While this option is clearly the quickest solution, it can be difficult to maintain. Tests show that even when encouraged to turn their equipment off, people eventually tend to revert to leaving it on. Right now, companies are working to devise more energy-efficient equipment. It uses a new chip that is more powerful, faster and much more energy- efficient than other chips now being used. Monitors represent a much more difficult choice.
Monochrome monitors are the most frugal option.
They consume on average up to 65 per cent less than an average colour monitor. However, the current trend is to use larger colour desktop monitors. Since power demand rises with colour, size and resolution, other power- saving strategies are needed. However, energy consumption patterns show that dot matrix and ink jet printers use substantially less power - up to 75 per cent less, than conventional laser printers with similar print speeds. Printers with energy-saver features can also be purchased, and some new laser printers, soon to appear on the market, will use significantly less power than current models.