NEA- ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
NEA is an organisation which takes its responsibility for the environment seriously - we could not campaign for fuel efficiency in fuel poor households without such a commitment.
The Board of NEA first adopted formal policies on its environmental responsibility in 1996 and continues to follow this in all aspects of its operation.
All staff members are briefed on the contribution that they can make and how to comply with the procedures in place; and the organisation reviews its progress on an annual basis.
NEA was the first organisation in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to join the Carbon Neutral Newcastle organisation, which was established in the city to balance the carbon footprint of any organisation by an investment in forest planting and other CO2 reductions.
NEA's Environment Team Chris Ellis and Claire Green work a few days each month to ensure the Environment Policy is being fulfilled, and explore new methods of promoting important environmental messages to staff members.
Reducing environmental impact - in the workplace
NEA is not a manufacturing organisation, so the scope for making a major impact on the environment is limited. Despite this, NEA can and does analyse all aspects of its operations to see how we can:
- minimise consumption of materials and energy
- make maximum use of recycled materials and other "green purchases"
- analyse the waste streams to separate them and direct them to recycling where possible
- use insulation and draught-proofing wherever possible
- use low carbon means of travel
- comply with statutory requirements
As an environmentally responsible organisation, it is important to be environmentally aware at the office. There are various methods that can yield significant savings within the workplace and demonstrate good practice. The following list shows some examples of how NEA minimises its environmental impact:
- Draught Proofing
- Reflectors on radiators
- Thermostatic radiator valves
- Printer Cartridges are recycled
- Timers on Electrical products / low energy products
- Can/ glass/ plastic/ paper/ fluorescent tube/ battery recycling
- Photocopier paper and stationery are recycled
NEA's Environment Team has developed an Action Plan to provide a structured framework to help achieve its environmental aspirations. The main themes in the document are listed below:
- Waste Management
- Energy Management
- Transport
- Office Resources
- Building Maintenance and Cleaning
- Organisational Management
- Communication and Training
Staff Notice Boards
NEA's headquarters building operates over 5 floors and houses each of the four Directorates and a department from the EST Advice Centre North East. In order to raise awareness of key environmental messages to staff throughout the building, regular email bulletins are sent and a Good Practice Guide is situated on each floor.
To complement these, the Environment Team has placed notice boards for each directorate in the stairwell of the building. The aim of these is to give up-to-date advice to staff, praise those that have helped achieve objectives in the Action Plan and to bring debates to staff about a number of issues that could have a negative impact on the environment.
A selection of the notice board attachments are shown below:
Carbon Footprint
NEA often calculates the Carbon footprint of staff travel as a way of trying to manage its activities towards the most sustainable level possible. The Government's Act on CO2 tool has proved a good method of helping members of staff consider how to change areas of their lifestyle to have a more positive impact on the environment. If you want to measure your own footprint, Click here for details.
NEA Family and Environment Days
The Environment Team organise a trip out each summer to raise awareness of environmental issues in our local region. The event is for staff and their children. The aim is to pass on the environmental message to a new generation whilst showing that this can also be fun!
Some of the events organised have included:
- An activities day in 2005 at a local park involving river sampling and invertebrate species identification;
In 2006 the Team organised a trip to Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle on the North East coast. This day-trip was very well attended and highlighted the valuable landscapes and biodiversity deserving of careful conservation right on our very doorstep.
A selection of photos from the day:
Despite the weather causing the cancellation of a planned boat trip it did not dampen anyone's enthusiasm!
In 2007 we followed up with a fantastic day out at the Newburn Tyne Riverside Country Park. The weather in June 2007 was atrocious, but on the morning of July 1st a small window of sun shone on the NEA staff and their children! We took a leisurely stroll around the beautiful surroundings and families completed an environmental quiz organised by the Environment Team.
Following our well-deserved picnics a prize ceremony was held to reward participants with prizes such as a solar powered ipod/ mobile phone charger, solar powered lighting and a decorative solar feature. There was even a final prize of bird food which was called 'Energy Balls' so one lucky family will have hungry magpies flocking to their garden! Everyone found one last burst of energy to play a range of games including cricket. It was only after our exhausted group settled down for a well earned drink that the clouds decided to unleash more rain. Fortunately, by then, the Environment Day had already been a successful and thoroughly enjoyable day!
On to 2008 and alas... more rain! Luckily though, the Environment Team had thought ahead and planned an indoor activity at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth. Staff and their families were again treated to ‘environmental goodies' that were given away as competition prizes.
Staff members were met by some fantastic creatures that live in our seas and oceans and had the chance to handle some of them too, guided by marine experts. The day was intended to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world and for staff to take positive environmental messages home to their families.
NEA Tree Planting Days
The Environment Team has organised and participated in an annual practical conservation day in partnership with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) for the past five years. Members of staff are asked to volunteer to participate in a tree planting day. As has always been the case, staff responded positively and fully supported the project.
What does a typical tree planting day involve?
First of all a great deal of commitment to be ready for 9.30 am sharp on a Sunday morning! The group then make their way to one of the NWT sites - which in the past have included a reclaimed mining site north of Newcastle near Morpeth, a reserve near the Scottish Borders and a site near Hexham called Juliet's Wood.
Once we get there, we don our waterproofs and collect our spades and various species of tree shoots. After around six hours of hard work with many laughs along the way the group feel a sense of achievement and invigorated when they can reflect upon the vast mini woodland that they have just created!
What will this achieve?
Trees planted are intended to be used to offset carbon emissions resulting directly from some of the organisation's activities. For example, last year's planting of over 800 trees accounted for significantly more than the 1 tonne of carbon emissions from travel calculated from NEA's annual conference in Birmingham in 2008. This helps us demonstrate our environmental conscience to our supporters. Furthermore, the woodland sites will be a lasting symbol of NEA's contribution to environmental best practice.
A selection of pictures from our tree planting endeavours:
There's always a superb team effort and a great deal of pride felt by all!
The Environment Team has been contemplating some other conservation activities for staff to participate in. In February 2009, staff were spared a peat bog restoration day due to heavy rainfall but fear not troops, we'll get something equally as exciting for you soon!
Award Achievements
NEA was awarded the Green Apple Gold Award for its environmental endeavours in 2007.
NEA has now scooped the prestigious award for three years running.
David Bellamy OBE presented the 2007 Green Apple Award to NEA at the House of Commons. The charity has won the Green Apple Award in previous years for its environmental practices but this year was the first time gold was awarded rather than the bronze award in the charity and community category. This is in recognition of NEA's work to bring together the charity's social agenda with its environmental objectives.
A key factor in driving forward the environment policy of NEA is the strong support from senior management level.
For further information on the Green Apple Awards use the link below:
http://www.thegreenorganisation.info/
NEA has also won the PRASEG (Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group) award for the 'NGO Sustainable Energy Award'. The awards were to encourage the efforts of NGOs who make significant efforts encouraging Westminster to adopt policies favourable to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
For further information please contact:
Environment Team: Chris Ellis or Claire Green