We know that IT use and its impacts will increase unless we find ways to help manage them. At Greenwich we have worked for many years to deliver IT services with a lower environmental impact. This includes:
Powering IT
At Greenwich we use 100% zero carbon energy that power our on-site IT infrastructure including servers, pc’s, laptops, screens, projectors etc. The university has since 2022 been retiring its on campus server provision and moving this service to the ‘Cloud’ in partnership with MS Azure. Find out more about the Infrastructure Transformation project.
This is a service that has clear sustainability objectives stating “100 percent of our electricity consumption, 100 percent of the time, matched by zero carbon energy purchases by 2030.” We will review this position regularly to understand if this position shifts. To 2026 we have moved 85% of our campus-based servers to MS Azure and will complete this transition by 2032.
Improving IT energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is an important consideration in the procurement selection process. We are continually upgrading our equipment with more efficient systems. For example, this includes replacement of projectors, the use of movement sensors to power down equipment and the lap-top first initiative, where more energy efficient laptops have replaced higher energy using desktop PCs. IT representatives are part of our Energy Reduction Task Group focused on identifying ways to further reduce energy use and emissions, including the continuing work to move server capacity to the cloud. All new buildings and refurbished rooms with data assets are required to have energy meters that provide energy consumption data that includes energy used for IT, including our remaining server rooms.
Purchasing IT
Sustainability considerations are part of our procurement processes ensuring we are buying lower energy consuming equipment and equipment that can be upgraded. Our computer supplier provides data relating to the energy used in the production of a range of IT equipment.
Reuse, recycling and disposal of IT
IT assets are assessed as to whether they can be reused or disposed of through our licenced IT waste management company. Where IT cannot be reused by the university the company takes away equipment and assesses it as to whether it can be reused and resold or donated by the company. Any equipment that doesn’t have a further life is recycled. If you have IT equipment you no longer need then please review our policy for IT asset management and disposal.
Reducing website data transfers
We restrict the size of images on the website, including a blanket maximum file size, with our web systems configured to prevent the uploading of anything larger.
Green IT guidance for staff and students
We have plenty of guidance to help you save energy including relating to IT use Check out this page and this video. Stay up to date with sustainability at Greenwich via our Green Hub for students and staff.
AI use: human accountability and declaration of use
AI is an important tool to help learning and university work, however its use must be guided by principles of integrity and with awareness of the risks it poses when not used with care. Our AI guidance pages emphasise responsible and effective use of AI tools including where appropriate the need to declare its use.
Guidance to reduce printing
The university has rationalised the number of multi-functional devices (which incorporate printers). Due to the acceleration of our digitisation programme print use has dropped significantly. To further reduce printing the university has run a year-long staff campaign providing best practice and highlighting departments and users with higher print usage. Print use reduction guidance can be found here.