Java2D Performance Issues

private BufferedImage toCompatibleImage(BufferedImage image)
{
	// obtain the current system graphical settings
	GraphicsConfiguration gfx_config = GraphicsEnvironment.
		getLocalGraphicsEnvironment().getDefaultScreenDevice().
		getDefaultConfiguration();

	/*
	 * if image is already compatible and optimized for current system
	 * settings, simply return it
	 */
	if (image.getColorModel().equals(gfx_config.getColorModel()))
		return image;

	// image is not optimized, so create a new image that is
	BufferedImage new_image = gfx_config.createCompatibleImage(
			image.getWidth(), image.getHeight(), image.getTransparency());

	// get the graphics context of the new image to draw the old image on
	Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) new_image.getGraphics();

	// actually draw the image and dispose of context no longer needed
	g2d.drawImage(image, 0, 0, null);
	g2d.dispose();

	// return the new optimized image
	return new_image;
}