What are the most common mistakes when assessing environmental performance?
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Environmental performance is a key aspect of environmental design, as it measures how well a project, product, or service meets the environmental goals and standards set by the client, the industry, or the society. However, assessing environmental performance is not a straightforward task, and it requires careful planning, data collection, analysis, and communication. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common mistakes that can compromise the quality and accuracy of environmental performance assessment and how to avoid them.
One of the first steps in assessing environmental performance is to define the scope and boundaries of the assessment. This means specifying what aspects of the project, product, or service are included and excluded, what environmental impacts are considered, what time frame and geographic scale are used, and what assumptions and limitations are made. If the scope and boundaries are not clearly defined, the assessment may be incomplete, inconsistent, or irrelevant, and it may lead to misleading or inaccurate results.
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David Sciarrino, LEED AP
Smart Building and IoT Expert; Consultant, and Advisor
One mistake would be relying completely on AI to do it for you, just like this article was created. This lists some basic steps needed to evaluate "environmental performance", which is a broad term. The one step missing here is to understand how your organization impacts the environment, and if those impacts are required to meet business needs. That kind of understanding is needed before you can set realistic goals. Too many companies promise "2040 Net Zero" without knowing if it's even possible to achieve.
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Ripon Banik, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. (AB and ON), PMP
Reliable, forward-thinking Environmental Engineer leading dynamic teams and safeguarding project outcomes.
Defining a scope and assumptions built into your project not only streamline the objectives and deliverables, but it avoids subjective interpretations of your project and its outcome. Successful execution of any project start with a well-defined scope. Measuring a project's success or performance is closely tied to a well-defined scope and will save the project team from falling into the trap of 'gold-plating'.
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Anketha Kannan
Environmental & Sustainability Consultant
- Relying too much on energy usage or carbon emissions, without taking qualitative factors into account is something that I have observed. Neglecting qualitative indicators such as biodiversity conservation, waste management practices, or ecosystem health can lead to an incomplete evaluation of environmental performance. Use the knowledge from Sus Rating Systems. - Ignoring the social and economic dimensions: Environmental performance assessments should not be isolated from social and economic considerations. Focusing exclusively on environmental impact might lead to disregarding the social and economic benefits of certain practices. Environmental decisions should be made in conjunction with social well-being and economic viability.
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Another important step in assessing environmental performance is to choose the appropriate methods and tools for the assessment. There are various methods and tools available, such as life cycle assessment, environmental impact assessment, carbon footprint, eco-labeling, green building rating systems, and so on. Each method and tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it is essential to select the ones that best suit the purpose, scope, and context of the assessment. If the methods and tools are not suitable, the assessment may be unreliable, incomparable, or incompatible, and it may fail to address the relevant environmental issues.
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Tig Crowley
Landscape Design, Consultancy, Planning & Management
*Not starting with a well defined personal & company holistic context. *Not receiving and fleshing out a project ‘values’ brief (project context - desired holistic outcome). *Poor or non-existent designer ecological knowledge, literacy and fluency. *Inability to ‘read’ the landscape. *Not specifying ecological, social/cultural and fiscal desired outcomes. *Poor analysis, application and communication. *Assuming we know everything and not assuming we could be wrong. *Many, many more… 😉
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Paul Tomlinson
Freelance Environmental Consultant
It is not just the tool, it is also their correct application staying focused on the real issues not collecting everything just in case.
The quality and accuracy of the environmental performance assessment depend largely on the quality and accuracy of the data used. Therefore, it is crucial to collect and verify the data from reliable and credible sources, such as primary surveys, secondary databases, literature reviews, expert opinions, and so on. The data should be relevant, consistent, complete, and up-to-date, and it should reflect the actual conditions and performance of the project, product, or service. If the data are not collected and verified properly, the assessment may be based on erroneous, outdated, or biased information, and it may produce invalid or unreliable results.
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Gulsum Rustemoglu
The data also should be recent and validated by credible resources. Data accuracy is also key in relying that information during further environmental analysis. Personal biased opinions cannot be considered as data. Data should be accurately assessed by having proper sample size. For example, you cannot just have 50 people opinion survey in a 50000 community.
