Computers

PCs comprise desktop as well as laptop computers. Laptops are especially designed to minimise energy consumption and maximise battery operation time.

The energy consumption of a PC, over its lifetime, is not significantly affected by factors such as frequent hard disk access or application type.

Activating the energy saving function in PCs is certainly recommendable as it interrupts the power supply of idle components only activating them when required. Several operating modes (on, standby, suspend, and off) help avoid unnecessary power consumption as well.

When buying a new PC pay particular attention to the energy requirements indicated by the manufacturer and consequently, give preference to energy saving appliances! These are often marked with a special label in order to enhance consumer recognition.

Power supply units of laptop computers should remain unplugged when not needed for recharging.

A PC should be switched off during longer breaks. Frequent switching on and off is unlikely to result in PC failure during its working life (due to rapid technological development a PC is usually replaced within 5 years).

Printers

Printers can roughly be subdivided into the following types:
- mechanical systems such as dot matrix-,
 daisy wheel-, and golf-ball printers,
- ink-jet printers,
- thermal printers,
- laser printers.

As a rule, laser printers print fastest, and have the highest energy consumption.

The element consuming the largest amount of energy within a laser printer is the heating drum for melting and pressing the toner on to the paper (approximately 50 - 70 % of the overall consumption).

High printing speeds require short heating periods and thus high temperatures, and consequently, high power.

The energy requirements for standby operation can be reduced considerably by allowing the heating drum to cool down.

This, however, extends the warm-up phase, and, accordingly, the time to reach operational status.

Check whether a number of employees can share one printer. Such a printer, used by several persons can automatically be adapted to the users’ working hours by means of a timer.

Paper production requires energy.

The economical use of paper thus also reduces energy consumption.

For drafts or personal copies the reverse side of printed paper may be used

The high printing quality and speed provided by laser printers are very rarely required. Drafts, rough copies as well as internal documents may well be printed on more energy efficient ink-jet printers.

Usually, printers are only in use for a short period of time, making it worthwhile to only turn them on when actually needed. Modern laser printers merely require approximately 30 seconds and 3 Wh of energy to reach ready-to-print status from initial power up.

The "toner out"- indicator lit on laser printers does not necessarily require the toner cartridge to be replaced immediately - spreading the toner by shaking the cartridge will extend printing time. Empty cartridges should be handed in for recycling.