I've been continually impressed by the UB administration's commitment to "going green" these days. I mean, who can't appreciate sunlights, solar panels, and some smart recycling? It'll also be pretty cool to see some gardening on top of the new law school building (http://www.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=3090).
Still, I can't help but think that there is more we can do. In particular, it just seems to make sense that for a campus to really be committed to sustainability, the students--in addition to the administration--need to asked or given an option to get involved.
So this brings me to my first rant of the summer season: printing at UB sucks.
I'm not talking about how the printers are always "warming up" or how the printers like to take their smoking "breaks" and send your print job into cyber limbo. I'm talking about how wasteful printing at UB can be. There is simply too much excess paper caused by the student ID coversheets. I know it seems like I'm being fickle, but hear me out. The often-discarded student ID coversheets swarm the printing desks and overflow in the little recycling bins.
According to UB tech staff I once asked, those sheets are mandatory. You can't turn them off. OK, yes, it's nice to separate your print jobs. And recycling is there--but we can do better. So, borrowing a few concepts I've seen at other universities, I'd like to put these ideas out there for the good techies at UB to do with what they will:
Double-Sided Printing... I don't make printers for a living or even as a hobby (thankfully), but I've seen it done and I think our printers look fancy enough to have this capability. It doesn't really take any longer to complete the print job, it looks more professional/book-like when you get your final paper, and it saves trees by reducing paper use...well...in half. Holla.
ID Watermark on the First Page...Let's see if I can describe this clearly. What I'm talking about is giving students the option to NOT print a coversheet; but rather, to have their student ID automatically printed in small font on the top of the first page of their print job. Now, we know that no one is going to want to print something uber important with a UB ID on it. But if I'm printing out Google maps or a draft, why not? I would also like to think that the Great Printer Wait--that eternal line of students standing in queue for their print jobs--would be reduced even if only a third of students were printing one fewer page.
Alright...rant over. As my buddy Kermit would point out: "It's not easy being green."
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6 comments:
Hey Jason, I totally agree. The "cover page" waste was one of the first issues I brought up when I served on UB's Undergraduate Student Senate. I wasn't able to get far with the issue, but I still believe we could do something to lessen the waste. I think the first-page watermark is a great idea and should at least be an option.
So, count me in on the push to do something about cutting out this waste of paper, ink, and print-time.
Lynne
Jason,
You are not alone on desiring green printing at UB; in fact OTS has been working on it for several months now. We have already started adding double-sided printers to the computer labs to do just as you’re suggesting. Currently there are 4 double-sided printers in the labs and another 5-6 will be added over the next year (budget willing). Our plan is to make double-sided printing the default for all print jobs. If an assignment had to be single-sided you could always specify that before sending it to the printer.
Additionally, OTS is looking at adding a PIN keypad to the printers for authentication of print jobs. This would put your print job in a queue then release the job when a PIN was entered into the printer. This would allow us not only to eliminate the wasteful coversheet, but would cut down on the number of unclaimed print jobs. OTS is sensitive to the wait-line for print jobs, so this particular technology would have to be piloted and students would have to help us determine if it should be adopted in all campus labs.
I am delighted that you’ve written about this issue and can tell you that OTS is on the same page (pardon the pun). If any student would like to talk in person about additional ways we could go green, please come to the BC computer lab and ask to talk to one of the staff. Emails are always welcome too – I can be reached at pwalsh@ubalt.edu.
Paul Walsh, OTS Director of Instructional Technology
I'm with ya, Jason. I have to print alot of color jobs in the lab and it drives me nuts. Also, your comment about the "printers taking a smoke break" made me laugh out loud.
Sorry about the prior goof....let me try again.
The printers at the community college I attended prior to UB were set on double-sided printing and there were no cover sheets. I was surprised to find the opposite here. One day, I printed several articles for a research paper and got a cover sheet for each one. There has to be a better way.
Also, Thanks Paul, for answering Jason. Looks like this blog is doing what it is suppose to do.
Great post, Jason! And welcome. Thanks for your contribution and your recommendations. Well thought through. And thanks, Paul, for responding. Just as an FYI, the latest edition (spring 2009) of the UB Alumni Magazine tackled the issue of "Growing Green" on campus. Look for it online (www.ubalt.edu/alumnimag) in the coming weeks.
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