Indoor Environment_Sundsvall

Better Indoor Environment is
Increasingly Important
By Catharina Öhman
The indoor environment is an important aspect of quality and environmental work at
Studentbostäder i Sundsvall AB (StuBo), a company that provides accommodation for
students. This is also in line with the political guidelines for public health work adopted by the City of Sundsvall. The guidelines clearly establish that the environments of
children and young people are to be given priority.
With a clientele consisting exclusively of
young people this focus on the indoor
environment is precisely what is needed.
It is among children and young people that
the greatest problems with allergies exist.
-For our part, it is important to be able
to offer good student housing for all of
our students. This is why the quality of
the indoor environment is an important
aspect of StuBo’s image. We want to demonstrate that all students are welcome to
live with us. Clearly, this also contributes
to reinforcing Sundsvall’s reputation as a
good place to study, says Åke Norberg,
managing director of StuBo.
The integrated operating system, that
StuBo works with, encompasses, in addition to allergy issues, matters related to the
environment quality, public health satisfaction plus disability and work environment
questions. Another important issue that
StuBo works intensively with, and that to
some extent is linked to allergy efforts, is
the environmental certification of new and
renovated premises. Over the past year,
StuBo has developed a method for assessing the quality and environmental commitment of suppliers and business partners.
Commitment from the suppliers
and business partners
The selected business partners are called
to regular supplier meetings where quality
and environmental questions are discussed. StuBo’s goal is to promote the development of better materials and working methods by increasing the level of un-
derstanding among its
business partners and continually raising the level of
ambition.
-Our business partners
are not only expected to
perform the service in
question. They are also expected to actively contribute knowledge about the
best materials and methods and to monitor developments within their
sphere of expertise, according to Åke Norberg.
Nearly third of adults are
allergic
Studies show that about 30% of the adult
population in Sweden today display some
form of allergic complaint. Allergic complaints are still greatest among children and
young people. Therefore, StuBo decided
to make a serious effort to address the situation by starting a half-day training course
for StuBo employees and an allergy survey of the company’s buildings. StuBo now
has 20 hypoallergenic student apartments.
Consideration and understanding from the
surrounding world are key factors with
respect to allergies. Consideration shown
by neighbours and others can make daily
life much easier for those suffering from
allergic complaints.
With this in mind, StuBo conducted an
information campaign during the autumn
- ... it is important to be able to offer good student housing for all of
our students. This is why the quality of the indoor environment is an
important aspect of StuBo’s image. We want to demonstrate that all
students are welcome to live with us, says Åke Norberg, Managing
Director of StuBo .
BCB Environment 1/03 - Environmental Management Systems
of 2001. The aim was to increase understanding and, at the same time, provide
practical tips on how to behave in a more
appropriate manner.
-This was a way to inspire our tenants to
bear their share of responsibility for the
creation of sound living conditions, from
an allergy and environmental perspective,
for all of our tenants, explains Åke Norberg.
-We expect that our business partners
understand and accept our point of view
and that they actively participate in our
efforts to achieve sustainable development,
he concludes.
More information:
Mr Åke Norberg
Tel: +46 60 199701
E-mail: [email protected]
We hope you have enjoyed reading this
theme edition of BCP Environmental bulletin.
The theme for the next bulletin is Sustainable
consumption and production with a deadline
31 August 2003. All contributions are
welcome.
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