May 5, 2024
Go green with TeamViewer: fostering a sustainable school environment
Explore how schools can enhance education while reducing their ecological footprint with remote learning and IT solutions.
At all levels, education is a cornerstone of every society. It’s from academia that we get some of our foremost expertise, including new ways to take care of the environment.
But shouldn’t academic institutions also examine and improve their own impact on the environment? Imagine a university where learning flourishes alongside a thriving environment. In today's eco-conscious world, universities are actively seeking ways to lessen their ecological footprint. But how can you balance high-quality education and minimize environmental impact?
Many experts in ed tech and environmental sectors believe technology will play a critical role in helping schools go green. Since the onset of digitalization around 2000, paper waste decreased from 87.7 million tons to 67.4 million tons in 2018.
By embracing remote-friendly practices in learning, administration, and IT support, schools can contribute to a greener future, while fostering a more efficient and engaging learning experience. But what does this look like?
Typically, universities can reduce their carbon footprint in a few ways:
- Shifting to remote learning
- Fostering digital collaboration
- Empowering IT staff to fix problems remotely (classrooms, dorms, etc.)
Let’s explore each of these strategies in more detail, including the latest research and examples of real schools successfully using technology to reduce their environmental impact.
Reduce, reuse, reimagine: how remote learning saves the day (and the planet)
Traditional learning relies heavily on printed materials, i.e., textbooks, worksheets, and handouts. To reduce this reliance on printed materials and, in turn, help the environment, we need to move towards digital learning resources.
Teachers, for example, have more options than ever for creating and sharing online materials, conducting interactive presentations, and using cloud-based learning platforms. This not only enhances learning but also significantly reduces paper consumption.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Western Australia is a good example. Its IT team supports 31,000 students and more than 6,000 university devices. Thanks to a comprehensive remote connectivity solution, the university can provide remote IT support for the entire student body and staff, without significant increases to its IT headcount.
Fewer cars, more collaboration: streamlining administration with remote access
More remote options for support, collaboration, and learning means a reduced needs for cars. In an education sector in which reliance on combustion vehicles remains high, this can make all the difference.
Empower school administrators to work remotely for tasks like curriculum development, meeting with parents and colleagues, and accessing student data. This translates to fewer cars on the road, leading to a lower carbon footprint. A recent report found that remote work can reduce emissions by up to 58% compared to traditional office work.
Parents can also benefit by attending meetings and conferences remotely, saving time and fuel. All of which stands to significantly reduce emissions associated with educational environments worldwide.
The IT hero you never knew you needed: remote support for a sustainable future
Imagine technicians resolving computer issues in classrooms or labs without physically being present. Well, remote access programs make this a reality. IT staff can remotely access devices to diagnose and fix problems, including managing temperature control systems across campus. This eliminates unnecessary trips, saving time and resources while reducing emissions.
The benefits go beyond green
The advantages of remote connectivity extend beyond environmental impact. Remote access programs foster improved collaboration and communication. Teachers can share screens for real-time troubleshooting, while IT staff can provide remote training sessions—all leading to a more efficient learning environment. With remote technologies, students in rural areas can also quickly overcome technological barriers to access.
TeamViewer: a sustainable solution for schools
TeamViewer makes reducing your ecological footprint a reality. We offer a user-friendly interface, robust security features, and scalability to accommodate schools of all sizes. By embracing a remote-friendly approach, schools can:
- Reduce their carbon footprint: Less paper usage, minimized commuting, and efficient IT support all contribute to a greener environment.
- Boost collaboration and communication: Remote access fosters collaboration amongst educators, administrators, and technical staff.
- Enhance learning experiences: Digital resources and remote support create a dynamic learning environment.
- Optimize resource allocation: Reduced dependence on physical materials and streamlined IT support free up resources.
In 2022 alone, TeamViewer users avoided an estimated 41 million tons of CO₂ emissions. That volume of emissions is the same as approximately 42,000 round-trip flights from London to Tokyo in a Boeing 777-300ER, or about 10 times the emissions of Germany’s entire waste management sector.
Recently, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in British Columbia, Canada, invested in a greener future. By implementing remote solutions from TeamViewer, TRU was able to provide more options for its population of more than 28,000 students and 500+ staff. This meant:
- Enabling flexible, hybrid IT support for 13,000 on-campus students and 15,000 “Open Learning” remote enrollees
- Supporting a hybrid work model in which 150-200 staff members work two to three days a week at home
- Reducing carbon footprint by limiting the need for travel to and from campus for resolving IT issues
Take the first step towards sustainability
While we continue to make progress toward a greener future, there’s plenty of work left to do. Despite the availability of remote connectivity solutions, annual per capita miles driven has increased 9% since 1995.
Any steps educational institutions can take to reduce their carbon footprint will help. In the United States along, the educational sector is large, with 100,000 public K–12 schools occupying 2 million acres of land and producing 53,000 tons of food waste. Clearly, there’s a massive opportunity to cut these emissions with technology.
TeamViewer represents a simple yet impactful step towards environmental sustainability for schools. By adopting remote learning, administration, and IT support practices, schools can contribute to a greener future while fostering a more efficient and engaging learning experience for students.
Summary
With its remote connectivity solutions, TeamViewer is empowering schools all over the world to optimize their operations and embrace a more sustainable future. Through remote learning, administration, and IT support, schools can reduce paper usage, commutes, and travel for IT support. This fosters collaboration, enhances education, and reduces environmental impact. At the same time, remote technologies also open education to students in rural areas, meaning learning is something that works for all.