Sustainability as a Core Business Value for Tiny Opera House - Case Study Example

Implementation and presentation Submission details Candidate’s name Phone no. Assessor’s name Phone no. Assessment site Assessment date/s Time/s Implementation Plan Objectives Sustainability is a core business value for Tiny Opera House, explaining the need to incorporate it in every aspect of the business’ planning. This plan gives direction on how the organization will implement its sustainability policy through specific listed projects and the timelines for their implementation. This sustainability implementation plan is anchored on the following key principles – the need to create a building that meets the Green Star Performance requirements with a rating of five star; the need to create an organization that incorporates responsibility, efficiency and care in its dealings; and the need to sensitize or create environmental awareness amongst communities through organizational experiences and art. This sustainability implementation plan is crafted out of the need to contribute environmental conservation, economic growth, positive culture and sustainable communities. Tiny Opera House is committed to the universal efforts of preservation for natural environment, waste minimization, controlled pollution, environmental conservation and social sustainability. The objectives of implementing this sustainability report include: reduction of energy use in business operations of the organization; embedding environmental sustainability in every aspect of the organization, whether in waste management or water conservation; engaging and inspiring organizational stakeholders to embrace and adopt sustainable practices for the organization; and maintenance of accurate organizational records for posterity. Tiny Opera House aims to lead in social and environmental sustainability to serve as an inspiration to other industry players. This would be achieved by incorporating sustainable elements into the established business processes. The objective of our environmental conservation efforts is to influence positive environmental outcomes at a higher level of industrial partnerships. Tiny Opera House also recognizes the need to engage our staff, community and other partners on matters concerning sustainability. In this regard, we endeavor to build an impetus that would inspire them to make effort in pursuing sustainable action as groups or at individual level. Action Required Associated target Resources Timeline Accountability Installation of ventilation equipment and air conditioning systems, and heating systems to provide conducive working environment. Program all reverse-cycle air conditioners in the office to automatically switch off at 4.45 pm every day; as an improvement from the current manually switched air-conditioners. This would be a step towards minimizing resource use Define a policy that places a responsibility on the last staff member leaving each day to turn all air-conditioners off; to prevent a case where they are left running for 24 hours a day. Measuring and verifying the amount of electrical energy saved in the operational processes whenever new energy efficiency projects are installed. Pursue energy star ratings for electrical equipment installed in the building. Develop an optimal electrical energy strategy for the organization. Objective: Reduce energy use Reduce electricity use by 2% per annum (using FY06/07 as initial benchmark). Opera company currently include: Stage Manager (part-time) Director of Programming Resident Designer (funded by a grant for three years) Business Manager Marketing Communications Manager (part-time) Project Officers x 3 (part-time) Customer Service Representatives x 2 (part-time). 1 year 1-2 years 1-3 years Business Manager Director of Programming Conduct energy audits every six months to ascertain the extent of energy savings achieved. Measuring and verifying the amount of gas energy saved in the operational processes whenever new energy efficiency projects are installed Develop an optimal gas energy use strategy for the organization. Objective: Reduce energy use Reduce gas use by 4% per annum (using FY06/07 as initial benchmark). Budget for auditing 1 year Business Manager Implement sustainable waste contracts. Pursue recycling of organic wastes and aim for continuous improvement of waste recycling processes. Sign contracts defining food and beverage disposals to reduce waste generation and support waste recycling. Sign partnerships with waste contractors to achieve reliable reporting of waste management issues and realize waste data integrity. Implement a new contract scope that would capture best targets for waste recycling practice when undertaking construction and refurbishment works. Expand the scale of waste recycling by making bulky recycling collections every year. Pursue silver standard ratings for waste data integrity in line with Operational Waste Guidelines. Pursue requirements for building contractors to reduce demolition waste when conducting interior design so as to reduce landfill wastes. Approve a waste management plan for all building refurbishments. Mark and install separate litter bins for different types of wastes so that recyclable paper can be separated from general rubbish Objective: Embed environmental sustainability in everything we do Reduce landfill waste and increase reuse and recycling. Partnerships with waste management companies that own recycling plants Purchase litter bins Legal contract reviews 1 year Business Manager Define a statement policy that will reduce the use of toxic material and hazardous chemicals in the organization’s operations Review and implement all contract clauses that guide waste management. Record all waste data that can be gathered from any construction projects within the business premises. Conduct annual audits for processes used to manage and dispose classified wastes. Include clauses that enforce proper handling and disposal of classified wastes in all building-related contracts Ensure all building contracts have clauses that define measures for responsible waste management and disposal of classified waste. Pursue project audits that would ensure all classified wastes are disposed as intended. Pursue large item reuse programs within the organization. Pursue partnerships that would create strategies through which reusable items can be donated for non-profit organizations and communities. Use low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint when painting sets for performances as a strategy to protect the health and safety of workers. Embed environmental sustainability in everything we do- reduce the use of toxic or environmentally harmful products and materials. Budget allocation for audit exercise 1-2 years Business Manager Conduct water auditing for all systems- fire systems, rainwater, amenities, and kitchen tap water – with an aim to measure water usage and recommend ways of improving efficiency in water use. This would go a long way in ensuring that Tiny Opera House pursues best practices in sustaining water efficiency. Pursuant to the high priority water audit, the organization would take high priority actions identified from the water audit process. Install water fit-outs that have efficiency ratings. Establish and review water targets by benchmarking with other industry players on best practices that are employed towards ensuring water efficiency. Implement a plan for managing litter and storm-water as a way of reducing litter and controlling pollution that comes from storm-water. Implement a biodiversity plan that would control the interaction of people with plants and animals within the building premises. Monitor and