Energy saving method and apparatus for printer

The present invention discloses an energy saving method and apparatus for a printer, wherein the printer comprises: a CPU, a memory and a printing component. The CPU receives the task having a tag from a terminal, wherein the tag indicates emergency or non-emergency. The CPU identifies the tag of the received task, and if the tag indicates non-emergency, the CPU sends teh task to the memory for storage and wakes up the printing component to print the task stored in the memory after the printing quantity of the stored tasks exceeds a first threshold. Upon completion of the printing, the CPU controls the printing component to enter a sleeping state. If the tag indicates emergency, the CPU directly wakes up the printing component to print the tasks stored in the memory and the task whose tag indicates emergency. Upon completion of printing, the CPU controls the printing component to re-enter the sleeping state, thereby reducing the wakeup frequency of the printer and achieving the objective of saving energy. The present invention also discloses an energy saving apparatus for a printer.