Calculate Your Purchasing: Greener Choices
What does it cost to go green?
Add the below items to calculate the annual cost of switching to more sustainable supplies
Non-Recycled Copy Paper
Cases per month
Monthly Paper Cost
X
=
Non-Remanufactured Toner
Toner cartridges/month
Monthly Toner Cost
X
=
Bottled Water
Cases or Jugs per month
Monthly Bottled Water Cost
X
=
Total Monthly Non-Green
=
Recycled Copy Paper
Cases per month
Monthly Paper Cost
X
=
$33.53 / Case (5,000 sheets)
$100 (estimated)
$16.55 (24 bottle case) or $6.89 (per jug)
$44.18 / Case (5,000 sheets)
Non-Remanufactured Toner
Toner cartridges/month
Monthly Toner Cost
$80 (estimated)
X
=
Total Monthly Green
=
Monthly Non-Green
Monthly Green
Total Cost or Savings
=
American University | Office of Sustainability
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW Suite 265 | Washington, DC 20016
202-885-6262 | sustainability@american.edu | american.edu/sustainability
Tips for Saving Costs While Going Green
Printing/Copying Double-Sided
Percentage of paper not currently being
copied/printed double-sided
Sheets per month
Divide by 2
Potential Monthly Paper Savings
(sheets of paper)
Convert to cases of paper
Case of 100% Recycled
Potential Monthly Paper Savings ($)
X
/
=
/
X
%
2
5,000
$44.18
Questions
1. By being more efficient, could you save enough to eliminate the extra cost of
purchasing recycled paper? Could you save money?
2. What other ways could you use less paper than double-sided printing?
3. Are there any documents your office currently uses that could be digitized?
4. What supplies other than paper and toner do you use the most?
5. What would be the most effective way to pitch greener purchasing to your office
purchaser (if it is not you)? Environmental? Financial? AU policy?
6. How could you advertise the impact of greener purchasing to the staff and faculty in
your office or department?
American University | Office of Sustainability
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW Suite 265 | Washington, DC 20016
202-885-6262 | sustainability@american.edu | american.edu/sustainability