Podcast Script — Imaging Equipment

October 25, 2007

Narrator: Welcome to the ENERGY STAR Training Center's Imaging Equipment Podcast. Here, you'll learn what the ENERGY STAR means, what qualifies imaging equipment for the ENERGY STAR, and how to share the benefits of ENERGY STAR with your customers.

First, let me explain what ENERGY STAR is.

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps customers identify products and practices that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

The ENERGY STAR appears on a wide variety of products, including appliances, lighting, electronics, and home office equipment.

Products that earn the ENERGY STAR run more efficiently, so they use less electricity. Using less electricity means lower utility bills, which saves you money.

But using less electricity can also help the environment. In order to generate electricity, fossil fuels like coal are burned. This releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. When we use less electricity, we burn less coal, release fewer emissions, and help prevent global warming.

So, ENERGY STAR products help customers save money and help protect the environment.

Now that you know what ENERGY STAR is, let's talk about how it affects you and your customers.

ENERGY STAR certified imaging equipment includes copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines, multi-function devices, digital duplicators, and mailing machines. Equipment like copiers and fax machines often use more energy than any other office equipment, since they are usually left on all day.

In 2007, ENERGY STAR updated the specification that determines whether a piece of imaging equipment earns the ENERGY STAR. Now, in order to qualify, imaging equipment must meet a high standard of efficiency in regular operation or across various low-power modes. This means that an ENERGY STAR model can save money, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions no matter how often a customer uses it.

On average, imaging equipment meeting the new ENERGY STAR specification is 25 percent more efficient than conventional models.

And here's something else you might not know.

ENERGY STAR copiers and fax machines are able to print double-sided pages. This reduces energy costs and helps customers save money on paper. These and other efficient designs help ENERGY STAR equipment run cooler and last longer, so homes and businesses using these products may even save on air conditioning and maintenance.

But let's get back to selling ENERGY STAR imaging equipment. Some customers might have misconceptions about energy-saving features. So we've created three scenarios that demonstrate potential objections your customers might raise, and some suggestions for responding to those:

Customer: I don't want one of these energy-saving models. They run way too slow and it takes forever to get them out of sleep mode.

Salesperson: Older units might have been sluggish in power-saving modes, but the new ENERGY STAR certified models use the latest technology, and run just as well as any other model. And the best part is, they only use a fraction of the energy.

Narrator: Scenario 2.

Customer: I need help setting up a home office. I'd like to get a copier, but I'm starting a new business and I can't really afford to get all the stuff I need. What do you recommend?

Salesperson: Let's look at our ENERGY STAR multifunction devices, which can be a printer, copier, scanner, and fax all-in-one. That will meet several of your needs at once, but will use less energy to operate. Since money's a concern, that's a good way to save on utility bills. It's always a good idea to remember that products have two prices — the cost to purchase, and the cost to operate. Setting it up to print double-sided copies, saves money on paper, too.

Narrator: Scenario 3.

Customer: Can you show me a printer that will last a long time? I hate replacing stuff. It's such a waste.

Salesperson: Our ENERGY STAR certified printers are designed to run cooler, which helps them last longer. And speaking of waste, ENERGY STAR models actually save energy, since they're about 25 percent more efficient than conventional models.

Narrator: Now let's wrap up.

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps consumers identify products and practices that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

By choosing ENERGY STAR certified products, consumers can save on their utility bills while helping reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Visit the ENERGY STAR Training Center at energystar.gov-slash-training to learn more about selling ENERGY STAR certified products. You can also listen to a podcast on ENERGY STAR certified computers.

Thanks for listening!