Managed Print Services

10 considerations when evaluating or implementing a Managed Print Services program
1 -- Does your MPS program put the emphasis on “management” or on “print”?
A successful MPS program requires people, process, and technology (hardware and software). If the program’s focus is on the equipment to deploy, including a break-fix contract price, terms and supplies, but leaves out the organizational structure and process performance, then you do not have a true, comprehensive MPS program in place. A more effective MPS program will focus on who will be accountable for results, how to manage the process that will deliver the results, and what equipment to use for print/copy/fax/scan processes.
2 -- Is all the equipment managed equally?
If your MPS program does not manage all the equipment in your environment equally, no matter who owns the equipment or what OEM provides the maintenance, then you have a fragmented print service operation that is subject to a lowest “cost-per-copy” contract and you are probably unaware of many higher, hidden costs.
3 -- Is there one point of accountability and one invoice to pay?
One defining characteristic of a well-rounded MPS program is a single point of accountability for the entire office print/copy/fax/scan service. By centralizing the responsibilities for managing all of the equipment, people and processes, you can leverage procurement scale, standardization, budget consolidation, and have one consolidated invoice to pay.
4 -- Are the MPS tools installed and used?
One building block of an MPS program is the ability to monitor fleet activity (i.e. collecting output, service and cost data) as well as automate processes (proactive machine faults/alerts, meter collection and reporting overall performance.) Technology tools are necessary in order to meet these goals. These tools include, at the very least, an electronic monitoring system, an MPS call center application and a reporting system. Assessment, user behavior modification and MFP workflow solutions tools also can help.
5 -- Does the MPS program provide an initial in-depth assessment?
An in-depth assessment is recommended before starting an MPS program to establish a baseline of your fleet’s current state. The assessment should provide a roadmap for moving from the fleet’s current state to its future state. A list of the existing equipment to be kept, re-deployed, and retired should be one output. A map of current equipment, utilization and device-to-user ratios is another output. You can also create several future-state recommendations based on desired outcomes (such as total costs) along with best-of-breed equipment specifications.
6 -- Will the MPS program re-balance and optimize the fleet continuously?
Maintaining an excessive amount of equipment is expensive. Determining precisely how much equipment is needed, including the requirements of each location, involves delicate measurements and frequent reviews. Idle or overused equipment can be expensive in terms of dollars or user satisfaction. An MPS program should include periodic reviews (quarterly or annual at the minimum) by experts who can recommend optimization changes as necessary.
7 -- Will the MPS program relieve the IT help-desk from print-related issues?
According to IT help-desk studies, a significant number of calls to the IT help-desk (approximately 20%) involve relatively basic issues related to toner, machine service, etc. An MPS program should relieve the IT help-desk from these calls by providing an 800 number to the MPS call center, ideally backed by on-site and remote call center support, for resolving these issues.
8 --- What are the whole life costs?
Capital cost, running cost and disposal needs to be evaluated and budgeted for.
9 --- How sustainable is the product and service?
Device, and service carbon footprint needs to be evaluated. WEEE considerations, standby power consumption and ability to use recycled substrates and parts are some areas to consider.
10 -- Does the MPS program provide staff and subject matter experts to manage the MPS process?
Buyers often forget there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that must be done to manage office print/copy/fax/scan processes.
Here is a partial list of MPS responsibilities that do not come with basic equipment maintenance:· ordering supplies and re-stocking consumables on a daily basis· providing preventive maintenance and first-level response· managing multiple OEM service providers· managing procurement, which includes consolidating and standardizing contracts and rates as they expire· overseeing the budget· verifying invoices and resolving bill disputes· coordinating equipment moves/changes· responding to user needs and conducting user satisfaction surveys· coordinating with IT· reporting performance and financials· planning ahead for effective program management· reviewing device utilization and overall performance· making optimization decisions· managing assets (maintaining equipment lists and data, planning and coordinating moves, adds, changes and disposals)Customers are getting smarter about the total cost of ownership when they buy or replace office print equipment. But these companies don’t always recognize how important a comprehensive managed print services program is to realizing the full benefits of the newest technology. These 8 Things provide a checklist for making sure people, process, and technology are all considered when implementing an MPS program.

