Earlier this week I purchased a Hewlett-Packard Printer (HP Officejet Pro 8500). After seeing HP receive the number one ranking in Newsweek’s inaugural Greenest Big Companies in America issue, combined with an instant $50 rebate offered by HP toward this model when recycling an older printer (from any company) at Staples, I decided to take the plunge. Researching the product online I found that it is Energy Star rated and has Staples’ “Eco Easy” designation. This label indicates products that consume less energy when in use and have been shipped in less packaging than comparable units. Furthermore, the free recycling of an old printer, 2-sided printing, and a donation to CarbonFund.org to help offset emissions from the first three years of printing (based on average usage) are features that earned the HP the Eco Easy tag. In addition, this model purports to use approximately 50% less energy versus a comparable laser jet and it further reduces energy use by entering standby mode after a few minutes of inactivity.
On HP’s website, the unit is listed with a price tag of $199.99 (originally $299.99). In addition, they are advertising $50 cash back when you buy an 8500 series printer. Coupled with the energy and paper savings from the 2-sided printing, the machine offers some fiscal and environmental benefits.
Reviews on HP’s website have been mixed, although BusinessPundit.com gave it a generally favorable review. Thus far the all-in-one printer (which includes scanning, copying, and faxing options) has performed admirably, though it has been less than a week. The duplex unit allows us to print on both sides of the paper, reducing our need to buy and consume more paper. The long term durability and cost-effectiveness (namely having to replace cartridges) will be key to determining the value of the machine. However, so far, so good. If you have an HP product – Officejet or otherwise – with an Energy Star rating, let us know how it has performed for you.
[image source: HP]
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