Most office equipment consumes most of its total energy when on standby or idling. Select equipment with the lowest standby power consumption. Use the double-sided copying capability of photocopiers and printers to cut paper consumption. Copiers and printers should be designed to use recycled paper without voiding the warranty. Seek such copiers and printers when purchasing.
Some printers have refillable ink or toner cartridges and long-life components.
Check for these features when purchasing. Action Operate equipment efficiently Issues Modern computers are designed to be switched off when not in use. Indeed, switching off is likely to prolong their lives, as the hard disk is less likely to fail if it runs for shorter periods. Sleep modes on 'Energy Star' equipment should be set up and checked regularly to ensure they are operating correctly. Double-sided copying saves paper and reduces the indirect energy consumed in production of paper.