Xerox ColorQube and Solid Ink Examined by Industry Analysts

Xerox ColorQube color printers using solid ink technology is evaluated by industry analysts such as David Spencer from Spencer and Associates and Matt Marshall of IDS, among others. The Xerox ColorQube is known for its green technology and emphasis on sustainability, producing 90% less waste than laser color printers, and printing 9250 pages per solid ink stick

Merger between Altman Technologies and Integrated Card Solutions Ltd.

This merger has resulted in an expanded team and resources. The aim is to drive further improvements to ICT solutions and services. They are keen to solicit your input on what additional solutions, functionality and value you are looking for - and - what improvements or additions you would like to see in the support services they offer.

Here is a quick overview of upcoming highlights:
New Embedded Solutions for copier accounting + pull-printing
They support Konica Minolta, Kyocera, HP, Oce, Ricoh, Sharp, Toshiba and Xerox Coming soon - Canon too!

New low cost, simple secure print solutions
ID card or biometric authentication to release print jobs - quick, simple and low cost Works with ALL printers and MFDs

New low cost ePayments and touch screen kiosks
Web based ePayments - low setup and running costs
+ Robust, secure kiosks with cash and chip+pin options

New ID card systems and biometrics integration
All types of ID cards supplied, customised and integrated with your systems ...
... Print release, copy control, access control and other cashless solutions
Both companies are committed to improving their value to customers and potential customers and would welcome your feedback.

Altman Technologies – www.altman.co.uk
Integrated Card Solutions Ltd. www.ics-limited.co.uk
Software: www.icssoftware.co.uk

Sharp Open Systems Architecture

Sharp Open Systems Architecture (Sharp OSA) opens the door to a broad array of value-added functionality. By bringing the power of customization closer to the customer; this versatile development platform adds incredible flexibility to Sharp's awarding winning line of MFPs.

It is designed to let network applications control the MFP through bi-directional communication. This allows users to interact with business applications directly from the front panel of the MFP.

http://www.sharpinbusiness.co.uk/OSA.asp

Right Document Solutions DocuCheck®

DocuCheck® is a robust, comprehensive and proven methodology developed in-house by their consulting team. It follows established management consultancy practices and procedures.
Using DocuCheck®, they help clients to develop the best ‘integrated’ document systems strategy encompassing all B/W and colour, networked and standalone printer, copier, fax, scanner and multifunctional resources. This strategy also defines the relevant software utilities, support procedures and supplies processes required to achieve the project objectives
DocuCheck® is designed to deliver the following key benefits:
 Significant cost reduction from 15 to 40% off current Total Cost of Ownership.
 Improved business efficiency for administration, support and management functions.
 Increased user productivity and effectiveness.
 Better environmental working practices.
For more information contact the Right Document Solutions at http://www.right-group.com/Consultancy.aspx or http://www.right-group.com/ or http://www.right-group.com/Contact-us.aspx

The Right Document Solutions approach to Education Sector clients is
• Recognise user population can include staff, students and visitors
• Understand the environment and what their objectives are
• Focus on the long-term benefit to the client, not the short term win
• Provide a combined solution of hardware and software
• Recognise importance of budgets and keeping within them
• Provide consistently good service from all parts of our business

SafeCom Keep It Safe

Quick Demo of Canon Helix workflow

Canon Helix workflow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_C5qxcbnc8

Google Books: Available via the Internet made on a local Espresso Book Machine

Ricoh Equitrac Professional 5

Equitrac Express and PCC on Ricoh

Ricoh PCS Director

Pcounter Enterprise

Pcounter Enterprise provides print auditing, print accounting, cost control, cost recovery, security & reporting for all print and copy output

Key benefits
Simple to use
20 – 50% cost savings achievable
Eliminates waste and misuse
Total control of all print and copy output
Enhanced security of documents
Reduces carbon footprint
Increases flexibility and productivity
Low cost of ownership

