Sustainable Technology Practices

Pacific University is committed to sustainability. University Information Services (UIS) has employed many practices to meet that mission of providing a sustainable campus environment.

Toner Cartridge Recycling Program

UIS has a program to recycle printer toner cartridges. To recycle toner cartridges for a printer, bring your cartridge to Lower Level Marsh, outside of Room LL21 (Mac computer lab) and place in the box. This recycling program is NOT limited to university owned cartridges. Please feel free to bring personal spent toner cartridges in for recycle.

NOTE: All Dell cartridges must be returned directly to Dell, by you, to be recycled.

Energy Smart Equipment

Each year, Pacific purchases new technology equipment based on the computer replacement cycle. All desktop and laptop computer systems purchased from Dell and Apple are Energy Smart certified. Energy Smart technology reduces energy consumption by as much as 78%. Laptops featured in Dell's Latitude line, the line Pacific exclusively uses from Dell, were the first business notebooks to obtain Energy Star 4.0 and EPEAT Gold standards. Apple's Mac mini computer, found in all smart carts on campus, consumes less than 13w of energy when idle, less than half the power consumed by a typical light bulb.

Computer Recycling Program

Each year, Pacific purchases new technology equipment based on the computer replacement cycle. All computers replaced by new computers are collected by UIS. Any other electronic equipment owned by Pacific University that is no longer being used should also be returned to UIS. This equipment is collected and either reused within Pacific University, donated or recycled. In all cases, UIS makes sure that all data is securely erased from hard drives and other storage media.

Additionally, the new equipment purchased each year generates large volumes of cardboard and Styrofoam. All cardboard is recycled and the best effort is made to recycle all Styrofoam components.

Students are encouraged to bring any unused electronic equipment (with the exception of CRT monitors) to the TIC in Forest Grove (LL Marsh) or HPIS office in Hillsboro (Creighton 211). UIS representatives will take these electronics and reuse or recycle them.

Battery Recycling Program

UIS offers battery recycling for "small" batteries. A small battery consists of your everyday batteries, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9volt, as well as laptop batteries or camera batteries. Once a battery has been used, please bring to the Technology Information Center (TIC) located in the Lower Level of Marsh Hall and they will be properly disposed of. If you have questions to which batteries should be disposed of, please contact the TIC.

For "large" batteries, please contact Facilities Management at 503-352-2213 for proper instructions to dispose of those batteries.

Power Usage Monitor

The TIC has, available for checkout to Pacific students, faculty and staff, a device which can be put between the wall and an AC power device or power strip that will monitor power usage.  This is useful for departments who want to find ways to reduce their power consumption.  Contact the TIC at x1500 to reserve or check on the availability of this device.

Campus Printers

UIS has print stations located throughout campus for easy use for all students, faculty, and staff. These print stations all offer high quality laser printing with duplex capabilities. These printers are designed to cut down on paper waste by encouraging duplexing. You have the ability to print to any campus print station from your personal computer. Instructions on how to configure your personal computer to print to these stations are available for both Windows users and Mac users.

Things to Consider

There are numerous ways to check and see if you are living green with your technology usage. This is a short list to help you think of how you can be green with technology.

  • Have you or your organization become more interested in green and sustainable technology in the past year?
  • Are you using Energy Star or Energy Smart certified technology wherever possible?
  • Have you replaced old CRT (large box) monitors with LCD monitors to reduce consumption?
  • Are you printing on both sides of paper whenever possible?
  • Do you work in an environment that is supportive of green practices?
  • Have green efforts within your organization been publicized, either internally or externally?
  • Are you more likely to frequent organizations that practice green and sustainable practices?