Since the 1980s there has been continual growth in the market for electronic office equipment, particularly personal computers and monitors, but also printers and multi-function devices (MFDs), which are replacing discrete copiers, fax machines and scanners in some office environments. According to 2003 projections by the Department of Energy, annual energy use by personal computers is expected to grow 3% per year, and energy use among other types of office equipment is expected to grow ; this growth is in spite of improvements in energy efficiency, which are expected to be.
