HP Calls on Kiwis to Switch Off for Environment

HP Calls on Kiwis to Switch Off for the Environment

HP New Zealand would like to encourage New Zealand businesses to support Power to Change, a global HP campaign to encourage personal computer users to take responsibility for reducing their energy consumption and their environmental impact.

The campaign encourages users to visit www.hp.com/powertochange and download a new desktop widget that tracks the cumulative energy savings associated with participants turning off idle PCs when not in use and displays the global energy savings the campaign generates through the power of behavioural changes across individual and global users.

For an individual computer user, turning off an idle PC is a small step, but the widget is a tool to demonstrate that collectively even small behavioural changes can have a big impact. HP estimates that if 100,000 users shut down their work computers at the end of each day, energy savings could total more than 2,680 kilowatt-hours and carbon emissions reductions could total more than 1,500 kilos per day. This is the equivalent of eliminating more than 105 cars from the road each day.

“HP’s commitment to environmental sustainability has a strong emphasis on providing leadership through setting high environmental standards and providing practical solutions to make it easier for customers to reduce their climate impact,” said Peter Ekstedt, Global Citizenship Manager, HP Asia Pacific and Japan. “Power to Change is just one way for HP to demonstrate to our customers that individuals and organisations can make a difference.”

HP would like to see New Zealand businesses make a commitment to the Power to Change campaign by installing the widget on every desktop and encouraging employees to get involved.

How to be a champion for Power to Change
Downloading the Power to Change widget is just a start. You can follow Power To Change on Twitter, add a widget to your Facebook, MySpace or iGoogle pages, and watch the campaign video on YouTube.
The website also offers other great ideas from HP on how to ‘green’ your office:

1. Be an all star
Opt for or ask for ENERGY STAR–qualified products, such as Personal Computers (PCs), peripherals, phones and compact fluorescent light bulbs. Or at the very least start the conversation with your office managers on such products. Click here if you are interested in learning more about ENERGY STAR as well as some compliant HP products.
2. Size and energy matters
Consider using laptops, flat-panel monitors and multifunction printing products. They use less energy and are made with less material than desktop PCs, CRT monitors and multiple printing and imaging products.
3. Don’t use screen savers
Screen savers don’t save energy; they actually use more energy than no screen saver at all. Instead, choose PC sleep settings when you’re away from your PC.
4. Print smart and green
You can set your printer to print on both sides to help reduce paper waste. And remember to print on paper with recycled content. Or better yet, print only when you need to.
5. Shut it off
Switch off electronics and lights when not in use. It’s basic but we all need a reminder from time to time.
6. Pull the plug
Plugged-in electronics still use energy even when switched off. Try this to help conserve energy use: Plug all electronics into a power strip or power surge protector and turn the power strip off when devices are not in use.
7. Be a planet partner
You can reduce environmental impact by recycling your used print cartridges in recycling bins. Click here if you wish to participate in HP’s product recycling services.
8. Give it away
Donate or recycle unused and unwanted computer equipment including cables, mice and keyboards.
9. Plant it
Place indoor plants in your office. They look nice and plants can improve your indoor air quality by absorbing pollutants.

ENDS

© Scoop Media