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of re-circulation and wasted air movement.

* Adjust computer room air conditioner temperatures.

* Use a water-cooled door on the back of rack servers to cool the air, and save energy costs by 15%.

TIP - Many utility companies provide incentives for companies that actively reduce power consumption through virtualization and thin provisioning. By following these recommendations, you can recover your investments within 2 years.

Energy audits.

Contact your utility company to conduct an energy audit of your office. The assessment could include recommendations about:

* Waste reduction.

* Energy usage patterns.

* Installing timers.

* Improving insulation.

Recycle old hardware.

* Use refurbished systems that have been recycled to environmental specifications.

* Contact electronics manufacturers about recycling programs.

* Use eco-friendly waste disposal services

* Donate unwanted products.

ADMINISTRATIVE SOLUTIONS.

* Use Energy Star certified products.

* Choose laptops, they provide more power efficiency than standard PC's and monitors.

* Purchase MFPs, all-in-one multifunctional devices (printer, copier, scanner, fax) rather than a separate machine for each use.

* Look for features like stand-by, sleep mode, and auto shut-off.

TIP - For paper faxes, don't bother with cover sheets. Just put a sticky-note on page one of the document.

Go paperless.

* Think carefully if you really need a printed copy of a document.

* Send and receive faxes through your computer (email), not the fax machine.

* Ask suppliers to send invoices to you electronically.

* Scan files to the computer.

* Send letters by email rather than mailing hard copies. Save on paper and stamps.

* Post memos rather than forwarding documents to each employee.

* Use a digital signature to authenticate and sign documents emitted online.

* Use free software like CutePDF, which enables you to print to PDF.

TIP - Create PDF files from any printable document then store the document electronically.

If printing is necessary, reduce paper expenses by:

*Setting printer default setting at two-sided printing.

* Preview documents beforehand.

* Use shrink to fit option.

TIP Retrieve documents immediately after printing. Documents left at the printer are a hassle to rifle through and are routinely tossed out at the end of the day; you'll have to print again. Use unbleached, recycled paper.

Hewlett-Packard's Carbon Footprint Calculator (for responsible printing).

This tool helps business customers reduce their carbon footprints and financial costs based on their

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