How to save paper and energy with your printer

When using printers, you have to be careful: there's even a risk, given the high cost of cartridges, that it's more convenient to replace the device rather than continue spending money on refills , a potentially wasteful device . It's a device with a high environmental impact, not only because of its energy consumption but also because of the waste of paper it causes . Not to mention that paper production requires cutting down trees and that ink and toner are highly polluting products.

Specifically, a typical printer can consume up to 63 kWh of energy per year , a figure that emits approximately 50 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere. And that's not all: only 8 percent of its energy consumption is used during printing, 49 percent is used when the printer is in standby, and the remaining 43 percent is required to turn it off. Many printers even consume energy when turned off, so it's essential to unplug them when they're not in use.

Then there are multifunction printers, those that combine a photocopier, scanner and often also a fax machine in a single device: in this case, energy consumption increases.

How to save money when purchasing

• To begin with, if you have to buy a printer, choose one that energy saving: will be able to reduce the consumption of energy Up to 95 percent faster than traditional printers. And choose the right font for your use. Latest-generation inkjet printers are particularly effective at reducing electricity waste. They perform less well than laser printers, but consume about half the power.
• Look not only at the initial price, but above all at the cost of ink/toner, consumption and maintenance.
• If you don't use your printer much, an inkjet printer is ideal, as it guarantees low consumption; if you use it frequently, a laser printer or one with a refillable tank is preferable, as they consume significantly less ink per page.

How to save with the card

How to save energy

• Remember to always turn off your printer when you're not using it; otherwise, you're simply wasting electricity: 49 percent of printer energy consumption occurs when they're not in use. It's not just about saving energy, but also your cartridges. The reason is simple: turning off your printer when you're not using it also better protects your cartridges. And so, they last longer.
• Activate power saving mode / sleep mode in the printer settings.
• Use a power strip with a switch to eliminate standby consumption.
• Check your document carefully before printing to avoid unnecessary printing: use the "Print Preview" option to see if the document layout is as desired so you can make any changes and then send it to print. The functions low quality e quick draft you could insert them by default, permanently for the times you print material.
• Whenever possible, use low-resolution printing. And in any case, avoid printing advertisements, unnecessary graphics, and images, especially from the web, which only generate costs and, therefore, waste, without any purpose.
• Whenever possible, print all your documents in a single session: this will prevent the printer from repeatedly heating up and consuming energy.
• For shared documents, use the commenting features of your text editing software instead of printing multiple versions.
• If you use a laser printer, be aware that the toner cartridge contains substances that are harmful if touched or inhaled. Therefore, always follow the instructions in the printer manual to understand how to insert or dispose of the cartridges correctly.
• Finally, remember that cartridges and toners are polluting products and must be disposed of properly. Therefore, check the instructions in your printer's manual and, if necessary, contact specialized companies that handle their disposal.

Read also:

• How to save on office and shop expenses
• Computers: Tricks to Consume Less Power
• Green printing: respect for the environment starts with paper.