Many offices today are taking steps to create a more energy efficient workplace, from using multi-function devices to recycling old computers. Do your part to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help fight climate change with these smart ENERGY STAR tips and tricks.
1. Look for ENERGY STAR Certified Office Equipment
You’ll lower utility bills, save energy and help reduce global warming. ENERGY STAR qualified fax machines, printers and scanners are about 40% more energy efficient.
2. Power Your Savings
Computers that meet ENERGY STAR criteria use up to 65 percent less energy when power management is enabled.
3. Consider Using Multi-Function Devices
Talk about one for all: they use less energy than operating a separate fax machine, printer and scanner.
4. Plug All Your Office Equipment into Power Strips
This makes it easier to turn them all of when not in use. Better yet, purchase a smart power strip, which senses when a product is not in use and eliminates its standby power consumption. Why pay for power you’re not even using?
5. Avoid Being Plugged In
Unplug cell phones and laptops once they are charged, along with the battery chargers or power adapters.
6. Use Both Sides
Print on both sides of the paper to reduce paper costs and save the trees that purify our air.
7. Email Is Your Friend
Save even more on paper and energy by emailing information instead of printing multiple copies for everyone in the office.
8. Put to Rest Your Monitor's Screensaver
Let it switch to sleep mode or just turn it off when you're away from your computer. Oh, and turn on your monitor's power management feature while you're at it.
If it’s still in decent working condition, donate office equipment to schools or organization that may need it. Just make sure that when they’re done with it, they commit to responsible recycling through an e-Stewards Certified recycler.
Want to learn more about how to make your office greener? Take the EPA’s animated office tour for other ways you can save energy right from your own desk. Also visit Energystar.gov for more information.
