Top 10 Ways to Save Energy and Reduce Waste With Your Office Copiers & Printers

Here are ten simple, effective ways you can save energy with the copiers and printers in your organization.

1. Reduce - Print what you need, when you need it. A print-on-demand document strategy reduces paper and electricity waste because you aren't producing extra copies for 'just in case' scenarios that may never come.
2. Re-use - Set your printer/MFP’s default to make two-sided (duplex) copies.
3. Recycle - Choose recycled papers and printers/MFPs that can print on them reliably.
4. Live long and prosper - Buy office equipment that has a proven record of durability so that replacement is required less often. Longer equipment life cycles help minimize e-waste in landfills.
5. Go to sleep - Copiers and printers are on all day but are only used for a small part of the day. Use the “stand-by” and “sleep” modes available on the device.
6. Print multi-up - Print PowerPoint presentations and other documents in 2-up or 4-up mode. This reduces paper and electricity.
7. Get the right size/type of device - An efficient low-volume MFP (less than 20 pages per minute) can use 70% less energy per page than a mid-volume MFP(20-44 pages per minute). For higher volume jobs, digital duplicators and high-speed inkjet printers print up to three times faster and use up to 95% less energy than mid-volume and high-volume toner-based MFPs.
8. Stay cool - Office equipment generates heat in work spaces, which then requires more power for cooling. Put printing devices in areas with natural ventilation and good airflow to reduce the need for air-conditioning. Consider RISO digital duplicators or high speed inkjet printers print color quickly and affordably, but don't produce heat.
9. Choose ENERGY STAR - Look for the ENERGY STAR logo when buying office equipment. The logo ensures that the device has automatic power-management features and uses energy more efficiently.
10. Learn - Visit this website to learn about a printing technology that reduces power consumption while also printing low-cost color at speeds of up to 150 pages per minute.