Want to save money while simultaneously saving the planet? Then listen up…
We’ve come up with 5 easy ways to go green while still adding to your bottom line profits.

1) Stop Printing Non-Essential E-mails, Faxes And Documents.

Not only will this save your company money on ink and toner, but you’ll reduce the amount of paper and ink waste clogging up landfills. Inexpensive software is available to make your faxes show up like e-mails. That way you can easily delete the ones that aren’t essential and save a ton of paper and ink. Plus, you won’t run the risk of losing the only paper copy you have! Also consider printing in duplex (both sides), 2 pages per sheet, or in draft mode.

2) Stop Wasting CD’s and DVD’s.

CD’s and DVD’s can hold a lot of data, but most people only use a tiny portion of the space by burning small files. This results in a lot of unused and wasted space (it’s the equivalent of storing a postage stamp in a warehouse). CD’s and DVD’s are difficult to recycle so use them intelligently and conservatively.

3) Change Your Power Settings.

Almost all computers have lower energy settings that will power down the computer (or parts of the computer) that aren’t being used. For example, after 10 minutes of inactivity, set your PC to power off the monitor, modem and spin down the hard disks. Most systems have pre-determined profiles that make it easy to set up.

4) Turn Off Peripheral Devices When Not In Use.

Specialized peripherals like printers, scanners and bar code readers consume large amounts of energy and, in some offices, are not regularly used. Configure the energy savings mode in each device which puts them in sleep mode when note in use. This doesn’t power them off completely, but does use less energy when they aren’t in use throughout the day. Also consider shutting them down completely each night.

5) Recycle – Earth 911

This tip is two-fold. First, if you need to upgrade a computer, printer, or other electronic device, look for energy and earth friendly machines. Many manufacturers are selling “green” versions of their devices that conserve energy and use fewer resources to operate, such as printers and copiers that use ink more efficiently.

Next, don’t just throw your old equipment into the trash! Computers contain components that require special recycling procedures. If not disposed of properly, they can sit in a landfill for YEARS.

Also, you never want to throw your old electronic equipment into the dumpster because your identity could be stolen. So how do you get rid of them safely and without harming the environment?

If the machine or device is less than 3 years old or otherwise in good working condition, consider donating it to your favorite charity (but make sure you call us to wipe it clean first!) or look for
charities that specialize in refurbishing old computers for charitable donations such as Electronic
Recycling Association www.era.ca.

If the machine is too old to give away or refurbish, then consider www.pcdisposal.com or www.1800gotjunk.com.