Since budget cuts are affecting departments university-wide, we'd like to share some ideas for saving money that will not only benefit your pocketbook but in most cases, will help reduce waste in your area and lessen your carbon footprint. The extra savings will also allow your department to buy 23 gallon and seven gallon recycling bins if it hasn't already done so.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of suggestions so we encourage you to brainstorm with your co-workers about ways you can cut costs. Although lots of departments have found creative ways to streamline their budget and reduce their waste, most of the examples provided below pertain to Grounds Services because the ASU Recycling Coordinator is housed within Grounds. Therefore, the Recycling Coordinator knows more about their day-to-day operations.
Ways to save your department money!
Communications
Consider looking at money being spent on cell phones, fax machines, phone lines, etc. Grounds Services now saves over $2,000 every year because of steps they took almost two years ago to cut costs which included: the removal of five desk phones and cancellation of several cell phones, at least 20 pagers, and about 10 text pagers. Four of the desk phones cost $33 a month while the other desk phone cost $37. The cell phones were at least $39 a month although plans varied, while the pagers were $4.30 per month and the text pagers were $8.62 per month. Not even factoring in cell phones and pagers, Grounds Services now saves $2,028 yearly just from the elimination of five desk phones.
Whenever possible, go paperless. Send meeting minutes over email instead of printing them and don't print emails unless absolutely necessary.
When printing, go to properties and under print quality, select the draft version whenever possible because it uses less ink.
Print on paper that has already been used on one side. One-sided paper too worn to be printed on again? Turn it into scrap paper.
Print double-sided copies.
Reuse paper clips, file folders, rubber bands, etc.
Transportation
Look at your transportation costs. If you're using a vehicle to simply get yourself from point A to point B on campus, consider purchasing a bike. Many Grounds Services and Recycling staff members ride mountain bikes or three wheeled bikes with a large basket in the back and this not only saves us money, but reduces our carbon footprint and burns some calories.
Depending on how much you transport you may be able to downsize your vehicle. Going from a small truck to a golf cart with storage space in the back is just one option.
Know of other departments attending the same conference? Grab the most energy efficient ASU vehicle you can and carpool or better yet, take light rail! If you're going to another campus, hop on one of the buses or use the light rail if you're going to the Phoenix campus.
Other Ways to Save Money!
Look for grant opportunities to purchase items for your department. Grounds Services has received over $100,000 in grant money over the last two years.
Interns, work studies and volunteers are a great way to get much needed help without hiring additional folks. Grounds Services logged over 1,800 volunteer service hours in 2008 alone! ASU Recycling and on-campus student groups dedicated to recycling and sustainability have logged dozens of hours as well.
Consider sharing copy machines, shredders, and other supplies with departments across campus. The Theater Department is actually sharing their sets with other community theaters and many departments already frequently share their vehicles with one another.
Ways to save ASU money!
Recycle, recycle, recycle! Recycling at ASU actually saves the university money and serves as a major cost avoidance tool. If we didn't come up with a more efficient recycling program, our landfill costs would have risen to about $100 a ton. Due to the new recycling program and the addition of 21 compactors (which hold significantly more than front load or open top dumpsters), our landfill fees are just under $70 a ton. Recycling costs just under $50 a ton and we get paid $80 a ton for cardboard, although payment for cardboard is less than $80 right now because of the current economic situation. So for each ton of commingled recyclable materials we keep out of the landfill, the university saves $20! If we recycle our corrugated cardboard boxes, we can turn a $70 charge into an $80 profit (again, once the market picks back up) for ASU which in turn helps pay off the new compactors.
Recycling toner cartridges, scrap metal, pallets, DVDs, CDs, floppy disks, microfiche, etc. also turn a small profit for ASU Recycling. And even more important than recycling, is reducing our consumption and reusing items whenever possible. The 3 R's are definitely the way to go!
Turn off your computer when you go to meetings, lunch or leave for the day. When you're away from your computer for shorter intervals, turn off your monitor as this uses the most amount of energy on your computer.
Purchase laptops whenever possible as they use less energy than desktop computers.
When you leave a room, turn off the lights as well as printers, paper shredders and other appliances.
