ENERGY EFFICIENT PRINTERS
resellers overcome hurdles posed by end users. “Many manufacturers, including Konica Minolta, turn to the ENERGY STAR certification program to ‘certify’ that equipment meets specific energy efficiency guidelines and standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency,” he says. “To earn ENERGY STAR certification, a printer must meet certain requirements related to energy consumption during various modes of operation, such as printing, standby and idle times. ENERGY STAR- certified printers must also meet additional criteria related to other environmental factors, such as reducing paper waste and using environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes. By purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified printers, consumers and businesses can save energy and have confidence that standards are being met.” Phillip adds that resellers should emphasise exactly what energy saving features are available and what that typically looks like when the device is being used, in Low Power Mode or Sleep Mode. “Manufacturers have their part of play in this too, by providing resellers with all the information they need to give end users accurate details,” he says. “Every device should have an Environmental Data Sheet that not only shows the power consumption in different modes, but also sound emissions and other environmental considerations.” Peter Dresser, product marketing manager – Ecosys at Kyocera Document Solutions UK, adds that when highlighting energy efficiency as a key differentiator, resellers must look at the power usage specification of the printer or MFP. “But not every device can be the most energy efficient product especially when considering a range of products for a larger MPS installation,” he says. “Then resellers need to look a little deeper than just a product, they should consider the corporate social responsibility commitment of the supplier.” Increasing efficiency The trend among manufacturers is that printers will become increasingly energy efficient in the future, Peter adds. “As the efficiency of electronic components improves the efficiency of the device will improve,” he says. “I do feel that manufacturers will eventually reach the limitations of the technology and the improvements that can be made in energy efficiency will level out,” he adds. “What will the future hold? We may see the biggest energy savings realised in
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To earn ENERGY STAR certification, a printer must meet certain requirements related to energy consumption during various modes of operation, such as printing, standby, and idle times.
unavoidable emissions. “This is achieved through a three-step process to analyse, optimise and neutralise carbon emissions. First, we look to analyse their current carbon emissions to determine the annual emissions of their printing activity. We then help businesses minimise energy consumption, suggest ways to reduce print waste and review recycling practices, before finally neutralising the remaining emissions generated by Ricoh production printing systems with Certified Emission Reductions. These come from official clean energy projects that fall under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that we invest in.” Emphasising credentials While printers now have many energy efficiency features, there are certain aspects that resellers should look to highlight to customers, whether they are standalone sales or as part of a managed print service (MSP) package, Angie says. “When it comes to selling energy efficient printers, resellers should be emphasising their ESG and SDG credentials to customers. We’re at a stage where walking the walk and talking the talk are not just valued but expected by consumers. As such, many customers are looking to work with a partner whose principles are based on ESG Goals and who has the drive to continually updated and provide sustainable products built into their DNA.” Phillip adds that industry standards play a vital role for manufacturers and can help
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Angie Heather senior product marketing manager
ricoh.co.uk
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