A typical desktop PC, with display, consumes about 10 times that or 150 watts, and has limited power management features. Printers Turn printers off when not in use. This tip bears repeating. Printers are typically left on for extended periods of time but are active only for only a small percentage. This means conventional printers can waste a significant amount of energy.
Laser printers consume a great deal of energy.
While ink-jet printers are clearly the winners in terms of energy savings, they generally have lower print quality. Recent advances in ink-jet technology, however, have substantially improved print quality and speed. Ink-jet printer speeds are comparable to laser printers. It is important to point out that color ink-jet printers, because of the way they operate, are not significantly more efficient than color laser printers. Select a printer with power management capabilities.