Goucher College: IT Environmentally Friendly Initiatives

Information Technology (IT) has made a commitment to share in the campaign for a healthier world by focusing on ways in which computer technology usage can be environmentally friendly. Environmental Sustainability (ES) issues are difficult and diverse, but Goucher IT is working to address them both proactively and as they are brought to our attention.

Below are some of IT's initiatives:

Reduced Paper Usage
Have you ever thought about all the paper used each year at Goucher? SGA and IT have! The result is the Print Wisely program, which allots each student 1200 pages of printing per year. Students are printing very wisely and have saved over 300,000 pages in one year.

Power Saving
Computers, monitors, printers, chargers - how much power is consumed by all of our "need to have" devices? The answer is "plenty" but we have some recommendations for reducing consumption. Unplug your power chargers when they are not being used. Shut down your computer and monitor over the weekend if you are not using them. Think about some of your electronics that are always on "stand-by" - how about pulling the plug?

Toner Cartridge Recycling
Printing issues go beyond paper. All the pages printed on campus require the use of toner, whether the printer is a laserjet or inkjet. Fortunately, we have strategies to deal with both. There is a toner recycle program available for everyone's participation - Cartridges for a Cure. Look for recycle sites in the CTLT and the Dorsey Center. In addition, all toner cartridges used in public networked printers are recycled by the manufacturers.

E-Cycling
The world is being buried in e-Waste. Ever wonder what happens to the College's electronics after they've been upgraded? We have partnered with an eCycler - a vendor who buys back old equipment to be refurbished or disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.

We welcome your feedback and ideas that will help IT to develop even more responsible policies. Share your ideas through the Environmental Sustainability Suggestion Form.