At a university as large as the University of Rochester, there is a lot going on. Ideas, information, and knowledge are shared at astounding rates- traditionally via paper. However, as we continued to develop new technology, there are an increasing number of ways to reduce our paper consumption, which in turn saves trees.
- Limit the amount of printing that you do. Most documents can be emailed, faxed, or posted online (such as Blackboard). This also saves time and money that would otherwise would be spent on printing. Electronic correspondence also saves ink, which has a high carbon footprint.
- Use electronic books. Most textbooks, novels, and magazines can now be found online, via an e-book, or via your local library. Usually e-files are cheaper than hard copies. They are also available instantly so you don’t have to wait for them to be delivered!
- Electronic documents are easily accessible from almost any device. Almost anything can be uploaded into online drives like Google Drive, DropBox, IBooks, etc. You can switch devices and still have access to almost all your documents. You are also much less likely to lose an electronic document than a piece of paper.
Written by Alyssa Lemire, Class of 2017
Reducing paper usage can help save you money in the long run and will also save the environment. Always think before printing whether you really need to print it. If it’s really important you can always print it double sided. You can always minimize your use of paper by re-using one sided paper for sketches or rough work. At home you can always use cloth napkins or handkerchief instead of paper towels/ Kleenex.