DL Courses Consume 90% Less Energy

I remember years ago when most DL programs were mere infants, talking about how much gas and miles were saved by students/instructors not having to drive to class. Back in the glory days of the late 90s, this notion was interesting but was only seen as a little extra bonus. Of course, these days everybody is good bit more serious about gas prices and energy than they were 10 or 12 years ago. Today Business Wire India reports that online education is perhaps the "most effective way an institution can reduce its carbon footprint." They site a UK Open University study that found that DL courses consume 90% less energy and 85% less CO2 than do traditional courses. I truly think we'll see a greater emphasis on the green element of online learning - from conference presentations to more research to inclusion in marketing materials.