It's common in every office to leave computers and copiers on for extended periods of time without using them. The equipment sitting idle consumes energy continuously, ultimately wasting a large portion of the energy. That wasted energy is a major contributor to air pollution.

ENERGY STAR® When purchasing computer equipment, copiers, fax machines, monitors, printers, scanners and other multifunction office equipment, look for systems with ENERGY STAR. These cost no more than their less efficient counterparts. They power down, or "go to sleep," when not in use to automatically reduce electrical usage by over 50 percent. Approximately 70 percent of the computer industry is participating in the ENERGY STAR program. Product scanners have improved in recent years. Soft power-down (9 watts in stand-by) and automatic power-up scanners (22 watts while scanning) are now available.

These features save energy and extend the life of the unit without affecting operations. The new scanners are easier and more comfortable to use because they simultaneously scan four sides of a product as it slides across the scanner, thus minimizing wrist movement.

If copy machines or computers are not being used for extended periods of time, such as during lunch breaks or meetings, then some or all of the equipment can be turned off. You can turn off your computer’s display monitor and printer while leaving the main computer CPU on without any adverse effects on the equipment. This typically saves up to 60 percent of the operating costs of the whole computer system. An equipment start-up/shut-down schedule is often the best way to accomplish this measure.

Equipment Requirements
Computer equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR is designed to power down automatically and use less energy when in the “sleep mode.” ENERGY STAR qualified copiers are equipped with an automatic shut-off feature that activates after long periods of inactivity. This feature can reduce annual electricity costs for copiers by 60 percent.

Fax machines that have earned the ENERGY STAR are equipped with a power-management feature that can reduce energy costs by 50 percent. Similar to the power down function, these fax machines reach a low-power state after a long period of inactivity.