We are all aware of the initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint and take responsibility for the welfare of our planet both at home and at work. For the learning provider this means considering efficiencies and future sustainability in respect to all policies and activities.Technology is rather Jekyll and Hide in that it can be the “good guy” offering savings and efficiencies but it also has a dark side with regard to the amount of power consumed and the disposal of old equipment.
It is essential for every learning institution to implement an active Green ICT policy. In response to the need for guidance and effective solutions JISC have established their Greening ICT programme which encompasses several key projects investigating different ways to reduce wastage and power consumption.
File Storage Efficiency
Planet Filestore, completed in Dec 2010, is one such project. Piloted by Information Services at Cardiff University the project aimed to develop file storage in the most efficient way with the intention of reducing energy consumption by an impressive 80%.
JISC say that the project has intentionally used techniques and technologies that will easily transfer to a wide range of corporate systems across the world, including those in education, research, public bodies and commercial companies." Currently Cardiff University has funding to develop “a web-based tool that universities and colleges can use to model the benefits of different scenarios of file storage in terms of environmental and economic savings.”
JISC say that the project has intentionally used techniques and technologies that will easily transfer to a wide range of corporate systems across the world, including those in education, research, public bodies and commercial companies." Currently Cardiff University has funding to develop “a web-based tool that universities and colleges can use to model the benefits of different scenarios of file storage in terms of environmental and economic savings.”
Once the system is fully operational Cardiff University estimate that they will reduce their KW usage by 87600KW.h (equivalent to approximately 51 tonnes of CO2) with a saving (at current prices) of around £10,000 per annum. (all facts and figures quoted from JISC). Other environmental benefits are also likely to be made in terms of space occupied, procurement, shipping, disposal and hazardous waste reduction.
Download the Planet Filestore project report and recommendations here: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/greeningict/planetfilestorepp/PlanetFilestoreFinalReport.pdf
For more help and guidance on green efficiencies see the JISC publication "Green ICT: Managing Sustainable ICT in education and research" .
If you would like to speak to someone regarding Green ICT your local RSC can help. If you live in West Midlands region contact support@rsc-wm.ac.uk
Other Related links
The Climate Change Act
HEFCE: Sustainable development in higher education February 2009 update to strategic statement and action plan (2008)
HEFCE: Sustainable development in higher education February 2009 update to strategic statement and action plan (2008)
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