Key features
Monitoring, accounting, reporting and charge-back for all print and copy output
Rules-based policy enforcement ~ stop, delay, re-schedule or re-directed output
Multiple criteria: page/copy count, document type, paper size, cost, colour
Automatic deletion of duplicate print jobs - solve the "click-click-click" problem
Secure printing with pull-printing capability
ID card integration
Device utilisation analysis
Enforce use of printers with the most appropriate capacity
Intelligent load balancing across similar devices
Charging systems - cash and credit cards, e-Payment systems
Charge-back costs to cost centres, projects or client codes
Electronic job ticketing and print room management

UniFLOW Additional Modules

The core accounting functionality of uniFLOW Output Manager can be extended with various extra modules. Each module provides exciting new features to the system that allow the benefits of uniFLOW to extend into other parts of your business. From providing secure printing features to helping run your inhouse print room more efficiently, uniFLOW really is an end-to-end output management system.

How Pharos Uniprint can benefit a university

Uniprint allows you to track printing and copying from virtually any printer, copier or multi-functional device (MFD) ensuring that all paper output in your organisation is transparent and totally measurable.

Uniprint monitors the printing and copying of every user on your network ensuring that all students and staff are fully accountable for their actions.
Uniprint includes an optional system of user balances allowing your school, college or university to control and limit the amount of printing and copying students and staff can perform, reducing waste and dramatically cutting costs.
Uniprint can be configured to cancel or restrict jobs that are sent to inappropriate print devices, regulating the print process and helping to cut costs.
Uniprint reduces paper output waste and helps ensure that the appropriate print device is used assisting your school, college or university to meet its environmental obligations central to today’s green agenda.
Uniprint can accommodate automated cash payment options that allow those who wish to charge the ability to do so without the constant involvement of support staff allowing them to focus on core activities.

Uniprint offer an online payment module Indigo that allows credit and debit cards or even PayPal accounts to be utilised reducing the dependence on cash, which in turn reduces staff involvement with cash collection and security.
Uniprint can work alongside a system of wireless printing which allows users to print from laptops, PDAs and smart phones via your wireless network without the need to install software or printer drivers hence ensuring inclusivity of print service provision for all users.

Uniprint fits right in with your existing networking infrastructure through its usage of familiar Microsoft technologies including Windows Server and Microsoft SQL.
Uniprint keeps your end-users happy and well informed about their print activities via its pop-up messages that offer the same functionality regardless of whether people are using Windows or Mac clients.

JISC Green ICT Blog

http://greenict.jiscinvolve.org/wp/

OKI Blog

http://blog.okic300.com/

Liverpool John Moores University PRINT Strategy

What is the LJMU PRINT Strategy?
The LJMU PRINT Strategy is an organisation wide, strategic approach to all the photocopying, printing and scanning requirements of the university, both for staff and students.
What are its aims?
The aims of the PRINT Strategy are:
Seek to reduce the volume of printed and photocopied material where this is without detriment to teaching and learning and administrative functions.
Seek to reduce spending on printing and photocopying through providing local management with improved information and devolved control on the costs of PRINT and provision of access to the most efficient equipment.
Encourage the use of recycled paper and environmentally friendly printing processes.
Promote the strategic management of PRINT through seeking to engage a PRINT supplier and/or advisor capable of taking an organisational view of printing and its IT requirements and determining whether in house or external provision of PRINT services best meets demand.
Seek efficiencies of operation through liaison with other Higher Education Institutions and other compatible organisations.
See http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/printstrategy/

Samsung Enters A3 MFD Market

Samsung has announced the launch of its very first A3 colour multifunction devices with the introduction of the MultiXpress C9350ND and MultiXpress C9250ND. The new devices incorporate a unique Open Architecture Platform XOA to allow for easy integration into existing systems as well as increased printing performance; an intuitive and customisable user interface (UI); and powerful security features to ensure peace of mind for small, medium and large businesses.

