managing ict managing ict
Becta chief
executive
Stephen
Crowne
Greener ICT
analyses the impact of
ICT on schools’ carbon
has the eU energy Star compliance in north-facing rooms with translucent blinds
label or has been accredited by the UK combined with “blackout” curtains means
footprints and what
energy Saving Trust as “energy Saving that displays should be easier to read
recommended”. and there is less need for air conditioning.
practical measures can be
If a product is marked with one looking at it from a different perspective, there
of these it meets the basic energy are also many ways schools can use the benefits
adopted to help reduce the
performance criteria in operation, of technology to minimise their overall carbon
which naturally makes it lower in energy footprint and other environmental impacts. These
consumption. include:
amount of energy used
Schools should also be promoting • Using tele-conferencing, video-conferencing and
awareness of the wider impacts of sustainable area-wide learning platforms to reduce the amount
energy use across suppliers, partners and of travel time.
choolS are increasingly integrating the wider community. also bear in mind that • Increasing the use of electronic resources,
S
technology in lessons across the extending use, or re-use, of equipment will save communication and storage to reduce printing costs
curriculum and the number of computers energy and materials in manufacturing as well as and paper consumption.
in schools has increased by a staggering purchase and disposal costs, so ask about the product’s • Increasing the use of technology between the
65 per cent over the last five years. longevity and think carefully about the disposal or re- school and the home to reduce the environmental
This can only be a good thing: use prior to purchase. impact throughout the entire community. one
saving time for teachers, helping deliver another way schools can be guided into example would be by using text messages to alert
more flexible tailored learning, making learning more making better purchasing decisions to fit their parents of any changes to school opening times.
interesting and effective, permitting better assessment needs, is by a simple comparison tool provided • reducing the energy needed to heat, light and
and tracking of learner progress, and allowing more by Becta. cool the building and grounds. The energy
effective engagement with parents and families. This tool helps schools to compare the efficiency Partnership for homes (eePh) guidance
however, unless used properly and responsibly, this energy required by potential purchases to secondary schools on tackling climate change is
IcT can have another, more detrimental impact on a of IcT and checks the consumption of available for download.
school – namely on its carbon footprint. consider this existing equipment and its associated cooling Schools are urged to take the three easy steps
fact: IT equipment is globally accountable for over two requirements. The data provided helps schools of their energy challenge – get the whole school
per cent of carbon emissions, equivalent to that of the maximise cost savings while working towards involved; carry out an environmental audit; and look to
entire aviation industry. It is clear this is a big problem reducing the associated carbon impact of IcT incorporating sustainability into your school policy or
and one that needs to be addressed head on. use. The tool can be found online (see further management plan and start installing sustainable energy
Becta has long championed the responsible use of information) and is a helpful way of evaluating measures. SecEd
IcT in schools and provides guidelines to schools to proposed purchases.
help them choose the right equipment. Becta also aims • This is the fourth in a series of five articles from
to help drive one of
Monitoring usage
Stephen Crowne. The first three can be found at
the most Purchasing energy efficient equipment is servers as possible. It is also important to power www.sec-ed.co.uk and the final one appears in Seced
not the only step to reducing energy down unused ones when they are not needed and next week.
in schools. It is important that consider whether all the parts of your IcT systems
schools have a good overview have to be consuming full power 24-hours-a-day.
Further information
of how IcT is being used, and • Position IcT with care, in particular projectors and Becta tool: www.becta.org.uk/schools/carbonfootprint
where there is any wastage screens, to maximise energy use. Placing equipment eePh guidance: www.tinyurl.com/tacklingclimatechange
– a good way to do this is to
use a “smart meter”. These
meters track the consumption
of electricity in more detail than
a conventional meter.
Smart meters (and sub-meters,
temperature displays and plug-in
energy monitors) can act as a tool
to advise staff on where and when
the most energy is used so they can
then review their behaviour patterns
with regard to energy usage and build up
their skills and capability to improve energy
conservation. They also act as a good learning
tool for children.
a more ambitious aim would be to introduce
energy-saving as part of the curriculum and for children
not only to proactively try to save energy within the
equipment they use, but using the building and IcT
energy as a tool in the curriculum to learn from devices
such as smart meters as to how energy can be saved.
Changing behaviour
Getting users to change their behaviour is perhaps
the single biggest step towards minimising energy
consumption and can quickly make significant energy
savings for very little financial outlay.
as well as monitoring the amount of energy used,
schools can reduce energy consumption by following
these 10 behavioural changes:
• ensure active power management capability is
present, enabled and used on all your IcT equipment
and across your network. This means all devices go
into standby or hibernate when not in use.
• remove all active screensavers as these use more
energy. Let Moss Bros Hire, the UK’s leading formalwear hire specialist with the most stylish
• Provide technical support and advice on sustainable
use of digital devices and label each device
range of affordable tuxedos, help turn out the best groomed students in town.
with specific power-saving instructions (see
Becta’s Framework for IcT Technical Support
“energy conservation” process).
• Use lcD monitors as these use less than 45 per
cent of the power of conventional monitors.
S p e c i a L S t U d e n t o f f e r
important • Switch off equipment, chargers and mains adaptors
– and most when they are not being used and it is safe to do so.
£ 2 6 . 0 0 t w o p i e c e t U x
challenging • Develop policies to “think before you print” when
– changes needed, using printers, scanners, photocopiers or fax. These
which is in the include optimising the use of controls like sleep-
behaviour of both teachers and students and how they mode, duplex, booklet and grey-scale.
use IcT on a day-to-day basis. • avoid over-provision. review use and consolidate to
Your local Moss Bros Hire store can visit your school for a free,
fewer, but better, multi-functional devices. consider
Choosing your equipment
no fuss fitting service for your students.
centralising printers and processing power.
ask for low-power consumption processors and high- • apply timer-switches to non-networked technology Call 07774 965 587 or visit mossbroshire.co.uk
efficiency power supply units. one of the first things and solutions such as print management packages
schools should look for when assessing energy usage to reduce the use of consumables and energy.
as part of their purchasing process is to check whether • Maximise the effective use of servers, and include
or not the equipment they are thinking of buying solutions such as virtualisation to operate as few
MBH HSP ad.indd 1 27/03/2009 14:20:23
SecEd • June 18 2009 11
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