Volunteer Spotlight: Green All Around

Ricardo Rodriguiz, LAN Administration Manager and Director of Computing Support at the Population Studies Center, uses his work environment at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) as a laboratory for exploring and testing desktop technologies. Rodriguiz's role in creating best practices with the Desktop Technologies Team favorably links his career with his craving to conserve.

"The best practice process really operates in both directions," Rodriguiz said. "I use my ISR unit as a test environment, and then report feedback to the Desktop Technologies Team. We find what works and what doesn't, and establish desktop best practices for units like mine."

CSCI @ U-M offers these best practices as resources for students, staff, and information technology (IT) professionals. Rodriguiz suggested a few simple ways to cut down on wasted energy at home or in the office: use computer sleep settings, reconsider printing, and purchase "smart" power strips. Even bite-sized tips require "working behind the scenes," Rodriguiz said. He was also quick to point out there is "no real correlation between age, experience, and best practice implementation." Going green isn’t always easy, which is why CSCI @ U-M and volunteers like Rodriguiz step in.

Best practice development demands a constant dialogue on everything, from work patterns to software updates. Rodriguiz cites the experience and communication within his team as vital in determining best practices. The Desktop Technologies Team combines feedback, research, and experiments to find the most effective energy-saving practices. The last step is to make recommendations to campus.

"We want to sell the development of best practices as a collaborative effort," said Rodriguiz, who hopes the University will continue to spread awareness of green computing. "We are constantly looking for new technological opportunities, and always open to new solutions. We want to help people form new computing habits."