Brain power

In a fast-paced, technologically advanced world, libraries are often regarded as facilities of antiquity, housing outdated materials gathering dust, but libraries are jumping into sustainable projects with new resources.

As part of the University of Nevada, Reno’s sustainable campus program, the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center and the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library are pushing for the reinstallation of a software called JuicePress, which, when installed on a large amount of computers, can help reduce carbon dioxide levels—and help organizations save a serious amount of cash on their power bills. JuicePress was installed on computers in both libraries back in 2009, but the project was short-lived when program slowed down computer processing speeds. Three years later, the software has been improved, and UNR plans to re-install it by June.

JuicePress works with another software called LabStats. Between the two, the software manages computer power use and compiles user information for librarians, including which programs are more often used and how patrons spend time on computers. This information can be used to cut back on unused computers or programs.

Essentially, JuicePress “puts computers to sleep when not in use,” according to Tod Colegrove, dean of the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library. Most computers already have options to stand-by or hibernate, but programs usually run in the background, and to start computers up again can often take 30 seconds or longer. JuicePress shuts down all running programs and wakes a computer up within three seconds when a patron needs to use it.

“Thirty seconds doesn’t seem that long, but when you’re stopping by in between classes to look something up, it makes a big difference,” said Colegrove.

With more than 400 computers in the Knowledge Center and DeLaMare, the energy savings are significant.

“Nearly a quarter of a million pounds of CO2 [carbon dioxide] can be saved per each 16-week semester, of which there are two a year,” Colegrove said. “But there are also the off season times where computers are still being used. The savings could be close to a million pounds of CO2 a year. It’s just astonishing.” A semester of energy savings equals around $15,000 in power bill savings.

The library staff also leaves computers off until a patron needs to use one, but Colegrove said it is difficult to ensure regular practice by the large student population. But communications specialist Angela Bakker said that although the librarians plan to outreach green goals with students, most of the eco-friendly practices are suggested by the students themselves, including a successful recycling program and a demand for more resources that can be shared amongst peers.

During the holidays, members of the Knowledge Center staff constructed a book tree made from encyclopedias, which encouraged students to reflect on the process of the consumption of resources. DataWorks lab manager Nick Crowl joked, “How many books does it take to make a tree?”

“We librarians don’t think of ourselves as ‘green,’” Colegrove said. “But we think of ourselves as not wasteful. I think librarians are naturally hoarders, in a sense, because we see the potential for reusing resources.”