How to reduce the energy consumption of your printer

Whether most of your printing takes place in the home or the office, it is important to take energy consumption into account.

Reducing your printer’s energy consumption not only benefits the environment, but also cuts electricity bills and toner cartridge expenses.

Here are some simple steps to reduce the energy consumption of your printer.

Step 1 – Calculate current consumption

Before you can proceed to reduce energy consumption, you need to know how much energy your printer currently consumes.

There are various calculators available online to help you estimate your energy consumption.

Step 2 – Devise a solution

Now that you know the energy consumption of your printer, you can start a process of elimination to reduce it. If you have more than one printer in your office, you should start this process by considering the printer with the highest consumption.

Firstly, you need to make sure the software on your printer is completely up-to-date. Out of date software can drive up energy consumption, however it is easily fixed. If your printers are all up-to-date, consider the usage patterns of each printer. This is especially relevant when there is a network of printers. Is the main printer consuming more energy because it is being used more, or because it is a less efficient machine?

Examine your printer settings. Check that sleep/wake technologies are available and ensure you are using them to their full potential. Activating these options can lead to massive savings, so if they are not already built in, it is worth exploring whether a third-party app could deliver the same results.

Step 3 – Consider replacement

If you still experience high energy consumption after checking and updating your printer, you may find your printer is simply more expensive to run because it is an older model.

If you are considering replacing your printer, be sure to shop for an energy efficient model.

You need to look at the energy consumption of printers across all modes: printing, standby and sleep.

It’s also prudent to consider the printing technology of your prospective purchase. For example, if your printer has more energy efficient ink and toner technologies, you may reduce your long term costs across numerous areas.

TonerInk is a Sydney based online store supplying quality, energy efficient printers and printing consumables including a wide range of ink and toner cartridges.  Consult our friendly team for helpful tips on energy efficient printing on 1300 738 194.