Environmental management – School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Implementation of environmental management

Environmental management at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is coordinated by Campus and Facility Services as well as the persons assigned responsibility for this by each department and degree programme. Environmental management includes multisectoral entities and an effort is made to also consistently develop the environmental values of teaching. Teaching and Student Services is responsible for the development of teaching. Many contract suppliers are also involved in the implementation of the different areas of environmental management. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture also expects the actions of its partners and contract suppliers be environmentally responsible.

Sustainable development as part of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture’s environmental policy

The Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture is an international university with studies in design, audio-visual communication, art education and arts. According to its business concept, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture strives to drive cultural change that supports humane values and sustainability by engaging in artistic activities and research of a high standard and providing teaching that is based on these.

Aalto University’s and its School of Arts, Design and Architecture strive to promote the themes of sustainable development according to the university’s areas of focus (the sustainable use of energy and natural resources, human-centric living environment) as well as in the contents of its research and studies. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) committed to the principles of its own environmental programme via a decision made by the president and head of administration on 19 March 2001. These principles emphasise the principles of sustainable development and the application of the product lifecycle thinking in teaching. From autumn 2009, the concepts for sustainable development have been part of the introductions organised for new students.

Environmental development at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

Environmental development was launched at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in 1997, when two students of Environmental Science from the University of Helsinki surveyed ARTS’ environmental aspects and drew up a preliminary environmental programme. This work was inspired by the Ministry of Education’s instruction to take the principles of sustainable development into consideration in teaching and all other activities. Starting from 1999, ARTS has engaged in environmental development using the ISO14001 standard as a guideline. An Environment Review was completed on 16 April 1999 and significant environmental aspects were selected as development areas on 10 November 1999. These were last revised on 2007.

The objective of environmental development efforts at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is to integrate environmental matters with ARTS activities in administration, teaching and daily activities. The administration’s task is to create an operating environment for the development of environmental matters. The principles of sustainability are taken into account in the development of teaching. Daily activities are organised in ways that cause as little burden to nature as possible.

Annual plans, reports and guides for environmental management

The development of environmental management at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is an ongoing process. Plans, guides and report related to the service are listed at the end of the page. Annual environmental management reports reveal the plans and procedures for environmental management that have been introduced over the years and the annual statistics for e.g. waste management.

There’s also a link to the ARTS environment guide below. The guide was introduced at the beginning of 2009. Ask for a paper version of the guide in the Property and Technical Services offices on the 5th floor.

Areas of environmental management and contract partners

Environmental management at ARTS is coordinated by Campus and Facility Services as well as the persons assigned responsibility for this by each department and degree programme. Many contract suppliers are also involved in the implementation of the different areas of environmental management. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture also expects the actions of its partners and contract suppliers be environmentally responsible.

Property: At the moment the School of Arts, Design and Architecture has facilities at the Arabia Centre located in the Arabia factory property that are approximately 38 000 m2 in size. From the perspective of its core activities meaning teaching, scientific and artistic activities, the facilities should fulfil the following requirements:   • The facilities and their related services facilitate effective activities of high quality and it must be possible for them to adapt at a quick pace and flexibly to possible changes.   • The facilities and their related services must to their utmost extent promote the realisation of environmental values.   • The principles of sustainable development must be taken into account in all property-related maintenance and repairs. Aalto’s contract partner for property management is COOR, and Lassila & Tikanoja Oyj for property cleaning.

>> COOR >> Lassila & Tikanoja Oyj

Energy and water: The School of Arts, Design and Architecture is connected to the Kiinteistö Oy Hämeentie 135 heat and water network. The property is connected to the Helen’s district heating network, the city’s high voltage electricity grid as well as the city’s water and sewer network. The entities that consume the largest amounts of electrical energy in the property are the heating and water equipment, lighting and Iittala’s factory processes. The separate measurement of energy consumption has been arranged for the school, meaning the school’s consumption can be kept separate from that of the entire property. COOR, which is responsible for the property’s management, monitors heating energy and water consumption. >> Helen >> HSY Vesi

Procurements: Starting from 2006, the tendering of State procurement activities has been centrally handled by Hansel Ltd. A large share of procurements are implemented using the agreements that have come about due to Hansel’s tendering. >> Hansel Ltd.

Waste Management: >> SITA Finland Oy

Other cooperation and contractual partners: >> UNIGRAFIA – copy and printing services >> Kipsari – a cafe/restaurant/club that is popular among students 

Kynä ja Paperi - a small goods shop housed in the same property.

Environmental friendliness in teaching, research and production

The scope in which sustainable development is taken into consideration in the design sector varies. When students begin their studies at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture they can have varying amounts of basic knowledge on the subject. The general objective of studies is to incorporate lifecycle thinking, environmental perspectives and the principles of sustainability into ARTS studies. Lifecycle thinking takes into account the environmental aspects related to the product, its production materials, its use and decommissioning. The objective is for students to have a command of concepts related to environmental topics and to be able to find the environmental data needed for the design process.

In addition to exercises, the school’s activities include research, products, product concepts and other production for companies and other external parties. The environmental impacts of the school’s production activities can potentially be very significant when we take into account their cumulative effects (production and its users / number of people impacted; as well as the school’s aim to act as an example for other activities in the same sector). The environmental significance of production activities is based in great part on the environmental values of the school’s studies.