ENERGY STAR Focus on Energy Efficiency in Printing

The “printing focus” is a partnership between EPA’s ENERGY STAR program and the printing companies to improve energy efficiency within their operations. Tools are available here to help improve manufacturing energy efficiency, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

High speed web offset printing, photo courtesy of BPC
High speed web offset printing, photo courtesy of BPC

Printers can get started on a path of saving energy by using the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management to build an energy management program, and then work within this printing focus to learn best practices from the industry. If you are a printer who wants to get involved in your industry’s efforts to save energy, contact energystrategy@energystar.gov.

Plant energy performance indicator (EPI) tool

A plant energy performance indicator (EPI) for lithographic printing was drafted but needs industry to test it and provide feedback on its performance.  If completed, the EPI will enable printers to assess how efficiently a plant uses energy, relative to similar plants in the U.S. The EPI will provide a plant a 1 - 100 ENERGY STAR score for a quick understanding of how the plant is performing and for informing goal setting. Plants receiving a score of 75 or higher may be eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification.

For further information on the EPI, contact Gale Boyd, Duke University at gab7@econ.duke.edu.