Printers, Copiers, and Environment

For offices that are working to reduce their carbon footprint, new printers and photocopiers may make the most impact. According to the Environment Protection Agency, printers and copiers can represent up to 70% of an office�s total energy usage and, depending on the printing speed, may use an equivalent amount of energy as 20 desktop computers. In addition to the energy consumed, overuse of copiers and printers is another common source of waste in an office. Since saving energy, paper and ink also saves cost, there is no reason to delay investment in new office equipment. 

Most photocopier and printer boxes are labeled with data on the amount of energy they require to run. Take care to look for those that are marked with the Energy Star label or those with lower than average rates of energy consumption. Newer copiers take less time to warm up, so consider leaving them on only during peak print usage times in the office, saving on the cost of powering them while idle. Always be sure to turn photocopiers off at the end of the day to maximize energy savings.

Utilizing the double sided printing function when possible is a great way to save paper that requires very little adjustment in habits. Most new photocopiers and printers offer this function, but you should check to make sure it is available on any model that you are considering. Through double sided printing alone, the paper budget will fall significantly, saving money and boosting office sustainability efforts.

Encourage employees to print only essential documents. Each copy printed has a cost in paper, ink and energy. Monitoring printer usage and establishing new office guidelines will bolster the savings seen with your new environmentally friendly photocopier.