E-Learning and Rising Fuel Cost

I am thinking with the cost of paper and publication rising due to the fuel price hike, it is sensible for educational institutions at all levels to implement some form of e-learning to reduce the use of paper products. One practical example would be omitting the need to print and submit printed assignments. I think this is the easiest task that can be implemented immediately because the technology is simple to use and does not require any steep learning curve. Even if the educational institutions do not have a learning management system or broadband connection, they could still use thumb drives which are very affordable nowadays. If we do not have Microsoft Office at home or at our workplace, we could always use Open Office and even Google Documents to write and submit the assignments. Educational institutions who do not have any servers to keep the assignments could invest in a few external hard drives and this would definitely be sufficient to store simple Word documents for many semesters if not years.