Kymenlaakso UAS » About KyAMK » Annual Reports » Responsibility Report 2007 » Environmental responsibility

Environmental responsibility 

Repovesi Natural Park in Valkeala

The number of staff and students at Kymenlaakson ammattikorkeakoulu, University of Applied Sciences has remained constant for a long time. Therefore, property maintenance costs have not changed much. Differences between the campuses are mostly explained by changes in the number of students. The average annual energy consumption based on five-year figures is as follows: heat 10.8 GWh/year, water 20,000 m3/year and electricity 5.3 GWh/year. We use mainly district heating. Electricity consumption has decreased, mostly because of the reorganisation of the campus network and relatively warm winters. However, the use of electricity-consuming equipment is increasing, which is why an attempt to instigate a considerable decrease in electricity consumption would be challenging. Overall, the reorganisation of the campus network and implementation of new technical solutions resulted in savings in property maintenance costs.

From the beginning of 2006, SOL Palvelut Oy has been in charge of cleaning at Kymenlaakson ammattikorkeakoulu, University of Applied Sciences. The amount of waste is monitored on a monthly basis. Kymenlaakson ammattikorkeakoulu, University of Applied Sciences produces about 200 tonnes of waste in a year, which means that the value of waste management is about EUR 50,000.

Promoting longer life-cycles

KyAMK rationalised its procurement activities in 2007. The requirements of sustainable development are taken into account particularly in connection with bidding procedures. We use the Hymonet database which contains information on environmentally friendly procurement.

For example, Data Administration is now in charge of all IT purchasing at KyAMK. Long life-cycles are favoured in procurement, i.e., the central components must be easy to expand and update.

New building projects at Kymenlaakson ammattikorkeakoulu, University of Applied Sciences are based on life-cycle thinking. This means that the target life-cycle of new buildings, such as the one to be built at Kasarminmäki in Kouvola, is 150 years. This has an effect on planning and choices of material.

Electronic services as part of everyday work

Modernisation of administrative procedures continued. The electronic invoice processing system (BasWare Invoice Processing) enables digital processing and filing of nearly all invoices. In autumn 2007, KyAMK implemented an extensive electronic case and document management system, Tweb. Most of KyAMK’s official documentation is recorded as TWeb material, and older material is entered in the system as necessary. The TWeb system has reduced the need for copying documents.

Teaching methods were modernised to support online studying: the number of online courses has increased, and teaching material is distributed through the Moodle online learning environment. Information is easier to distribute in digital form, and it is readily available to all. Statistical monitoring of the Moodle system showed that the learning environment was in efficient use. Forty-one per cent of all page requests came from KyAMK’s own network and 59 per cent from other environments. One goal was to reduce paper consumption, but this has not been achieved yet, as it is still rather common to print out digital material on paper.

The possibilities for remote use of electronic library materials and information service materials were improved in 2007, when the library and Data Administration implemented the EzProxy software. Remote use is possible through the Nelli portal.

KyAMK’s project-funded free-of-charge publications were all published in electronic form in 2007. Other publications are published on the internet as well. A new online shop for selling publications was opened in autumn in conjunction with the Jyväskylä, Mikkeli and North Karelia Universities of Applied Sciences.

Example of an environmental project

KyAMK’s Maritime R&D unit, Kymenlaakso Rescue Department and Southeast Finland Regional Environment Centre conducted the SÖKÖ project that produced an operational model for regional oil combating authorities to be used in the event of a major oil spill near the coast. This project was important and unique, because Finland did not previously have this kind of preparedness. In autumn 2007, the project was continued: SÖKÖ II will develop operational models for major oil tanker accidents in the rescue service districts of Uusimaa and Eastern Uusimaa.

Goals for 2008

The goals for 2008 include enhancing the use of video conference systems and other means of electronic communication, such as Adobe ConnectPro, and promoting the use of the document management system. The purpose is to reduce traffic between campuses and to cut paper

Modified: 15.8.2008 11:07

Lue tämä sivu suomeksi Ympäristövastuu