Both models have been built with a fully modular set-up, various expandability options and a customisable open development platform known as XOA which allows the devices to cater for all businesses - from small teams right up to large departments. The implementation of Samsung’s unique XOA platform can make integration simple and effective allowing workgroups to achieve a multifunctional print environment tailored to their needs.

HP Introduces the Future of Printing

Web Connected and Cloud Aware MFDs now in the UK http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2010/100607b.html

Managed Print Services MPS

M2 is the UK’s leading independent managed print and document services company.
They will;
Guarantee to reduce your print costs by up to 40%.
Increase efficiencies with enhanced speed, control and security of documents.
Boost employee productivity with increased transparency and accountability on print.
Materially reduce paper consumption to help your environmental targets.
Make working with M2 enjoyable, easy and refreshing to do business.

See http://www.m2digital.co.uk/home.html and http://www.m2digital.co.uk/services-we-provide.html

Aberdeen University calls to stop using staples for the environment

See poster at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/environment/about/documents/Werestaplefreeposter_000.pdf

Print rather than copy!

Interesting item from Bradford University
It says If you only want a small number of copies of a document then think about whether you need to print the document at all. If you do, then it is usually more energy efficient to use a printer than a photocopier. This of course depends on types of printers and copiers in use in your bit of the University – but in general:
• Inkjet printers are more energy efficient than laser printers
• Black and white printers are more energy efficient than colour printers
• Photocopiers use more energy than printers per copied sheet
http://www.brad.ac.uk/ecoversity/carbon/ewp-printingtips.pdf

GreenITExpo Agenda

http://www.revolutionevents.plus.com/greenitexpo/downloads/GreenITExpo_SeminarPlanner2010(Latest).pdf

Create a Green, Cost-Saving Imaging and Printing Environment for Today’s Campuses

Here's the reality: Many campuses today work with an imaging and printing environment that is static, expensive and fraught with risk.

What these campuses need: Solutions that meet user expectations for reliable, dynamic imaging and printing while addressing evolving student needs throughout their academic lifecycle.

Making it happen: Discover how you can align your imaging and printing fleet with the needs of your users by:

Assessing needs and finding ways to reduce costs associated with the document lifecycle
More efficiently managing student and employee records
Creating a secure and environmentally-responsible document creation infrastructure
Implementing an effective print policy
Attend this free webcast to hear experts from Hewlett-Packard and Pace University outline a plan that will teach you ways to create a secure, green-friendly print and imaging infrastructure that meets the diverse needs of your students, faculty and administration.

Speaker: Matthew Bonilla, director of user services, Information Technology Service, Pace University

http://tinyurl.com/IWANTTOBEGREEN

Ricoh Cloud Printing from Blackberry, IPhone, Wireless and Hardwired PCs and MACs via Web

Ricoh MFD 'Hot Spot' Cloud Printing via the Web

Reprographics Management

Green IT Expo

Green IT Expo http://www.greenitexpo.com/ is in London on the 9th November 2010.

The Virtuous Triangle of Green IT

As more and more organisations implement successful sustainable computing initiatives, an increasingly holistic view of Green IT is emerging, comprising three different but entirely complimentary aspects:
• Firstly, IT operations need to significantly reduce their energy consumption – to minimise their own emissions and deliver essential efficiency gains for increasingly complex systems.
• Secondly, organisations need to explore the potential of IT and other new technologies to facilitate greener processes across the rest of the enterprise, For example, through mobile working, on-line resources, teleconferencing, electronic document management, and sustainable business processes, that consider the whole-life business process environmental impact.
• Finally, new IT applications and industry standards need to be developed to effectively measure, monitor and control environmental impacts across the enterprise – to provide reliable information for decision-making, scenario modelling and outcome validation.


This ’Virtuous Triangle’ of Green IT goes well beyond the simple cost-saving benefits that have always been apparent, evolving the role of IT to become a key enabler for more sustainable business as a whole.

