| 1. Do Your Home-work: | | | | Always examine the graphic display carefully and only |
| Make sure you are fully aware of your existing | | | | press the green button when you’re confident of |
| device’s functionality. Relatively new copiers often | | | | the result. In fact, it is worth familiarising yourself with |
| incorporate scanning, printing as well as faxing and can | | | | the machine’s on-board menu before you actually |
| be internet connected too. So, your existing | | | | need copies. This way, you’re in no rush to find the |
| photocopiers may do much more than you think, and it | | | | function you require or at risk of frantically making |
| will be easy to work out whether you’ll be able to | | | | unnecessary copies. |
| save, once you’re completely au fait with its | | | | 7. Know Thy Document Handler: |
| capabilities. If your copier doesn’t possess all those | | | | It may sound elementary, but when placing your |
| attributes, if you’re buying again, it might be more | | | | document in the document handler, ensure it is the |
| cost effective as well energy efficient for you to opt | | | | correct way up. You’ll always know, as |
| for a multifunctional device. When used correctly, | | | | somewhere closely in view, will be a relief image of a |
| multifunctional printers (MFP’s) can save on the | | | | typical document, clearly indicating which side should be |
| amount of copies and prints that your company | | | | facing up and which down. |
| makes and will often cost less in terms of both the | | | | 8. Energy Credentials: |
| finances and energy consumption than if you were to | | | | When buying a new copier, printer, scanner of |
| run several single function devices separately. | | | | multifunction printer (MFP), be sure to check your |
| 2. Make Everyone Aware: | | | | product’s environmental credentials. Various |
| It’s amazing how quickly people get into bad habits. | | | | organisations, such as Energy Star, based in the US, |
| Making sure that everyone in the workplace only uses | | | | set out very specific and rigorous criteria, to ensure |
| your printers and copiers when necessary is very | | | | only the most efficient machines bare its logo. At any |
| important indeed. Even at first glance around most | | | | one time, no more than fifty percent of products in any |
| companies, you will find far more paper goes to waste | | | | particular appliance market should have Energy Star |
| than is necessary, often simply because people have | | | | accreditation, so you can be confident, both that |
| formed bad habits. For instance, copies of a document | | | | standards are high and continually rising. |
| may be made when it could just as easily be scanned | | | | 9. Consult a Document Management Specialist: |
| in and emailed around to colleagues. Engaging your | | | | A whole industry has grown up around copiers, |
| staff to think whenever paper is consumed is | | | | scanners and multifunction printers, offering document |
| absolutely essential and can make a substantial | | | | management solutions that are cost effective and as |
| difference both in terms of energy and financial costs. | | | | energy efficient as possible. Software packages are |
| 3. Switching Copiers ‘Off’: | | | | available that monitor staff print/copy usage, so you |
| Everybody in the office should make sure to check | | | | can determine where in your company, resource and |
| that all copiers and any other non-essential machines | | | | energy may be being wasted. Other applications allow |
| are turned off before leaving the office. A number of | | | | you to configure copiers and MFP’s to work in the |
| copiers automatically switch into standby mode, so | | | | most efficient way, so machines aren’t mislocated |
| energy can be saved this way even during the | | | | or misused. |
| working day, potentially reducing your energy bills | | | | 10. Recycle: |
| significantly as well. It makes a great deal of sense to | | | | One of the best ways for workplaces to limit their |
| delegate this responsibility too, so that someone is | | | | environmental impact and save energy is to recycle. |
| ultimately accountable if machines are found left on | | | | Providing simple and convenient waste paper disposal |
| overnight. | | | | arrangements makes recycling your unwanted waste |
| 4. Use Duplex… Default: | | | | paper quick and easy. As a general rule, keep large |
| Select a copier’s duplex function for double sided | | | | waste paper bins right by your copiers - large so they |
| printing. This should in fact be set to default, which will | | | | don’t fill up so quickly and close, so the lure of |
| greatly reduce the amount of paper that is consumed | | | | nearby general waste bins is never that strong. And |
| and also lower your office costs. | | | | ensure your company disposes of its other |
| 5. Only Use What You Need: | | | | consumables in the correct way. Most printer cartridge |
| Always opt for the copier/printer that is good enough | | | | manufacturers will provide instructions for disposal, |
| for the job. For instance, don’t copy or print with a | | | | which will usually involve simple repackaging and |
| much larger colour/gloss paper MFD when a smaller, | | | | labelling to be sent away for recycling. This way the |
| simpler black and white, matte paper machine would | | | | environmental and energy impact of your copying is |
| suffice. | | | | kept to an absolute minimum. |
| 6. Check the Display Before You Print: | | | | |
