Tartu Nature House Environmental Policy

Tartu Nature House is dedicated to nature and environmental education, operating in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Our goal is to teach people to appreciate and preserve biodiversity and to act in a way that maintains a balance between humans and the rest of nature.

To this end, we have an environmentally friendly nature center that houses:

• an after-school program offering extracurricular activities for children;
• a visitor center that organizes events and exhibitions for families;
• a training center that offers educational programs and training for educational institutions.

We do everything we can to ensure that the negative impact of our activities on the environment is as minimal as possible.

We implement practices and methods that help promote environmental awareness and understanding among our employees, students, and visitors alike.

In our operations, we are guided by the principle that we ourselves serve as a good example of environmentally responsible behavior for children, clients, guests, and partners.

The Objectives of Our Environmental Policy

1. To use all resources—including energy, water, and other natural resources—responsibly and sustainably.
2. To minimize the procurement and use of non-renewable natural resources and to promote the reuse of items and the recycling of materials in teaching, event organization, office work, interior design, and elsewhere.
3. Raise employees’ environmental awareness and encourage them to speak up on environmental issues in society and the community.
4. Develop relationships with other organizations to promote environmentally responsible behavior.
5. To teach people to notice and preserve biodiversity.

Here’s how we do it at our nature center

Environmentally friendly principles are part of our daily work practices, educational activities, and event planning.

Waste

• We minimize waste as much as possible:
  • we buy new items as little as possible and only as much as necessary;
  • when we go shopping, we bring our own bag, container, or other receptacle;
  • whenever possible, we buy food in our own containers or use reusable packaging;
  • we prefer products with minimal packaging.
• We reuse various scraps in our work.
• We sort our waste and send it for recycling.
• We measure our waste generation and strive to reduce it.

Catering

• We do not use disposable tableware.
• At events at the nature house, we prefer food and beverages that are fresh, seasonal, locally sourced, fair-trade, organic, and minimally packaged.
• We prioritize climate-friendly food—more plant-based and less animal-based.
• We avoid bottled water and prefer tap water.

Transport

• When performing work tasks, we prefer public transportation whenever possible and bicycles for short trips.
• When using a personal car for work, we plan our trips carefully: whenever possible, we combine multiple work tasks into a single trip and carpool with colleagues.
• We encourage our colleagues to use modes of transportation with a lower environmental impact and that are healthier when commuting to and from work.
• We measure the environmental impact of our work-related travel and look for ways to minimize it.

Work and Study Supplies

• We share printers, office supplies, and, whenever possible, other work tools.
• Before purchasing something new, we consider whether it is absolutely necessary to buy that item, tool, or service, or whether it can be borrowed, repaired, or is already available at the nature center.
• When procuring resources, we prioritize high-quality items with a longer lifespan, as well as local and/or eco-labeled products. Where possible and appropriate, we also purchase secondhand items.
• When procuring services, we prioritize environmentally friendly and responsible service providers.
• When procuring supplies and services and disposing of items, we follow the nature center’s environmentally responsible procurement procedures.

Paper

• We use unbleached office paper made from recycled paper in our printers.
• We use paper sparingly. The default settings on our computers are double-sided printing and printer ink-saving mode.
• We collect and reuse scrap paper for note-taking, crafts, and other purposes.

Energy

• At the nature center, we use only electricity generated from renewable sources.
• We use energy-efficient office equipment and kitchen appliances.
• When leaving a room or taking a longer break, we turn off the lights and unplug devices from the power outlet.
• After using chargers or adapters, we unplug them from the power outlet.
• We ventilate the rooms briefly as needed. Keeping windows open continuously during the heating season causes significant energy loss.
• We measure our electricity and heat consumption and set goals to reduce them.

Water

• We collect and use rainwater at the nature center whenever possible to conserve groundwater.
• We use water sparingly when washing hands and dishes.
• We measure our water usage and monitor its efficiency.

Eco-Friendly Solutions at the Tartu Nature House

The nature center building was designed so that the choice of materials and the use of energy and water would support environmentally friendly operations.

Building Materials

• Durable and primarily eco-friendly materials and technologies were used in construction.
• Finishing materials—clay plaster, clay paint, spruce paneling, ceramic tiles, and felt carpeting—are of natural origin and help create a pleasant indoor climate.
• Most of the construction and finishing materials were produced in Estonia and neighboring countries.

Heating

• Loodusmaja is built to retain heat well, so that heating requires as few resources as possible.
• The Loodusmaja is connected to a district heating network, where, according to the original specifications, the primary heat sources are local biofuels. District heating is described as an environmentally friendly heating method in urban settings, as the purified emissions from the tall chimneys of boiler houses disperse over a large area.

Electricity

• We use only electricity generated from renewable sources. We purchase electricity produced from renewable energy and generate our own electricity using solar panels on the roof.
• To maximize the use of natural light and conserve electricity, the building features large glass surfaces that let in plenty of sunlight and reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Water-Saving Solutions

• We collect rainwater from the roof and use it to conserve groundwater wherever possible: in toilet flush tanks, for watering plants in the winter garden, and to fill the turtle pond.
• Water-efficient features include drinking fountains, automatic shut-off handwashing faucets, water-saving faucets, and toilet tanks.

Green Office

Throughout our history, we at Tartu Nature House have valued nature conservation and a forward-looking perspective.

In 2015, we began a systematic approach to developing our green office.

The Green Office is an informal environmental management system through which we analyze the environmental impact of our activities and operate in an environmentally responsible manner.

Since 2017, Tartu Nature House has held a Green Office certificate issued by the Estonian Environmental Management Association.

In 2019, Tartu Nature House was awarded the title of Green Office of the Year by the Estonian Environmental Management Association.

You can explore the Tartu Nature House building and its eco-friendly solutions on a virtual tour →

Tartu Nature House Environmental Reports

In our environmental reports, we provide an overview of the environmentally sustainable activities of the Tartu Environmental Education Center (TKHK). The reports for the years 2015–2025 are published below.

Previous Support for the Green Office Project

The Green Office’s activities have previously been supported by the Environmental Investment Center (KIK)
through the project “Green Office at Tartu Nature House 2017.”

View an overview of the project’s activities →