PaperCut has environmental information and return on investment calculator

PaperCut has environmental information for end users so they can see the environmental impact of their printing in the number of trees carbon and energy used!
http://www.papercut.com/tour/at-a-glance/
Return on investment calculator http://www.papercut.com/tools/roi/

FREE WORKSHOP - Financing Energy Efficiency in University Data Centres and IT Activities

Wednesday 8th September 2010
Woburn House, London
Rising prices, carbon regulation, and sector targets are all making universities and colleges pay greater attention to their IT energy consumption and carbon emissions. Many low-medium payback measures are possible, but are often blocked by a lack of funding or incentives amongst users. Several solutions are now emerging. Energy costs can be devolved to entire departments or for easily metered activities, such as data centres. Alternatively, Estates can still pay energy bills, but share a proportion of any cost increases or falls from an agreed baseline. An energy can also be used to finance energy efficient equipment, covering either the whole cost (as with Salix schemes), or the price premium for high performance models.
Multifunctional devices (combined 4 functions in one machine printer, photocopier, scanner, and fax) have oblivious cost saving on machines, office space, networking and capital. However they (and the printroom) still consume power and even at auto power down, will be consuming energy that contributes to the whole university’s carbon footprint. Monitoring, control and assignment is needed to raise awareness and control carbon and cost in all HEIs.
This workshop will explore these topics and provide an opportunity for estates, finance, and IT staff to acquire new information, and share experiences and thinking. It is a joint initiative of two JISC efficiency fund financed projects - Responsible Energy Costs, led by Forum for the Future and the University of Gloucestershire, and Greening Scientific Computing, led by HEEPI’s SusteIT project.
http://www.goodcampus.org/events/info.php?siteID=1&refnum=48&startnum=0

New Features on SafeCom G3

SafeCom G3 - is considered by some to be the next generation of SafeCom's state-of-the-art Server software.

What Challenges does SafeCom G3 Address:
• Dispersed print infrastructure
• Lack of central control and standards
• Cost control
• Security concerns
• Network bandwidth
• Managing remote sites
• User behavior
• Ease of Administration
• Ease of Installation

Enhancements:
•Enhanced encryption and AES support
•Hostname support
•Multiple domain support
•Easier installation
•Simplified Administration

New features:
•Unicode Support
•Application Print Notification
•Client Printing

SusteIT’s first Newsletter August 2010 for Events, News and Publications Relating to Greener ICT in Universities and Colleges

This newsletter has been developed by the JISC funded SusteIT initiative in order to a) publicise the activities and outputs of our own projects (on greening scientific computing and conferencing/new ways of working) and others within JISC's Greening ICT programme, and b) to provide brief updates on other developments within the field. To obtain a copy or subscribe go to http://www.goodcampus.org/susteit/index.php or contact l.m.hopkinson@bradford.ac.uk
www.goodcampus.org

CcPrint & CcMail for Microsoft Exchange

CcPrint is a print capture product which intercepts printed output on the way to a printer, renders it to an image and automatically stores it in the document management system. The product can be configured in numerous ways and is capable to extracting information from the printed material and using that information to index the document. It is also capable of processing forms and extracting information from them.

CcMail for Microsoft Exchange is an email capture product which intercepts emails as they are sent or received and indexes them in to the document management system according to a user-defined set of rules which control the inclusion or exclusion of each email and how it is stored. Requires IMAP4 enabled Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or later.

Good Green IT Reading

You may not know that the IT industry is currently responsible for the same level of carbon emissions as the aviation industry, and experts predict that these emissions will actually double in the next few years. This is some great reading on the wider issues of why we should green IT (and the related printing output)

Green Computing and Green IT Best Practices on Regulations and Industry Initiatives, Virtualization, Power Management, Materials Recycling and Telecommuting

Green IT For Dummies

Green IT in Practice: How One Company Is Approaching the Greening of Its IT

Green IT: Reduce Your Information System's Environmental Impact While Adding to the Bottom Line

Green IT for Sustainable Business Practice: An ISEB Foundation Guide

How Paperless Home Offices Work

Inside this Article

1. Introduction to How Paperless Home Offices Work
2. Going Paperless
3. Paperless Technology

4. Paperless Document Management

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-paperless-home-offices-work.htm