manage all discharges from the organization’s processes that are destined to be carried into storm water. Embed environmental sustainability in everything we do- reduce water use by 2% per annum (using FY06/07 as initial benchmark). Budget allocation for audit exercise 1-2 years Business Manager Pursue higher ratings in indoor environmental quality with an aim of enhancing people’s wellbeing Include indoor plants as a way to improve the quality of the indoor environment. Implement programs aimed at promoting social good, staff well-being, safety, building access and health to create a trade-off between people’s comfort and environmental conservation requirements. Define a statement policy that would require every business unit to pursue life cycle management approaches in relation to environmental sustainability Objective: Engage and inspire Engage staff in supporting sustainability targets. Partnerships with environmental organizations 1-3 years Business Manager Organize staff briefings, and seminars promote sustainability trends in the industry and organization in particular. Such staff seminars would also promote continuous staff learning concerning sustainability in various departments. Under the direction of the Board, the organization’s leadership will continuously develop and revise its Environmental Sustainability Policy to promote Green mode, context sensitivity, environmental conservation, and efficient energy use. Identify key development and staff training needs to support the implementation of the organization’s environmental sustainability plan. Define a statement of competencies that would guide staff behavior and define their roles and responsibilities in pursuing the organization’s environmental sustainability plan. Implement training strategies aimed to equip the staff with the established environmental sustainability competencies. Sharing information about energy savings and energy use among staff, visitors, and patrons. Objective: Engage and inspire Present information and training to employees in plain English. Budget allocation for training Budget allocation for information platforms 1-2 years Business Manager Implement initiatives that would increase understanding and awareness on the intention that Tiny Opera House has with its quest for environmental conservation. Implement a staff awareness program every year as a strategy to build and support sustainable behavior among staff. Implement annual staff recognition programs that reward staff actions meant to improve the performance of Tiny Opera House’s environmental sustainability programs. Seek collaborative arrangements with environmental organizations in order to organize competent staff engagement programs. Influence staff to embrace sustainability within their job descriptions Support the initiatives aimed at delivering the environmental sustainability plan Create a statement policy that would require every business manager within Tiny Opera house to commit towards the implementation of a sustainability continuous improvement strategy. Objective: Engage and inspire Inspire audiences to consider sustainability in their everyday choices. Budget for program implementation 1-3 years Business Manager Measure the use of resources within the organization through periodic process and system audits. This would go a long way of controlling costs, minimizing resource use by the organisation and pursuing sustainability. Conduct annual reviews of resource records under an annual stock-taking program as a strategy for monitoring Tiny Opera House’s progress towards attaining minimal resource use and increased cost savings. Implement a schedule for annual reporting of the progress in the implementation of the environmental sustainability plans. Record resource use at the end of every month as part of stock-taking procedure. Define measurements that would be used to assess social and financial co-benefits like process efficiencies and saved time for every project being implemented. The business executive will be expected to deliver annual reports to the organisation’s CEO as part of performance review for the initiatives they implemented in relation to the organisation’s environmental sustainability plan. Every business unit should conduct annual reviews on the environmental sustainability plan with an aim to incorporate sustainability actions into their business unit plans. Objective: Keep accurate records Record resource use on a monthly basis. Budget allocation for stock-taking exercise 1 year Business Manager Monitoring strategy To monitor the achievement of the targets captured in Tiny Opera House’s environmental sustainability implementation plan, the organization has set a monitoring strategy that follows up on key focus areas based on its established principles. Each of these focus areas have clear set objectives ,strategies, responsibilities, Key Performance Indicators, methods of data collection and expected timelines for implementation. Description of objective/outcome/ activity/task Metric/key performance indicator Baseline (previous year’s performance) Target Data collection methods Energy efficiency - the objective in this area is to make maximum savings for the organization by using electrical energy efficiently in its operations. The KPI for this objective would be a reduction in electricity use by 2% per annum (using FY06/07 as initial benchmark). 0.01462% reduction in electricity use was achieved between FY06/07 and FY07/08 (from 19220 to 18939) The target is to reduce electricity consumption every subsequent year by 2% starting in the FY06/07. The targeted reduction translates to 18835.6 MWh electricity use in the FY07/08 Electricity meter records Energy efficiency – aim to maximize savings for the organization by using gas energy efficiently in its operations. The KPI for this objective would be a recorded reduction in the organization’s gas use by 4% per annum (using FY06/07 as initial benchmark). NIL NIL Gas procurement records Embed environmental sustainability by reducing landfill waste and increasing reuse and recycling. Increase in percentage of recycled paper use Increase in percentage of recycled plastic use Recycling targets for refurbishment works Annual audits for classified waste disposal Item reuse initiatives NIL NIL Stationery procurement records Maintenance of accurate records that capture resource use on a monthly basis Reduction in the use of papers for marketing and office purposes. Reduction in volume of single-use plastics within the organization’s premises NIL NIL Papers and containers inventory Engage and inspire audiences within and outside the organization to consider sustainability in their everyday choices Evidence of annual collaborative sustainability projects that support social good Storm water and litter management plan NIL NIL Notable behavioral change Engage audience by presenting information and training to employees in plain English. Biodiversity policy NIL NIL Random stakeholder interviews Engage staff in supporting sustainability targets. Little or no impact on water quality in surrounding area NIL NIL Water impurities tests Reduce water use to minimize on overall resource use Reduce water use by 2% per annum (using FY06/07 as initial benchmark). Detailed water audit. Reviewing of established water targets. Water used decreased from 66 ML to 58 ML (12%) between FY06/07 and FY07/08 The targeted 2% reduction in water use should have been from 66ML to 64.68ML. This sustainability performance was way beyond the initial set target Water meter readings Water bills Reduce the use of toxic or environmentally harmful products and materials. Internal environmental audits NIL NIL Procurement records Read More