Computers & Imaging Equipment

Computers and imaging equipment, like printers and copiers, use a lot of energy to manufacture and operate, and they often contain toxic materials. It’s important to look at the full product lifecycle—from design and production to energy use and recycling to calculate total costs.

For this category, leasing may be a better option than buying as the manufacturers are also responsible for proper recycling or disposal at the end of the product’s life. Choosing ENERGY STAR® or https://www.epeat.net/ office equipment helps save energy with efficient design and power management features.

Policy and Goals:

King County’s Sustainable Purchasing Executive Policy (CON 7-22-1-EP),

• Lowering embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a product’s manufacture, transportation and use;
• Saving energy through the purchase of energy-efficient products and equipment and increasing the use of renewable energy such as solar or wind power;
• Minimizing pollutants to air and water, including indoor air emissions;
• Promoting transparency, including disclosure of environmental, health, economic, and social risks through the use of environmental certifications and ecolabels, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), and vendor sustainability ratings

King County’s 2025 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP),

• GHG 70. Pursue energy efficiency and energy reduction investments in County facilities
• Appendix D: Buy energy star appliances and equipment