BUSINESS GUIDE TO PAPER REDUCTION

Lots of information and guidance on how to reduce paper and printing in this 67 page guide by the ForestEthics, published in in the USA in 2002

BUSINESS GUIDE TO PAPER REDUCTION

A Step-by-Step Plan to Save Money by Saving Paper

Including Case Studies of Bank of America, AT&T, Nike, Alameda County, and the Moore Foundation

Heather Sarantis

September 2002

http://www.environmentalpaper.org/documents/REDUCE-BUSINESS-GUIDE.pdf

Minimising the Environmental Impacts of Printing Workshop at UEL

Minimising the Environmental Impacts of Printing Workshop at UEL.

Nicola Hogan Sustainable ICT Project Manager, Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) said “ A special thank you to each of our speakers for their informative presentations and especially to Sara Kassam for hosting the workshop at UEL's Dockland's campus.”

Nicola Hogan has posted the presentations on the EAUC's website (see following link) so please feel free to visit the website anytime as a source of information for reducing paper use at your institution; http://www.eauc.org.uk/shop/mms_single_event.php?event_id=1254

Please log onto the EAUC's website for more updates on the sustainable ICT project.

The Environmental Effects of Printing

One of the interesting things about this project is that we are looking at communicating more of the environmental costs of printing to UEL staff.

Most people are aware of the destruction of forestry involved in traditional logging operations.  Up to 42% percent of the global wood harvest goes to the paper and pulp industry (Abromovitz and Mattoon, Worldwatch Paper: Paper Cuts, p. 20, 1999).  UEL has already taken a great proactive step in using recycled paper across the campus which significantly reducing the number of trees required to be harvested.  This means less pressure on forests and the species which rely on them.

What people are less aware of are the other environmental effects of the paper and pulp industry has.

Paper production is a large consumer of water, due to soaking of the pulp fibers.  In OECD countries the industry was the single largest industrial consumer of water (OECD Environmental Outlook, p. 218)  The waste water then has a variety of chemicals in it, and this takes further processing to remove, not all of it can be and different countries have different levels of environmental legislation controlling this.

Paper and pulp production is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, being the third greatest industrial greenhouse gas emitter in the OECD (OECD Environmental Outlook, p. 218).  This is not including energy use in the running the printers.  Much of the energy used running printers is as they are sitting idle overnight, on weekends and holidays.  Even those which go into standby can still consume a significant amount, and not all do.  Xerox estimated printers were only in use 1-2% of the time.

Then we come to the manufacturing and disposal of printers.  Much of the energy a printer will ever use has been expended in its manufacture.  A range of substances are mined and extracted in its complex machinery, including substances from places in developing countries which don't always have good environmental or labour standards.  They are then transported large distances due to the globalised manufacturing process.  There are also problems with the model of production, especially cheap desktops, where due to the main revenue being from cartridge sales, the printers are priced at disposable levels, making repair much less cost effective than replacement.  Many go to land fill eventually, contributing to a global e-waste problem the UN described as a "mountain of e-waste", much of it ending up being disposed of in the third world, often with a complete absence of environmental or labour concerns.


Hundreds of millions of printer cartridges are purchased every year, and less than half of the cartridges themselves are reused or recycled (Infotrends 2009).  Even those that are returned to refilling depots are often not economically viable to refill and end up in land fill.  The cartridges themselves also use a range of chemicals in their manufacture, which leach out into the environment if not disposed of properly.  They also contribute to the worlds growing e-waste problem.

There are other aspects as well, pollution, paper packaging, transport, toxics from ink and toner, all of which need to be considered.   Taken together, if we can print less, print double sided or two to a page more often, share a printer with colleagues, use more environmentally sensitive paper and print equipment, we can reduce our ecological footprint, without effecting our quality of life.

Like many aspects of our lives, there are complex environmental consequences to our printing behaviours we need to consider in our actions.  The project to make printing more environmentally friendly at UEL will have positive benefits on our environment, far beyond UELs campuses.   This is why as an environmental charity Global Action Plan is happy to be involved in helping UEL take this important initiative.

