As the push to improve our environment increases, individuals, businesses and even universities are becoming more environmentally conscious.

Based on the findings of a recent study by the member schools of the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education (ACUTA), two-thirds of colleges and universities are leveraging green technologies to save energy and aid the environment.

 

According to the surveys findings, universities are taking these steps by launching initiatives like distance learning and online education programs to reduce the need for students and faculty to commute and to reduce the amount of energy used to run their schools. Sixty five percent of those surveyed said their schools are buying new equipment and instituting these polices.

 

The survey also found that one of the most important and widespread green practices was the recycling of computer and networking equipment, 80 percent of  schools already practicing green initiatives reported this type of recycling.

 

These schools are also buying equipment that is more energy efficient (73 percent), simplifying their networks (20 percent) and revamping their data centers (29 percent) in a bid to save energy.

 

Practices like cutting down on the amount of printing and powering off equipment not in use is also part of green practices at these schools.  More innovative approaches cited by some green schools also included the use of alternative sources to provide electrical power on campus.

 

While the push for green technology and practices is spreading, there are some schools that reported not yet taking on these environmentally conscious initiatives. Respondents of the survey that reported their schools were not yet "green" cited a lack of budget funds and an inability to access energy efficient equipment as reasons why they still weren’t green.

 

These schools did however note the push to go green for the advantages like energy savings as well as reduced costs and a "sense of environmental stewardship."

 

ACUTA is an international non-profit educational association that represents large and small colleges and universities and includes communications technology vendors who serve the college/university market.

 

In related news, Dublin Unified School District in California reported it deployed NComputing's low-cost virtual desktops in its classrooms in order to provide affordable computer access to students.

 

NComputing access devices consume as little as 1 watt per user, versus 115 watts for a PC -- helping to reduced Dublin’s computing systems carbon footprint by more than 90 percent