Green your office from the inside out

Tips to help your office prep for Earth Hour 2010

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 23 /CNW Telbec/ - With Earth Hour just around the corner this Saturday, March 27th (www.earthhour.org), the environment will naturally be top of mind with people across the country. Although many Canadians have taken great strides to reduce their environmental impact at home - through activities such as composting, recycling and using energy efficient light bulbs - people tend to overlook being green where we spend most of our time: the workplace.

In Canada, the typical office powers dozens of computers daily and uses thousands of sheets of paper annually. But by adopting some new habits and making a few minor changes to the workplace, Canadians can make a big difference at both home and work - with minimal effort.

Here are Canon Canada's top five tips for environmental conservation at the office:

    
    1)  Make digital scans of hardcopy documents

        Start fine tuning your scanning skills and contribute to a healthier
        planet. By scanning your important documents into digital versions,
        you can significantly reduce your paper usage. Once a document is
        digital, you can bypass the photocopier or fax machine and send scans
        to co-workers electronically to shrink your environmental footprint
        even more.

    2)  Print double-sided

        Remember when your teachers would lecture you to use both sides of
        the page? Those days of being frugal have taken a decidedly
        environmental turn. Set your printer default preferences to print on
        both sides of the paper and become your office's environmental
        champion. You'll be amazed at how much paper you'll save.

    3)  Reduce Printing through electronic mailboxes

        Have you ever seen that large pile of unclaimed print jobs at the end
        of the day next to the office printer? Instead of choosing the
        "print" function, many office printers also have a "store" function
        that helps reduce waste and costs. Storing your documents securely
        and locally before printing reduces the amount of unclaimed documents
        that are printed in an office. Users manually release only those
        print jobs they really require.

    4)  Consolidate multiple copiers, faxes and scanners into multifunction
        devices

        Make the switch from the three Ps to the three Rs. Avoid the paper,
        plastic and power combination for something a little more
        streamlined. Consider moving to multifunction devices (devices that
        combine printing, scanning and faxing in one). These devices are as
        easy on the environment as they are on your time. Reducing a
        company's technology footprint through multifunction technology is a
        cost effective way for businesses to make the most of their resources
        while keeping environmental footprints in check.

    5)  Look for a printer with a low power requirement

        Today's office printers and faxes are faster than ever and as a
        result, typically spend only one hour a day or less actually
        printing. In many cases, office printers may sit idle up to 80 per
        cent of the time. Looking for an office printer that has a low
        wattage in a "sleep" state can dramatically reduce your total
        electrical consumption. The best devices on the market consume no
        more than 1 watt, which is about the same as a single bulb on a
        string of LED lights. Combining several devices into one energy
        efficient multifunction printer will save even more electricity.
    

By digitizing office records, printing wisely, and tracking printing habits, you can help your office become a part of the green scene this Earth Hour and make some lasting changes that will benefit the environment throughout the year.

About Canon Canada Inc.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company employs 1,200 people at its offices nation-wide, servicing the Canadian market from coast to coast. Innovation and cutting-edge technology have been essential ingredients in Canon's success. Canon's leadership in imaging, optical and document management technology and solutions is based in large part on the thousands of patents the company has secured throughout its history. For the 16th consecutive year, Canon Inc. is among the top three US patent recipients.

The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital copiers (colour and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems and facsimile machines; calculators, digital camcorders, digital and analogue cameras and lenses; semiconductor, broadcast and other specialized industrial products.

Canon supports programs that help preserve and protect the environment. The company instituted the Clean Earth Campaign in 1990, which assists various environmental and recycling initiatives. The Campaign has also supported leading environmental organizations, such as World Wildlife Fund - Canada and the Canon Envirothon.

For more information, visit www.canon.ca

For further information: Wayne Doyle, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Canon Canada Inc., Tel: [phone], [email protected]; Michael Sznajdruk, On behalf of Canon Canada Inc., Tel: [phone], [email protected]