Project Update - What do staff think?

It may have seemed quiet on the project front lately but PEG is well and truly underway!

An online staff survey has been conducted at UEL to find out about printing behaviours and environmental attitudes. There was an excellent response rate of 284 replies across different departments, offering us a good insight as to what staff think about office printing and environmental issues.

A summary of results is available online.

Is Digital Media Worse for the Environment Than Print?

Is Digital Media Worse for the Environment Than Print?

This paper suggests that print is greener than digital media!

http://preview.tinyurl.com/is-print-more-green

High-tech copy machines a gold mine for data thieves

I feel this is a matter that we need to consider.

We can not be efficient if we can not manage and protect the security of our data and images stored in the digital photocopier machines. This would be a waste of IT resources, costs and time.

See http://tinyurl.com/printandit

Would GreenPrint be helpful in greening the HEI ICT?

GreenPrint Enterprise Overview

https://printgreener.com/download/docs/GreenPrint%20Enterprise%20Overview.pdf

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zeK-6EjfQM&feature=related

Virtual Toner, Ink and Machine Pool

Consider making a virtual toner ink and machine pool resource.

Why: - Some tonners and printers are expensive. Machines may cost hundreds or thousands of pounds. I toner or set of inks could be in excess of £250 for some machines. Some toners and inks are low cost and tend to be over ordered and not used. From time to time printers and photocopiers are replaced or become redundant. These machines may still have a life and tone or ink, which would normally get treated as waste. The waste and WEEE process has a cost.

The logic:- If the “normal” is an audited fleet of “efficient and effective” printers and photocopiers in all offices and volume student areas, with low cost consumables supplies that easy to obtain through existing channels exist.

Then a virtual pool of unused, unwanted toners and inks can be set up as virtual community on a website to support current machines. People could post their unused resources to a list. If the offer is not taken after a period of time, then the resource may truly be redundant and suitable for donation or recycling.

A tangible pool of used and useable efficient and effective machines, are kept as a pooled resource, this keeps the machine replacement cost low and avoids new orders. Low cost toner or ink must be available and easy to obtain through existing channels. Users of this tangible pool can also access the virtual pool of unused, unwanted toners and inks.

“Efficient and effective” printers and photocopiers needs to be defined as this could be: can double side, Energy star, auto power down/off, still made, common with lots of low cost consumables, etc.

Post consumer recycled paper, ink and toner

On the 5th June 2009, World Environment Day, LSBU became the London Regional Centre of Excellence and the first European Capital City to join the UNESCO RCE network. http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/efs/conference/RCE_launch.shtml

To coincide with this event, LSBU switched to using 80% post consumer recycled paperin all office functions and 100% post consumer paper on our corporate stationery. The cost difference to move from virgin paper substrates to post-consumer substrates was neutral.

Prior to the 5th June 2009, we were blind-testing both papers with post consumer recycled content around the campuses. The outcome of the blind testing was there were no complaints on the quality of the paper and the paper worked will in all office machines (printers, fax, and photocopiers).

On the 5th June 2009, the announcement of the paper switch over, (and when we activated an auto switch paper function with Office Depot) some users were critical of using this new paper, but most welcomed the change as “Practicing what we teach”.

To celebrate the first year of the LSBU RCE and World Environment Day 2010, we are considering switching branded ink and toner with office depot own brand and remanufactured products, which we are currently doing some cost benefit work on.

JISC papers by Peter James and Lisa Hopkinson

Can I draw your attention to two excellent JISC papers by Peter James and Lisa Hopkinson.

They are on the Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement (HEEPI) Good Campus website http://www.goodcampus.org/files/index.php?siteID= , which I feel are relevant to our scope of JISC Greening ICT - Printing Efficiently & Greener and should be considered?

September 2009 - Sustainable ICT Procurement in Higher Education
27^th May 2009 - Energy Efficient Printing and Imaging in Further and Higher Education