JISC

Overview

The overall aim of PEG is to investigate how barriers to Green ICT can be overcome within a HEI, especially in terms of cross-departmental working and implementing staff behavioural change programmes. This will be achieved by looking at the specific issue of improving the efficiency of printing to deliver a long-term sustainable solution. Rather than just merely implementing changes at an operational level, this project aims to increase understanding of a consultative approach to behavioural change.

Aims and Objectives

1. Facilitate cross-working relationships between staff from Facilities, IT, Procurement and academic departments to deliver a practical green demonstrator project and to champion Green ICT at a strategic level.
2. Obtain a clear picture of staff requirements for and attitudes to workplace printing through survey and workshop methods.
3. To design and pilot a sustainable printing solution which reduces resource consumption and energy use whilst also increasing the functionality of printing devices and improving user experience.
4. To design and pilot a behaviour change programme which helps to implement objective 3 and to analyse the results.

Project Methodology

The project will start with staff surveys to discover attitudes to printing and an audit of printing assets within the organisation. Global Action Plan and UEL will use the collected information to design a behaviour change programme which will be trialled in a number of departments. The aim is to move from many desktop printers in a department to a limited number of multifunctional devices that will improve efficiency and reduce waste. A number of departments within UEL have been brought together for this project as well as external advice being provided by London South Bank University.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Outputs will include:  

• Knowledge in the area of staff behavioural change and a model of how to implement technology based environmental initiatives amongst a diverse university community.  
• A practical example of cross-departmental working to achieve Green ICT objectives.  
•  A model to share on integrating Green ICT at a strategic level in institutions  

Outcomes include:  

• Reduction of the university’s carbon footprint and energy costs.
• Consolidation and more efficient use and procurement of printing devices.
• Reduction of waste generated by ICT use e.g. paper and toner.
• Monitoring of print volumes in departments and raising awareness of costs.