The growing weight of environmental aspects in business activity defines the tasks performed by the Institute for Environment and Energy Conservation in environment protection sector.  Energy-efficient programs and projects triggered by the Institute, among other important effects, have direct impact on environment quality improvement.

The Institute provides the following services in the environmental sector:

-  Environmental audits and inspections of environment protection facilities and systems aimed to develop recommendations on their performance enhancement;

-  Development of feasibility studies and implementation of projects using state-of-the-art energy efficient and non-waste technologies;

-  Environmental assessment of enterprises, cities and regions and development of projects aimed to reduce the burden from hazardous substances on the environment;

-  Implementation of state-of-the-art technologies for wastewater and municipal and industrial fluids treatment and processing;

-  Study of waste generating sources, identification of technologies for their reduction/elimination and adaptation to implemented project requirements;

-  Environmental project procedures development and management organization;

-  Development and support of programmes for environment-friendly and sustainable development of enterprises.

Environmental Audit

The Law of Ukraine On Environmental Audit sees the audit as a way to ensure compliance of business or any other activity with applicable environment protection regulations and to make proper arrangements for environmental improvement of enterprises undergoing comprehensive modernisation through implementation of energy saving projects based on state-of-the-art technologies of airspace and water basins protection and waste utilisation.

Principal goals and objectives of environmental audit include:

• collection of reliable information on environmental aspects of audited object’s operational activity as basis for environmental audit opinion;
• verification of audited object’s compliance with environment protection law requirements and other environmental audit criteria;
• assessment of audited object’s environmental impact;
• assessment of efficiency, comprehensiveness, and justification of environmental protection measures at audited objects;
• support of business entities in regulating their environmental policies and prioritisation of preventive measures aimed to assure their compliance with environmental requirements, rules, and regulations;
• creation of instruments to implement key environmental management and sustainable development guidelines;
• integration of environmental efforts in other areas of activity.

Information for Environmental Audit Recipients

Environmental audit (inspection) is a non-compulsory routine and is performed on request of business entities. Audits may be initiated by industrial enterprises and companies, international finance institutions, or private investors who wish to obtain objective assessment of environmental aspects of business operation for planning purposes, selection of optimal development strategy, or making investment decisions.

Environmental audit results serve as the basis for decisions on as follows:

• company compliance or non-compliance with applicable regulatory requirements;
• effectiveness of the existing (environment) management system;
• magnitude of potential environmental risks and graveness of their consequences;
• environmental and economical feasibility of operations.

Types of Environmental Audit

• comprehensive environmental audit of an enterprise that includes detection, analysis, and identification of ways to address the enterprise’s environmental challenges, supported by a Report, an Opinion, and Recommendations;
• environmental audit during privatization, ownership change, or bankruptcy;
• environmental audit of environment management systems;
• environmental audit for environmental insurance purposes;
• pre-investment environmental audit;
• environmental audit of waste handling cycles;
• environmental audit for eco-labelling purposes.

Practical Activity in Environmental Development of Enterprises

This includes inspection of industrial enterprises and development of measures and guidelines to increase their environmental safety and reduce their pressure on the environment.  Key components of environmental rehabilitation of enterprises amid their modernization with the Institute’s involvement include state-of-the-art technology based energy-efficient projects in protection of airspace and water basins and utilisation of wastes realised by comprehensive approach and being a major step towards subsequent implementation of SSU ISO 14001-97 environmental management systems.

Implementation of Innovative Technologies:

• at steel production cycle enterprises;
• in the municipal sector;
• in waste treatment.

Ecodevelopment Assessment Projects

1. Kyoto Protocol Joint Implementation Project Identification: Rehabilitation of OJSC Dneprovsky Dzerzhinsky Iron and Steel Works Including Installation of two Slab Casters, Two Ladle Furnaces, and Section Rolling Line Upgrade, 2009.
2. Analysis of steelmaking process waste gas energy potential at OJSC Dneprovsky Dzerzhinsky Iron and Steel Works and development of technical proposals for its efficient utilisation, 2008.
3. Inspection of process fluid cleaning systems at CJSC IUD DUNAFFER (Hungary); assessment of their environmental performance and development of an opinion regarding the potential for innovative technologies/methods implementation, 2007-2008.
4. Development of design solutions for wastewater treatment system upgrade to allow close-loop recirculation of phenol polluted water in the core production cycle of OJSC Alchevskkoks, 2007.
5. Assessment of energy utilisation profile and development of proposals for innovative energy conservation technologies implementation and environmental development of OJSC Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works, 2006-2007.