The Daily OrangeITS makes the switch to double-sided printing in effort to be green
By Amy Su
Posted: 10/14/09, 2:46 AM EST Section: News
In an effort to save paper and be more sustainable, Syracuse University started using double-sided printing in its Bird Library computer labs on Friday.
"We want to preach it's important to be sustainable and do things in an environmentally responsible way," said Lesley Pease, head of Learning Commons in the library.
Bird Library's first floor is one of the busiest locations for student printing. The previous single-sided printing default wasted paper, Pease said.
"In the end of the day, we find stacks of paper that can be used and haven't been picked up. So we think if we can cut that in half by doing this, that's one plus," Pease said of the switch to duplex printing.
So far, there are five printers using double-sided printing in the library: one on the lower level, the third floor and fourth floor, and two on the first floor.
Some of the computer labs around campus also began using double-sided printing as the default method this summer, such as the Kimmel Computer Lab, the labs in Goldstein and Schine student centers, and the Life Sciences lab.
The change to double-sided printing is due in large part to student support, said Pease and David Tiedemann, director of Information and Technology Services.
ITS conducted an online survey in the spring on student-related technology issues, including the university's computer lab services, Tiedemann said. About 2,300 students participated in the survey, and 80 students participated in various focus groups.
"Students showed a lot of interest in duplex printing, especially in most focus group meetings," Tiedemann said.
ITS has not received any negative feedback about the switch yet, Pease said. "Some people are saying 'Finally, great!' People have been asking for it. The complaints haven't come yet."
In anticipation of SU's recently released Climate Action Plan, a five-part plan for reducing carbon emissions, the university began discussing the transition from single- to double-sided printing in order to save paper and boost sustainability, said Chris Finkle, communications manager of ITS.
If students prefer to use single-sided printing, they can still adjust their printer settings, ITS and Bird Library officials said.
"What we have done is put up signs to let people know of the change, and also if they don't want the double-sided printing, they can always change that," Pease said.
The printing change originally caused jams in the labs, so ITS and library officials posted instruction sheets to demonstrate how to use duplex printing correctly.
Anyone still having problems with the new default can go to the library reference desk or the technology support desk in the library, Pease said.
csu07@syr.edu
"We want to preach it's important to be sustainable and do things in an environmentally responsible way," said Lesley Pease, head of Learning Commons in the library.
Bird Library's first floor is one of the busiest locations for student printing. The previous single-sided printing default wasted paper, Pease said.
"In the end of the day, we find stacks of paper that can be used and haven't been picked up. So we think if we can cut that in half by doing this, that's one plus," Pease said of the switch to duplex printing.
So far, there are five printers using double-sided printing in the library: one on the lower level, the third floor and fourth floor, and two on the first floor.
Some of the computer labs around campus also began using double-sided printing as the default method this summer, such as the Kimmel Computer Lab, the labs in Goldstein and Schine student centers, and the Life Sciences lab.
The change to double-sided printing is due in large part to student support, said Pease and David Tiedemann, director of Information and Technology Services.
ITS conducted an online survey in the spring on student-related technology issues, including the university's computer lab services, Tiedemann said. About 2,300 students participated in the survey, and 80 students participated in various focus groups.
"Students showed a lot of interest in duplex printing, especially in most focus group meetings," Tiedemann said.
ITS has not received any negative feedback about the switch yet, Pease said. "Some people are saying 'Finally, great!' People have been asking for it. The complaints haven't come yet."
In anticipation of SU's recently released Climate Action Plan, a five-part plan for reducing carbon emissions, the university began discussing the transition from single- to double-sided printing in order to save paper and boost sustainability, said Chris Finkle, communications manager of ITS.
If students prefer to use single-sided printing, they can still adjust their printer settings, ITS and Bird Library officials said.
"What we have done is put up signs to let people know of the change, and also if they don't want the double-sided printing, they can always change that," Pease said.
The printing change originally caused jams in the labs, so ITS and library officials posted instruction sheets to demonstrate how to use duplex printing correctly.
Anyone still having problems with the new default can go to the library reference desk or the technology support desk in the library, Pease said.
csu07@syr.edu
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