable and durable to stay for longer lives and give high
performance. The electric bike can provide higher chances of satisfaction and sustainability of
the environment as they do not emit huge amount of carbons and noise that causes pollution and
provide smooth experience to the riders. The use of electric bikes for the people can be less
complex because it does not require a high level of maintenance cost (Wolff and et. al., 2020).
The use of electronic vehicles can make travelling safer and comfortable for people because it
reduces the overall chances of damaging oneself by over-speeding. The electric bikes can
provide long distance travelling due to its capacities of using electric batteries.

Disadvantages:
The use of e bikes is similarly considered harmful to traditional vehicles, in its initial
manufacturing, because the production of batteries requires extraction of useful minerals and it
causes industrial pollution. Due to the mining of lithium, Cobalt, magnesium and other minerals
for producing the battery increases the chances of pollution. The electric bike is comparatively
smooth but it is much slow as compared to the traditional bikes among which few of the electric
bikes provide the maximum speed of 50-60kmph. The electric bikes require a considerable
amount of time to charge fully as compared to the traditional bikes that are much more effective
in refuelling that makes it difficult for the stakeholders to adopt e-bikes. The electric vehicles
require a huge amount of energy to get charged and the e bikes also require charging units that
may produce electricity from unconventional sources to charge many electric vehicles in an area.
Moreover, the replacement cost of old vehicles with that of e-bikes may force the stakeholders to
avoid the use of electric bikes (Borland and et. al., 2018).
Recommendation:
After critically evaluating the above options , it has been recommended that UONL
should invest their funds on purchasing solar panels as this will support the university to cut their
electricity cost significantly. In addition to this, this will also minimise the water wastage as well
as reducing the use of fossil fuels. Hence, it can be concluded that investing on buying solar
panels is considered as the most viable option among the other options available(Chen, Lin and
Tzeng, 2019).
Conclusion:
From the above report, it has been analysed that protection of environment is very
important in today's environment as there is rise in global warming conditions. It was also
evaluated that the protective measures can be taken in order to save the environment from the
serious consequences. The report has included the critical evaluation of the options available to
protect the environment. In addition to this, the report has also recommended that investing in
solar panels can be the better option for the university in protecting the environment from
damages.

References:
Books and Journal
Al-Jamimi, H.A., Al-Azani, S. and Saleh, T.A., 2018. Supervised machine learning techniques
in the desulfurization of oil products for environmental protection: A review. Process
Safety and Environmental Protection, 120, pp.57-71.
Borland, H and et. al., 2018. Creating theory for business strategies for sustainability and climate
change: Transitional and transformational strategies and ecocentric dynamic capabilities.
In Business strategies for sustainability (pp. 65-80). Routledge.
Chen, V.Y.C., Lin, J.C.L. and Tzeng, G.H., 2019. Assessment and improvement of wetlands
environmental protection plans for achieving sustainable development. Environmental
Research, 169, pp.280-296.

Golicic, S.L. and et. al., 2020. A global meaning of supply chain social sustainability. Production
Planning & Control, 31(11-12). pp.988-1004.
Khalil and et.al., 2021. Detection of micro-toxic heavy metals in commercial ink powder brands
via short-long orthogonal dual pulse LIPs and ICP-OES spectroscopic techniques for
environmental protection. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry,
pp.1-25.
Sule, R. and Mishra, A.K., 2020. MOFs-carbon hybrid nanocomposites in environmental
protection applications. Environmental science and Pollution research, 27(14),
pp.16004-16018.
Vilela, C.L.S., Bassin, J.P. and Peixoto, R.S., 2018. Water contamination by endocrine
disruptors: Impacts, microbiological aspects and trends for environmental
protection. Environmental pollution, 235, pp.546-559.
Wolff, S. and et. al., 2020. Transforming automotive companies into sustainability leaders: A
concept for managing current challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production, 276. p.124179.