AffordabilityMore manufacturers are creating products to meet ENERGY STAR standards for energy efficiency and quality. Increased consumer demand also helps to reduce the costs relative to standard equipment. Cost savingsWhen considering the cost of new equipment, think about “lifetime cost.” If one item costs less, but the more expensive item will operate with one-third of the power cost, consider how much you’ll save on energy over the lifespan of the item. The lowest up-front price may not be the best buy, especially as energy costs rise over time. Environmental considerationsIn general, buying less of anything is a better environmental option than buying more. Reducing what you consume saves on manufacturing and transportation impacts all along the supply chain. When you do need to buy, choose items that are energy efficient; look for the ENERGY STAR label.
What you need to know- Each machine in your office increases your energy costs in three ways:
- when it is working and when it is sitting idle (but still drawing power)
- by operating primarily during peak daytime hours, when utilities charge a premium for higher demand
- by increasing heat in the office, driving up summertime cooling costs. (By some estimates, energy consumption by cooling systems may increase by as much as 40% to counteract the heat generated by office equipment.)
- Look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol on all your new office equipment. That symbol identifies the most energy efficient models. While saving energy, your equipment will run cooler which can make it last longer. The ENERGY STAR website has lists of manufacturers and models, along with energy consumption data. Read more about ENERGY STAR and office equipment.
- Ask if vendors have a take-back program for used equipment. When replacing equipment, seek refurbishing and recycling options for equipment that no longer meets your needs – recycling helps keep heavy metals and other toxic components out of the ecosystem and refurbishing helps provide equipment to schools and organizations with limited budgets. Office equipment should never be sent to landfill.
- Remember to couple energy-efficient machines with strategies to ensure equipment is shut off entirely when not needed, such as nights and weekends, or when activity is low. ENERGY STAR office machines include sleep modes and partial power shut-downs, but only shutting equipment off will yield maximum energy savings. Read more...
Computers
Monitors
Printers
Fax machines
Copiers and scanners
Bottled water coolers Computers Buy laptops instead of desktop computers. A typical laptop computer has a maximum power consumption of 15 watts and extensive power management capabilities. A typical desktop PC, with display, consumes about 10 times that or 150 watts, and has limited power management features. The potential energy savings from substituting PCs with portable laptops are large, up to 90% or more. When ordering computers, specify 80 PLUS power supply. That means your computer power supply is at least 80 % efficient or greater at various load thresholds and is power factor corrected. On average, an 80 PLUS certified power supply saves 88 kWh per year in a computer and 280 kWh per year in a server.
Monitors Printers Select a printer with power management capabilities – and make sure you use them. ENERGY STAR Printers with automatic “power down” or “sleep” features can reduce electricity use by over 65%. Purchase necessary equipment only and share printers wherever possible. Consider purchasing a combination printer/fax machine/copier, as using one machine instead of three will reduce energy usage and reduces the “embodied energy” – or total manufacturing energy consumed – represented by your office overall. Laser printers consume a great deal of energy. It costs less to buy an ink-jet printer and they are clearly the winners in terms of energy savings. Although they generally have lower print quality, recent advances in ink-jet technology have substantially improved print quality and speed. Ink-jet printer speeds are comparable to those of laser printers. However, they are not designed for high volumes and the cost of ink/toner cartridges may mean higher operating costs per page than for laser printers. Most colour ink-jet printers, because of the way they operate, are not significantly more efficient than colour laser printers.
Fax machines ENERGY STAR labeled fax machines have a power-management feature to cut their energy usage by almost 40%. Choose a plain paper fax machine instead of one that uses thermal paper. People often copy faxes received on thermal paper onto plain paper, increasing the energy demand of copiers and adding to paper costs. In addition, thermal paper costs about five times more per 8.5" x 11" sheet than plain paper. This price difference can more than make up for the increased cost of a plain paper fax machine in less than a year. Thermal paper is also not recyclable. Select a fax machine with power management capabilities. Fax machines are generally turned on 24 hours a day to receive incoming messages. However, they are actually in use for only about 5% of the total time they are turned on. Fax machines with power management features can reduce energy costs by almost 50%.
Copiers and scanners Choose a copier that is correctly sized. The amount of energy use of a copier is directly related to copy volume capacity. Choosing a copier that is properly sized for your needs will improve energy and cost savings. When your new copier arrives, be sure to switch on its energy-saving feature. Because copier speeds are tested with this feature off, copiers are often shipped with the energy-saving mode disabled. ENERGY STAR labelled scanners can cut electricity use by up to 50% and yet do not cost any more than standard scanners. Entering "sleep mode" when idle may also extend the life of the light source.
Bottled water coolers
FAQWho developed ENERGY STAR and how does the program work?
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. To qualify to carry the ENERGY STAR symbol, products must meet strict technical specifications designed to ensure that they are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Choosing an ENERGY STAR-labelled product over a conventional model can save hundreds of dollars in energy costs. In Canada, the Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada promotes the international ENERGY STAR symbol. What if my only option for an energy-efficient office machine is one that will cost significantly more?
Consider how long you expect the machine to operate before you next replace it and calculate how much less energy the efficient machine will use over that time frame than the cheaper model will use. You may be surprised to find that paying more up front will save you money in the long term – especially as energy costs go up. Use this “lifecycle cost” analysis for all purchases that impact your energy bills. How much more efficient are ENERGY STAR-labelled machines?
This depends on the type of equipment – computer, copier, fax, monitor. In general, ENERGY STAR office machines help save energy in two ways: they use less energy to perform regular tasks, and when not in use, they automatically enter a low-power mode. The savings can be significant – in the range of 40-65 % less energy used than conventional equivalents.
| |
|
