Salina Campus Media Services

Media Services

For several years now, Media Services has been scheduling the automatic shutoff at night of computing resources and camera equipment - anytime the device(s) is not actually being used for essential operations. All of our Mac computers have this capability and also have installed a energy/processing monitor that gauges energy consumption and processing power and more efficiently schedules operations for less-peak periods.

Media Services has also been cooperating with the Educational Communications Center (ECC) to deliver the Landon Lectures, Provost's Lectures, and other high-profile events through more eco-friendly and less time-restrictive methods. This utilizes both videoconferencing, and now for the last two years has offered streaming video to all users' computers rather than dedicating a room for a large-group presentation (with all of its associated energy and staffing needs). Only the highest-profile events with significant demand are scheduled for large-group sessions.

Also for several years now, we have been offering faculty and administrators the option of utilizing videoconferencing technology to participate in Manhattan campus meetings, committees, and events to reduce travel time and costs. We regularly remind Manhattan information providers of the importance of making events and training sessions available to Salina faculty and staff, with videoconferencing being a top and frequent recommendation. As gas costs have risen and budgets have been reduced, we have aggressively pursued this, reminding Salina faculty of the energy, cost, and time-savings of attending meetings by videoconference whenever possible. We recently obtained a new Polycom system with bridging capability, reducing yet one more barrier for more energy- and time-efficient participation.

We have cross-trained Security personnel to know how to turn off projectors which were inadvertently left on and twice per semester remind faculty of ways to reduce wasted energy and lamp life. When known areas of waste are spotted, we meet with the responsible faculty member(s) and their department head.

Long-range (over a three-year replacement cycle), we have begun intentionally purchasing data projectors that are networkable with the eventual goal of being able to remotely monitor and correct issues, send email notifications of problems, and schedule automatic shutdown at predetermined times to reduce unnecessary waste; likely completion in 3-4 years.

Type:Energy Conservation

Credit: Dennis Kuhlman

Contact: Dennis Kuhlman

Tagged:communication, isis, paper-waste, technology