Imaging Equipment for Consumers

Imaging equipment includes copiers and fax machines; digital duplicators; printers, scanners and all-in-one devices; as well as mailing machines. The current ENERGY STAR specification for imaging equipment became effective on July 1, 2009.

Copiers and fax machines are the most energy-intensive type of office equipment because they are left on for long periods of time - in some case, 24 hours per day.

Digital duplicators employ the ink-on-paper process to copy documents. A "master" copy of a document is wrapped around a print cylinder, and then ink squeezes through the cylinder into tiny holes in the master onto a sheet of paper. Digital duplicators can use environmentally friendly and biodegradable master and inks, making them an alternative to copiers for high-volume printing.

ENERGY STAR printers, scanners, and all-in-one devices cost about the same as standard imaging equipment, but use less electricity. In fact, using ENERGY STAR qualified equipment that meets the new specification (e.g., computer, monitor, printer, and fax machine) in your home office can save you $115 over the life of the products.

ENERGY STAR qualified imaging equipment:

• Delivers the same performance as less efficient, conventional equipment. Models that meet the revised ENERGY STAR imaging equipment criteria will be more efficient and save users money over the lifetime of the product.
• Feature efficient designs that help equipment run cooler and last longer, so businesses that use these products may also save on air conditioning and maintenance.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution.

• If all businesses replaced their stock of imaging equipment with new units meeting these new ENERGY STAR requirements, Americans will save 3 billion kWh/yr (nearly 10% of current commercial imaging equipment consumption), that savings translates into $2.50 per 100 square foot of US office floor space.
• If all homes replaced their stock of imaging equipment with new units meeting these new ENERGY STAR requirements, Americans will save $130 million/yr, with an energy savings equivalent to lighting 650,000 US homes for one year.

In 2007, EPA revised and consolidated the four separate imaging equipment specifications (copiers and fax machines, digital duplicators, printers, scanners and multi-function devices and mailing machines) into a single specification addressing total energy consumption (TEC).

Learn How a Product Earns the Label

These FAQs represent the top ten related to Imaging Equipment and the ENERGY STAR program.