Transmitting documents via fax machine eliminates the need for extra paper products, such as envelopes, mailing labels and even stamps. Faxing can also save a substantial amount of energy...provided you have the right equipment. To extend the "green" factor of your fax machine even further, follow these suggestions:

• Buy recycled plain fax paper.
  Besides the usual advantages of buying recycled, such as saving energy, water and forest resources, plain paper costs less than the treated, rolled paper some types of fax machines use.
• Look for energy-efficient rated machines.
  Ironically, a fax machine consumes the most energy when it's not being used. To waste less energy, some machines, like those that bear the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label, "power down" when they're not transmitting a document. If you are buying a new fax machine, choose an Energy Star model. You could reduce energy costs by almost 50%.
• Send faxes via modems.
  Use your personal computer to send and receive faxes, thereby eliminating the need for hard copy faxes.