When you’re running a business, every expense matters, from the big expenses like the cost of the building you’re in, to the little ones like office supplies. If you’re looking to reduce your business costs, it’s important to not just look at those big expenses, but the little ones as well, such as how much you’re spending to operate your printer on a yearly basis. If you feel like you’re spending way more on toner or ink than you should, or that your printer is using up a lot more energy than it ought to, it might be time to order an office printer in Fairbanks, AK, to replace it. How can you find a printer that will cut your printing costs without having to settle for low-quality prints? Keep reading to find out.
Finding an Energy-Efficient Copier
Efficiency in energy usage is one of the first things you should look for when trying to find a printer that will cut your overhead costs. Finding one of these is fairly simple, as they will usually have an Energy Star certification. Energy Star-certified copiers meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These models use significantly less power than non-certified models without sacrificing on quality and performance.
You can also look for a printer with an automatic power management feature. This should include functions like automatic power-saving modes that shut down or enter sleep mode when the machine is idle for a certain amount of time. If you’re worried about having to wait for the printer to “wake up” again when you’re ready to print, you don’t need to be; many of these printers also have the ability to power back up instantly when they’re needed, so there’s no disruption to your workflow.
Finding a Toner-Efficient Copier
Next, you should look at how efficient the copier is with its toner or ink usage. Newer copier models use ink and toner much more efficiently than older models. This means you’ll need to replace your cartridges a lot less often, reducing your overall printing costs. Some copiers even come equipped with refillable “tanks,” which can further reduce the amount you pay in printing supplies over time.
Finding a Paper-Efficient Copier
But what about the amount of paper you’re using? While reducing the amount you spend on copier paper depends a lot on your printing and copying habits, there is one specific feature you can look for that might help in this regard: duplex printing and copying. This is also referred to as “double-sided” printing, which, as the name implies, means that the document is printed or copied onto both sides of the paper. This immediately cuts your paper usage in half, so ensuring that your office copier is capable of this function can be a big money-saver when it comes to your print supplies.
Why Worry about an Efficient Copier?
Why should you be concerned about finding a copier that meets these criteria? How big of a difference could it actually make? The truth is, your office probably uses the copier a lot more than you might think, and those pieces of machinery take a pretty significant amount of power to operate, especially if they’re running continuously throughout the day. Opting for a more efficient model can provide your business with many benefits. Here are just a few of them:
Reduced Electricity Costs: Energy-efficient copiers use less power not only when they’re actively working, but also when they’re in standby mode. Given the high energy rates most businesses are facing right now, you can see substantial savings over time by choosing a model with low power consumption and energy-saving features.
Lower Environmental Impact: Businesses and consumers alike have become more concerned about taking simple steps to protect the environment. (In fact, many consumers prefer to work with companies that are making an effort to operate in a “greener” way.) Reducing your printer’s energy use helps decrease the overall carbon footprint of your business.
Improved Reliability: Many energy-efficient copiers are designed with better thermal management to help with power-saving efforts. But that feature comes with the added benefit of reducing the wear and tear on the internal components on the machine, which leads to longer-lasting equipment and fewer breakdowns.
Decreased Costs: Finally, and perhaps most obviously, when your office copier is efficient in its use of energy, ink, and paper, your business’s costs decrease in all of those areas. You’ll pay less for your regular printing supplies, and even see a dip in your company’s electricity bills.
Other Tips for Improving Efficiency
Want to make your office copier even more efficient? The printing habits of everyone in your office can help to save your company even more on print costs, and a few simple adjustments can make a big difference. Start by optimizing your print settings, adjusting the print quality, paper type, and duplex printing settings to reduce toner, paper, and power consumption.
You can also encourage your employees to avoid printing whenever possible, instead opting for digital copies of documents and contracts when it’s feasible to use them. While very few offices are capable of going completely paperless, reducing the need to print documents by encouraging paperless workflows whenever possible makes a big difference.
Finally, be sure to maintain your copier regularly, and turn it off when it’s not in use. This can help your copier continue to run efficiently, preventing future issues that may lead to excessive energy consumption and wasted print supplies.
Contact Arctic Office Products to Find an Efficient Printer
Are you ready to find an energy-efficient copier to reduce your printing costs and protect the environment? Call or stop by Arctic Office Products today, and we’ll help you find the best office copier in Fairbanks, AK, for your business’s needs.
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