From smart phones to online tools like YouTube and Facebook, modern technology has radically altered how we learn and share knowledge across our academic, professional and personal lives. In many ways this monumental transformation began right here at Iowa State, where John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry completed the development of the world's first electronic digital computer in 1942. Information Technology Services (ITS) now carries on that tradition by providing technology and support to our campus in all areas of education, research, outreach, administration, student life and creative exploration.

As one of the nation's leading research institutions, Iowa State has a high need for data growth, cyber security and technological capacity, which results in a vast consumption of energy and resources. To find sustainable solutions to these ongoing challenges, ITS has partnered with Live Green! to reduce energy use and eliminate waste across campus. Successful green initiatives include implementing mandatory sleep settings on computers, purchasing efficient ENERGY STAR equipment and collaborating with Student Government to standardize printing rates. In doing so, ITS leverages the knowledge it gains from users to predict future problems and produce proactive strategies that not only save energy and resources but also time and money.

And remember — you too play a key role in making technology use at Iowa State more sustainable. Check out our Live Green! Tips for great ways to increase energy efficiency in your own life.

See the dropdowns below to see how Technology Services is making an impact within each of the three facets of sustainability. Contact Technology Services via email at solution@iastate.edu.

  • Information Technology Services (ITS) uses virtual servers to reduce the space needed for physical servers. This is cost- and resource-effective, as Iowa State can house 50 virtual servers on one physical server and not need to use space, money or energy on physical hardware in multiple spaces.
  • IT works with ISU Procurement to ensure the purchases of the highest energy standard energy-efficient technology, including ENERGY STAR equipment. Most equipment purchased is also certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), a ranking system that helps purchasers evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes.
  • All desktops and laptops are set to "sleep" mode when not in use and utilize automatic power up/down based on the needs of users and spaces they occupy.
  • Through supporting a robust infrastructure for telecommunicating and virtual meetings, ITS assists in the reduction of the university's transportation costs, as well as travel time.

  • Information Technology Services (ITS) has decreased in infrastructure. Starting six years ago and nearing completion, department servers have been moved to one, campus-wide storage location. At this centralized location, ITS also uses an "enterprise storage array" that ensures all data receive common data management, sharing, protection and more.
  • ITS is currently transferring all of Iowa State's data storage to a petabyte. A petabyte is equal to 1,024 terabytes, which is the current storage size being used.
  • CyBox, a cloud-based service, reduces Iowa State's on-campus footprint by allowing users to share a multitude of documents without needing to print paper.
  • ITS worked with Student Government and the ISU Vice President to standardize printing rates in August of 2016. Standardized rates encourage reduction, exemplified by Iowa State having reduced the amount of printing on campus by one million sheets of paper since the onset of the standardization.
  • Through supporting a robust infrastructure for telecommunicating and virtual meetings, ITS assists in the reduction of the university's green gas emissions from transportation.

  • Information Technology Services (ITS) determines and closely monitors the life cycle of its technology. Desktops and laptops have "two lives" that spans about seven years -- one life is with ITS, and the other is with a new owner somewhere on campus. After both of these lives, desktops and laptops go to ISU Surplus to be sold to Ames community members and businesses.
  • High-performance computing allows the rental of time and space on the cluster.
  • ITS makes a point to proactively focus on educating the public about passwords, cyber security, phishing scams, etc. in response to 135,000 data threats received, on average, each day at Iowa State.
  • ITS is currently tracking student problems from the Solution Center to "leverage knowledge from the student body" and is using this data to track trends to predict future problems and solutions. 
  • A "technology success community," which will act as a forum where students, faculty and staff can post technology questions and answers, is currently in the works at Iowa State.

A lot has been gained through the use of technology and partnerships focused on effectiveness and efficiency. By collaborating, talking and working collectively across campus, we ensure that we build the best solutions possible for the entire Iowa State community.

Michael Lohrbach, IT Services Systems & Operations Director