MANILA, Philippines?Sometimes, in trying to save money, we end up spending more.

We buy cheap tools that break almost as soon as we use them, clothes that lose their shape and/or their colors the first time they are washed, or copies of branded products that may look exactly like the original but do not perform as well.

The cost difference between the real thing and its clone may seem much but the often shorter life-span and poor performance of the copy, when quantified, usually cancels, even exceeds, the saving.

Hewlett-Packard, for instance, commissioned recently a study to find out the difference between its original inkjet print cartridges, among the most frequently ?cloned? items, and remanufacture or refilled cartridges.

Conducted by the technical test organization TÜV SÜD PSB, the study covering Asia Pacific found, among other things, that the real thing produced 106.6 percent more pages than the ?copies.?

More than a fourth of the refills or remanufactures, the study also found, failed almost as soon as they were installed.

Neel Pillai, marketing manager for supplies category, imaging and printing group, HP Asia Pacific, said, ?Ink cartridge consumers across the Asia Pacific are unaware of the issues in reliability when printing with remanufactured and refilled cartridges ... We commissioned the study to expose the concealed real costs involved to aid consumers have a more informed choice.?

He pointed out that customers lose time and money from high failure rates of remanufactured and refilled cartridges.

The study, conducted February-June 2007, evaluated the page yield and reliability of HP branded inkjet cartridges versus 14 brands of remanufactured or refilled cartridges from the Asia Pacific region.

?Greening? the consumer

But, of course, wise consumption is not just about saving money. It is also about saving our natural resources so we have enough for ourselves and future generations.

Conservation International (CI) says it is actually becoming easier and easier to know what effects our consumption patterns have on the environment.

It encourages consumers to be aware of what products are made of, where they come from, and how they are brought to the market.

?All of this knowledge determines how you impact biodiversity in your backyard and around the world,? CI says.

It reminds consumers that they have the power to choose what to buy.

?Consume less. Use things until they wear out, buy second-hand, repurpose old things into something new. Choose products?printer paper, canvas totes for groceries, bank checks, or clothes?that are made of recycled material or can be reused or recycled. You can also find usual items made out of unusual reused and recycled materials. Support companies that think about the environment like you do,? CI says.

When hosting parties, real plates, glasses, and cutlery should be used. Not only will guests feel special, but a huge amount of waste will also be avoided.

CI adds, ?Reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost to reduce your weekly trash contribution to one bag or less.?

Review your water, electric, gas and other utility bills and find ways to save by living more efficiently.

Misrepresentation

A little before noon on Jan. 10, a woman knocked on my door and introduced herself as a representative of the Manila Electric Company.

She wanted to know my monthly electrical consumption. This was not an unusual request to me. Meralco and Maynilad Water people occasionally do spot checks on monthly consumption, I presume to determine who are not paying the right amount.

After looking at my bill, she said I could reduce my consumption by enrolling with their company. She mumbled a name that I did not catch.

When I pointed out to her that she appeared at my doorstep introducing herself as a Meralco representative, she made a hasty retreat.

Does Meralco know about this?

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