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Environmentally friendly plotters are those that are energy efficient and reduce the impact that they have on the environment. Such plotters also tend to produce less heat and reduce cooling by a substantial amount, thereby providing a more pleasant work environment. Most eco-friendly plotters are Energy Star compliant, which guarantees that they have met strict energy efficiency guidelines without sacrificing performance or productivity.
The average maximum ozone emissions of OCE eco-friendly plotters are about one-tenth that of other conventional printers. In addition, most of these printers utilise recycled paper. Over a period of sixty months, using 4,500 square feet of recycled paper saves 38 trees, 877 gallons of oil, 9,200KWH of energy and 15,750 gallons of water. Below is a look at various brands that offer environmentally friendly plotters.
HP
Some of the ink cartridges available in HP plotters use up to 50 – 75% of recycled contents. Another important but often overlooked green aspect of HP plotters today is the fact that the company allows you to recycle their supplies – including ink cartridges, through the HP Planet Partners return and recycling program.
KIP
KIP plotters and systems are 100% toner efficient. In this way, you do not have to deal with toner waste bottles. KIP plotters also feature an automatic image rotation and media selection feature that ensures minimum waste of paper.
Sharp
Sharp’s office copier division has previously been awarded with the “Green Contractor Award” and the “Evergreen Award” by the GSA. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to reduce the environmental impact of both the plotters and plotter supplies that it sells, such as paper.
Canon
Canon plotters allow for plotting in economy colour mode, thereby reducing ink consumption by 10 - 20%. Canon received the “Energy Star Partner of the Year” in the years 2001, 2003 and 2005. Eco-friendly plotters such as those offered by Canon also tend to allow the use of recycled bond media and refilled or remanufactured ink and laser printer cartridges.
Recycled bond paper offers excellent value for money, trouble-free printing and helps to meet the environmental objectives of your business. This chlorine free paper is made from 100% recycled base paper and is compliant with industry-leading environmental certifications. This paper is great for every day prints and offers a high-performance, lightweight medium that translates to reduced transportation costs.
Now that you’ve just bought your “green” plotter - what steps can YOU take to reduce its carbon footprint? Once you install your plotter, ensure that you select the right media. Go for recycled paper that has been responsibly sourced and manufactured. You can also take measures to reduce energy consumption by remembering to turn off your plotter when not using it for an extended period of time, such as after working hours or during the weekends. Remember to recycle your old plotter ink cartridges, as well as your old plotter, rather than throwing it away. Get yourself an environmentally friendly plotter today. After all, it’s not just good practice to go green – it does make for good business too!
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By Sarah, an article writer interested in computers and hardware, exploring how plotters are eco-friendly