Once the data are collected and verified, the next step is to analyze and interpret the results of the environmental performance assessment. This means applying the appropriate statistical, mathematical, or graphical techniques to process and present the data, and drawing meaningful and valid conclusions from the results. The analysis and interpretation should be objective, transparent, and comprehensive, and they should address the research questions and objectives of the assessment. If the analysis and interpretation are not done properly, the results may be misinterpreted, misrepresented, or misunderstood, and they may lead to false or misleading claims or recommendations.
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Paul Tomlinson
Freelance Environmental Consultant
When interpreting the results, the analyst should recognise the needs and understanding of the audience for the results so that the communications are effective.
The final step in assessing environmental performance is to communicate and report the results to the intended audience, such as the client, the stakeholders, the regulators, or the public. This means preparing and delivering a clear, concise, and informative report or presentation that summarizes the main findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the assessment. The communication and reporting should be honest, accurate, and consistent, and they should highlight the strengths and limitations of the assessment. If the communication and reporting are not done properly, the results may be ignored, rejected, or misused, and they may fail to achieve the desired impact or outcome.
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Jorge Arriaga
International consultant | Sustainability | Water Management | ESG | Integrity | Public Policies | Strategic planning | Team building
In today's fast-paced business landscape, effective communication is key, and it's vital to speak the language of your stakeholders. Every stakeholder has its unique priorities. Whether it's showcasing cost savings, highlighting environmental impacts, emphasizing social benefits, or boosting corporate reputation – one-size-fits-all doesn't apply. To truly engage and win over your diverse audience, customize your messaging to resonate with what they value most. Clear, concise, and targeted communication isn't just a choice; it's a strategic advantage.
The environmental performance assessment is not a one-time activity, but a continuous and iterative process that requires regular review and improvement. This means evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the assessment, identifying the gaps and weaknesses, and implementing the feedback and suggestions for improvement. The review and improvement should be done periodically, or whenever there are significant changes or new information that affect the assessment. If the review and improvement are not done regularly, the assessment may become outdated, irrelevant, or inaccurate, and it may lose its value and credibility.
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Paul Tomlinson
Freelance Environmental Consultant
Need to recognise whether the organisation sees value and wish to deliver continuous improvement. Often the words are reported, but the actions don't follow. How often do large organisations fail to learn the lessons that senior staff have aquired sending them off on early retirement as it is cheaper to use less experienced staff. Before embarking upon an improvement strategy carefully consider what environmental aspects provide the focus for the efforts and whether such learning represents value for money.
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Gulsum Rustemoglu
The world is in a constant change especially physically, economically, and geographically. Data populated 30 years ago on population and job growth will not be accurate today. All data and environmental assessments need frequent updates. A typical Phase I ESA has only 1 year shelf life or biological resources surveys only 1-2 max depending upon the agency or jurisdiction.
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Jessica Okobia, BSc, MSc, IEMA, Author
Regional Environmental Advisor at Tilbury Douglas
Not Adapting to Change. In our ever-evolving world, the importance of environmental performance assessment cannot be overstated. Whether we are discussing a manufacturing facility, a construction project, or a transportation network, understanding and improving the impact on our environment is critical. However, one of the most common and detrimental mistakes made in this context is the failure to adapt to changing conditions. Failure to do so not only risks our environmental responsibility but also exposes organisations to a wide range of risks and losses. To truly make a positive impact, we must embrace change making adaptive environmental assessments an integral part of our ongoing commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.
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Abbigail Meah-Ali
Project Manager and Consultant/Training Facilitator/Auditor
Stay updated on advancements in environmental assessment tools and technologies. Emerging technologies like remote sensing, AI, and data analytics can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of assessments. Consider formally implementing an Environmental Management System, such as ISO 14001, to systematically manage environmental aspects and impacts. This can help ensure ongoing compliance and improvement.
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François A.
Brain agitator
One other problem I've encountered: -Focusing too much on one of the so-called "environmental" topics. For example, focusing solely on climate change. However, if a systemic approach is not put in place, generally the question of performance cannot really be considered.