Going Green: Information Technology
Environmental Goal: Reduce Environmental Impact Through Improved Information Technology (IT) Energy Saving Applications And Data Center Operations*
A. Objective--Paper Use Reduction
- Environmental Objective: Reduce company-wide paper use through centralized printing solutions.
- Performance Update: As of May, 2010, began centralization of print services1 for all US Apollo and University of Phoenix properties with project completion projected to occur in 2013. Projected device reduction of 75% over 2010-level printer inventory, 44% over 2010 carbon usage, and 29% over 2010 energy/paper costs.
1Centralized Printer Metrics:
| Category | Current | Future | Estimate % Reduction |
| # of single function devices (Low future estimate) | 4000 | 800 | 80.00% |
| # of single function devices (High future estimate) | 4000 | 1000 | 75.00% |
| # of multifunction devices | 800 | 800 | 0.00% |
| Cost to support environment | 5500000 | 2500000 | 54.55% |
| Paper Consumption | 2600000 | 1800000 | 30.77% |
| Carbon Footprint | 3400000 | 1900000 | 44.12% |
| Energy + Paper Cost | 1700000 | 1200000 | 29.41% |
B. Environmental Objective—Electronic Waste
- Environmental Objective: Develop an eWaste standard to ensure that all Apollo eWaste uses Basel Action Network (BAN)-certified disposal companies.
- Performance Updates:
- In February 2010, Apollo became one of 10 global companies to be charter members of the Basel Action Network to ensure that suppliers are certified and that no wastes are exported outside of country and that no toxic materials go to landfills. Apollo is working closely with vendors to ensure that the supplier chain to support BAN is in place.
- Apollo met with local waste management suppliers regionally (US) to provide enterprise recycling solutions for all employees and students in company facilities.
C. Environmental Objective--Server Virtualization for Energy Use Reduction
- Environmental Objective: Increase server virtualization to reduce energy usage.
- Performance Update: Virtualization programs began in earnest in June 2009, resulting in an increase in server virtualization from 15% overall to 30%. In addition, 50% of all platforms built in June 2010 are virtual. Accurate cooling and power savings are to be available by Q4 FY 2010.
D. Environmental Objective—Server Optimization for Energy Reduction
- Environmental Objective: Increase server utilization while decreasing energy usage.
- Performance Update:
- Data Center Capacity Recovery projects began in December 2009 with a goal to increase server utilization and increase data center resources, decreasing power and cooling cost. On 10 August, the 1000th server is expected to be decommissioned. New server purchase avoidance of $1.2MM and power savings in excess of $130K/year has been achieved. Apollo data centers have saved 1.3MM kWh over 2009, or 897 tons (US) GHG savings.
- Desktop virtualization for all US properties was initiated in June 2010. The Virtual Client Computing project seeks to drive workstation operating systems and data requirements to enterprise data centers, improving power and cooling costs and extending machine lifecycle costs.
E. Environmental Objective—Desktop Management
- Environmental Objective: Maximize energy efficiency and reduction through improved desktop management.
- Performance Update: Windows 7 began enterprise deployment in Q2 FY 10 with 400 desktops, providing anticipated power savings from 20-30% (installation forces ‘best practice’ power management). Users of older desktops are being actively trained to turn off or adjust power settings until the enterprise refresh is complete.
*Excerpted from “Apollo Group: Environmental Objectives and Performance Summary.” For a summary of this and other activities, please see http://www.apollogrp.edu/gogreen/goals.asp.