If It Prints, I'll Let You Know

An interesting tool from Lexmark will give users the opportunity to calculate the effect that their printing habits have on the environment. Called the Eco-simulator, the tool will ask users about their printing habits, such as whether they usually print on one side or use both sides, what type of connectivity you use, and the type of cartridges that their printer uses.

With the information given by the user, the tool will then calculate the Life Cycle Assessment that will show the impact of printing behavior on the depletion of non-renewable natural resources, ozone pollution and global warming. The results show the impact of the printer for a period of one year, estimated as equivalent to printing 1,620 pages. The user will then be provided with this information, enabling him or her to assess the impact of his or her printing habits on the environment.

After this information is given out, the Eco-simulator will also provide users with tips on how to curb the negative effects that their printer has on the environment.

The tool is dedicated to home or small business users of Lexmark inkjet printers. Large organizations normally have people monitoring carbon emissions and other factors that affect the environment, but home users and small organizations normally do not. Its goal is to help a printer user understand not just how printing habits can affect the environment but how small changes can have a positive impact on the environment.

The Eco-simulator was developed by Bio Intelligence Service and based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Lexmark X9350 inkjet printer. LCA takes into consideration all the life phases of a printer: manufacturing, distribution, use and end of life. The LCA of the X9350 has been performed on 11 indicators, but for the purposes of Eco-simulator, only non-renewable resources depletion, ozone pollution and global warming were chosen due to its current relevance to most users.

We know that we have provided you with tips here and there on making the most out of your printers, but now may be a good time to remind old readers about taking care of your printer – as well as share these tips with our new readers.

During these difficult times, we should not only think about spending money wisely but also think about what we can do to avoid unnecessary expenses. Sometimes, little things that we sometimes take for granted can go a long way.

The first tip is to clean you printer regularly. The simple act of giving your printer a quick wipe-down from dust once a day and wiping the insides with lint-free cloth will not only result in a cleaner printer that will make your parents proud, but will also ensure that you will encounter less paper jams and enable your printer to provide you with excellent looking prints each time.

Another thing that you should remember is that your printer is fragile. While it may look like a durable box-like contraption in the exterior, do not forget that underneath is a complex structure of nuts, bolts and electronic components that can be damaged if handled roughly, so handle your printer with care.

Next, avoid paper jams by replacing the rollers in your printer once they look shiny and worn down. And make sure that they wiring on your machine is safe and installed properly, to avoid grounding and static electricity. This is especially important if you have small kids at home.

Lastly, always have your printer’s manual on hand. If you no longer have the original, you can always download one for free. Having the manual will help you troubleshoot when you encounter problems with your printer.

Following these simple tips will help you get the most out of your printer purchase.

I used to hate being the first one in the office, especially when there was an early meeting I needed to get to and I had documents that needed to be printed out. It can take a while before that first page pops out; I had more than once thought that the printer may have conked out on me. When you’re in a hurry, your sense of time gets warped somehow.

Those who choose HP LaserJet and multi-function printers need not experience this frustration, according to HP.com. These machines feature what HP calls Instant-on Technology, which uses “cutting-edge fuser technology,” giving the machine the ability to print the first page faster when the printer is coming out of low power mode. Take the HP LaserJet P2015 as an example. The user will be able to see the first page printed out in less than 11 seconds from power-save mode.

And once that first page is printed out, print speed will only get better. HP claims that their printers with Instant-on Technology can have a Total Time to Completion for a typical print job that is almost three times faster than its competitors when coming out of low power mode.

Having this type of technology, especially in a home office setting, has positive implications. For one, the fast response time of the machine will mean increased productivity, especially for the office setting where there are limited number of human resources, or even the setting where there is only one person working. Those precious seconds can actually add up and become more significant.

The other added-value is energy savings, as instant-on technology uses up 50% less energy when compared to regular fusing. According to the HP website, Instant-on technology has helped in the prevention of 3.5 million tons of CO2 emissions since 1993, which is reportedly equivalent to a year’s worth of emissions of almost 680,000 cars.

We did a feature on embarking on a career as a virtual assistant, working from home. However, we have to remember that each person is unique in his or her preferences and being self-employed and working from home may not be everyone’s cup of tea. So, here are a few tips as well for those who would rather rejoin the workforce and find new gainful employment.

We found a few good tips from a feature by Doris Eder at NewsTimes.com. The article shared the existence of the federally-funded agency called The Workplace, which provides job-seekers with programs and services in the Southwestern Connecticut area. Within The Workplace is a project called CT Works, which is operated by Career Resources Inc, along with the Department of Labor of the State of Connecticut. Among the assistance provided by CTWorks are free computer instruction in MS Word, Windows, Excel and Power Point; filing online job applications; creating resumes; writing cover letters; and handling interviews.

Anyone who needs help beyond what has already been mentioned can meet with case managers or counselors. Job seekers can check out listings on bulletin boards, job books, and major job Web sites.

The article also mentions that it may be beneficial for applicants to customize resumes and interview strategies depending on the company and the job that one is applying for, which means that research will be an important part of the job hunting process. Something as mundane as choosing the right paper and printer for a resume can actually go a long way if this line of thinking is pursued.

An interesting program that was shared in the feature was the Career Coach. It is a bus that serves as a satellite of CT Works, equipped with 10 computers, a printer and satellite Internet access. Career Coach reportedly visits as many as 22 locations a month, parking outside town halls and libraries and providing assistance to jobseekers.

In March, we featured plans of the MediaNews Group to have subscribers print their newspaper at home. MediaNews is the fourth largest newspaper chain in the country, and introducing home-based newspaper printing is an effort towards reducing printing and distribution of their dailies. Newspapers are usually printed out in bulk, and more often than not, since there are really no guaranteed purchase volumes, a lot of these prints wind up in storage at the end of the day.

“Individuated News” will be put to the test in homes in Denver next week. The product was introduced in The Power of Print Conference of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) by Peter Vandevanter, the Vice President of targeted products for MediaNews. The product works by “delivering” a copy of the printed newspaper through home printers or portable devices. Since the paper does not come pre-printed, these editions of the newspaper can be customized according to the personal demands and preferences of the subscriber, as well as “hyper-targeted advertising and coupon offers.”

Some long-term guests at a Marriot Residence Inn in Denver were given a first taste of I-News in April, with a 12-page paper. Come June 3, this will be expanded with the installation of printers in 25 homes in Denver as well as in the rooms of 60 extended-stay guests.

In August, the I-News is expected to find its way into 300 homes in the Los Angeles area. MediaNews publishes the Los Angeles Daily News in LA.

Since MediaNews installs the printers, subscribers need to purchase the machines, although they could do so at a discount. In addition, they are to pay a subscription fee, and expenses due to consumables that subscribers incur are reimbursed by the paper. Advertisers, in turn, pay the newspaper for any targeted ads that get printed out.