I want to personally thank and congratulate those of you who are participating in our Digital Storage Spring Cleaning Challenge—now through Friday, April 21. The Challenge, part of the 2040 Now Climate Pledge, is an important step in reducing climate emissions by promoting practices that will make the technology we use, and how we use it, more sustainable.
As I have shared, and it warrants repeating, that while you may believe that the unnecessary folders and files in your Google Drive make little difference in CO2 levels—little isn’t nothing, particularly when we all come together to do our part. Maybe there’s a dusty IT Wikis space you haven’t touched since 2012 that can be deleted, drafts and duplicate documents you no longer need, emails from companies that generate noise in your inbox (hit unsubscribe!), etc.
Another way to look at sustainability is the sustainability of our University. Unlimited free storage is going away and we, like all other universities will have to pay for our online storage. (It was nice while it lasted.) Removing unneeded files will save NYU money, which can be spent more strategically.
Helpful tips
- Here’s how to get started
- Focus on large files first, which can include videos and photos
- Remember to note your current storage for services, when possible, so you are able to measure your success. Google makes it easy to find your current storage levels for Drive, Email, and Photos
- Tip: NYU Drive (Google) has two locations for shared files and folders: “My Drive” and “Shared drives.” Ignore Shared drives for now. A University-wide process for deleting them when needed is being developed and will be communicated at a later date
- Before you delete anything, be sure to follow any NYU business policies that apply to you
- For questions or feedback, please email it-sustainability@nyu.edu
NYU IT Department staff will be participating in a Sprint this afternoon, Tuesday, April 18 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm ET, to work with their teams to discuss best practices, address shared content, and encourage each other to delete storage across an array of services. Please submit your successes by this Friday using this form.
I encourage schools and units to participate in their own sprints, and share awareness content via our tool kit.
Celebrating NYU Founders Day
As all of NYU pitches in on 2040 Now, I also want to take a moment to recognize NYU Founders Day. On April 18, 1831, NYU opened its doors for the first time and began a journey of growth and innovation that has continued to this day. As members of the IT staff, we are an integral part of this legacy, and as we celebrate our 192nd anniversary, let us take a moment to reflect on the importance of the work we do, and the impact it has on the NYU community and beyond.
Thank you for your dedication and hard work, and here’s to many more years of success and growth for NYU.