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Even if your office relies heavily on its color printer, there are ways you can use it that will decrease your carbon footprint. If you’re interested in running a more eco-friendly enterprise, use the following tips. As an added bonus, they may even lower your operating expenses 

3 Eco-Friendly Tips for Using Color Printers

1. Choose an Efficient Model

Just like refrigerators, dryers, and other essential machines, printers are evaluated by ENERGY STAR® and certified for their efficiency. To narrow down your choices when shopping for a new model, only consider color printers that feature this label. Most printers also feature a per-page print cost estimation, which will tell you how much ink and toner they use on a regular basis. For businesses trying to go green, the lower this number, the better.

2. Reset Your Printer Settings

color printerIf you’re not on the market for a new machine, you can still make environmentally conscious changes to the way your office operates. To use less ink, print your office documents in thin typefaces, like Calibri and Cambria. You can also re-configure your machine to print in the lower-quality “draft” mode for casual in-office handouts, as well as in “black ink only” and “double-sided,” which will save on colored ink and paper.

3. Recycle Printer Waste

Eventually, your ink and toner supply will run out, leaving behind empty plastic cartridges. Instead of dumping them in the nearest trash can, recycle them, or reuse them to hold small objects like paper clips. You can also buy ink in bulk and refill the cartridges on your own. If you find paper that’s only been printed on a single side, pass it out to employees to use the blank side as scrap paper. Institute office-wide paper recycling. When it’s time to replace your outdated printer, contact its manufacturer – they may offer to buy it back or recycle it on your behalf. 

 

Looking for more help with maximizing the efficiency of your color printer? Laser Line of Jessup, MD, is standing by to help. As an HP® partner, they’re proud to sell top-quality products, as well as install them and provide basic supplies. They also offer managed print services for businesses looking to lighten their workload. For more information on their offerings, visit the website or call (410) 636-1700.

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