| Whether you work out of your home or commute to | | | | 4. If you are shopping for a computer, consider |
| a job, here are somesteps to take that will save on | | | | purchasing a notebookcomputer instead of a desktop |
| energy costs. | | | | PC. A notebook computer uses one-tenththe energy |
| 1. When you aren't using your Personal Computer, laser | | | | of a desktop PC and can save from $40 $100 in |
| printer, orcopier machine, turn them off. Just turning this | | | | energy costper year, depending on usage. |
| equipment off at nightand on weekends can save you | | | | 5. Printers: Shopping for a printer? Consider the energy |
| up to $100 a year. Per Pacific Gas and | | | | costsassociated with each kind. There are basically |
| Electric Company (PG&E), turning computers on and | | | | three types of printersdot matrix, laser and ink jet. |
| off doesn't usuallyshorten their lives or create energy | | | | While lasers are the most popularbecause of their high |
| surges but it is best to leavethem on at least an hour | | | | quality, they draw an average of 80 to 100 wattsor |
| at a time. Per PG&E, it costs from 1 to 2cents per hour | | | | more when printing. Dot matrixes only use an average |
| to run a computer. That might not sound like a lot | | | | of 15-20 wattsand ink jets, the most energy efficient |
| ofmoney but for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the | | | | of all use only about 10 watts. |
| cost is $131 a year. | | | | 6. Copy Machine: If your copier doesn't come with |
| Many people have more than one computer in their | | | | "standby mode", |
| home as well asprinters or copiers. And commercial | | | | (which shuts them down partially using 70% less |
| offices are loaded with this typeof equipment. | | | | energy), considerturning it off as much as possible. |
| I personally have three computers and three printers. If | | | | Also, the faster your copy machine,the more energy is |
| I were toleave them all on 24/7, my annual electricity | | | | required per copy. |
| costs would be about $786 | | | | 7. Fax Machines: The cheapest way to fax |
| (based on 1.5 cents per hour). I can reduce that | | | | documents is through a faxmodem on your PC. You |
| number 85% by justturning off my equipment when it | | | | save on energy as well as the cost of a paper |
| is not in use. | | | | faxmachine. is a great place to get a free |
| 2. When you are working on a document try printing | | | | electronicfax account. You can receive faxes directly |
| as few drafts aspossible. Consider using the print | | | | into your computer and viewthem as an email |
| preview option and editing on thecomputer screen. | | | | message. |
| This will not only save you electricity but paper, inkand | | | | With the pending energy crunch, we can all do a little |
| toner as well. | | | | bit more toconserve. Imagine all the money that can be |
| 3. Use email as much as possible. Save paper and | | | | saved by adopting just afew of these energy ideas. |
| printing costs bytransferring information by modem or | | | | I know I'm going to try harder. How about you? |
| disk whenever possible. | | | | |
