Complete shutdown: Belkin's Conserve surge protector in action.
(Credit: Belkin)The idea behind Belkin's Conserve surge protector is pretty simple. Instead of having your electronics sit there in standby mode and each sip a little bit of power, the Conserve lets you completely shut down components so power drain is cut to zero. At the same time, it leaves two outlets active for those products that you indeed want to keep on (or leave in standby mode)--items such as DVRs, wireless routers, fax machines, and cordless phones.
Two models are available: a shorter strip with a total of eight outlets and a longer one with a total of 10 outlets and a coaxial RF input/output for cable and satellite TV feeds. Both models have 4-foot cords, and all outlets have a sliding safety switch that closes off the socket when not in use, which is good if you have small children or pets. The Conserve protectors are covered by a lifetime $100,000 connected-equipment warranty as well.
Both Conserve models also come with a light-switch-style wireless remote control that allows you to turn off your components with the flip of a conveniently placed switch (rather than having to bend down underneath a desk and hit an on/off switch on the surge protector itself).
The remote is wall-mountable and can also control multiple Conserve protectors, so you can shut everything down in your house at once. Belkin says the range on the remote is about 60 feet (line of sight is not required), but we only managed to have it work properly within a range of about 30 feet. Additional remotes will soon be available for $13 each.
So, how long will the Conserve take to pay for itself?
Read the full review to find out.
Imagine being able to control street lights with your mobile phone. This isn't a prank, but an eco-friendly solution now in place in parts of Germany.
The (I must add) responsible denizens there have put in place a system called Dial4Light that lets cell phone users turn on the street lamps only when someone actually needs illumination. We won't suggest this for streets like Harlem or the dodgier parts of Asia since it's so easily subject to abuse.
Much like your very own on/off switch at home, this one requires you to dial up the lights, with a 15-minute grace period before it gets pitch black again. And the best bit, a reported cost savings of 25 percent in power bills for the the towns, not to mention everyone doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint. Just don't leave home without your phone.
Watch the video at BBC News.
(Via Crave Asia)
(Credit:
Carl Smith)
If powering up your amp and monster TV leaves your neighbors in blackout misery, this new energy monitor could be for you. Dubbed the Wilting Flower, it's a visual reminder of how much electricity you're guzzling at any one moment. When you're using very little juice, it's a perky little flower with its petals open, but as you use more energy it goes red and--if you maintain your prolifigate ways--eventually wilts and closes up. Subtle? No. Quirky? Yes.
Designed by Carl Smith of Doncaster, England, the Wilting Flower is essentially a fancy-looking version of the Wattson, Efergy Meter, and OWL. It works by chatting wirelessly to a clip that you DIY install onto your electricity meter (if it's as easy as the Wattson, you won't electrocute yourself). We like Smith's graphic approach to reminding us of our energy use, since most of today's energy monitors employ a rather boring screen that shows how many watts or pounds you're burning.
Sadly the flower's just a prototype right now, but there are hopes for a production version that would sell for £60 (about $92). Watch this space; Smith's portfolio has more details and photos.
(Via Crave UK)
(Credit:
One For All)
In this age of green, companies are experimenting with all manner of household devices designed to keep utility bills under control. They run the gamut, from gadgets that simply monitor consumption to those that shut off appliances automatically when no one's around.
Many of these products involve power strips and wall-mounted units, which aren't always in the most convenient places or out of mind and sight. So what's a sure-fire way to constantly remind us to conserve? The ubiquitous remote, of course.
The Energy Saver Remote offers a one-stop place to shut off all appliances rather than keeping them on standby mode, which typically consumes a minimum of 1.5 watts each hour, according to Coolest-Gadgets. All of which raises this question: Was "The Clapper" the first green remote?
(Credit:
Nevvus)
A few weeks ago we mentioned the Cost Controller Power Strip, a device that indicates which appliances are doing the most damage in your monthly power bill. But a lot of green power strips are taking a more aggressive approach than just tracking numbers.
The "Powergard," for example, claims to store energy that would otherwise be wasted in the operation of inductive motors and then recycle it later, according to Electronic House. It also functions like a standard strip, regulating surges and power spikes.
Nevvus, which makes the Powergard, says it will save consumers up to 10 percent on utility bills--that is, after the initial $200 outlay for the device. But if you live in Buffalo, that could cost could be made up in just a couple of winters.
Showering can waste a gallon of water a minute. Yet a daily shower is one of those nonnegotiable, guilty pleasures I'm unwilling to sacrifice.
The 4-minute shower timer is an instrument of torture.
(Credit: Green Deals Daily)Still, the number of water-starved regions is only set to grow. For those who must watch every drop, a shower timer could be the next best thing to installing a high-tech, low-flow shower head.
A $3 timer from Envirosax, which makes trendy shopping bags, sticks to a shower wall with a suction cup. Its blue, pink, green, or gray sands take 4 minutes to pass through the hourglass.
Four minutes? Hair conditioner alone takes 2 minutes to work its magic. I would probably flip over the timer or ignore it, and feel guilty in any case. However, those who use the timer correctly could save hundreds of dollars a year on water bills.
The timer looks like an ideal stocking stuffer for green gift givers, although it's unclear how eco-friendly its plastic parts may be. Receiving one could be about as fun as a cardigan sweater. Those who are more eco-conscientious and self-punishing than yours truly may consider taking a Navy shower instead, which involves turning off the water while lathering, and then rinsing in a hurry.
(via Green Deals Daily)
(Credit:
OhGizmo)
The most surprising thing about this household energy monitor is that it's made in Japan. Not because the country has anything against green technology, but because the device doesn't have animated penguins or some other irritating example of the country's kawaii culture.
The "Wattson Limited Edition" supposedly can monitor individual appliances and instantaneously provide information on the amount of power it uses and at what cost. OhGizmo notes that it's unclear how the gadget from DIY Kyoto connects or taps into the power lines, but it had better work if consumers expect to recoup the cost of the purchase.
The cheapest model goes for $250 and one with a "wood accent finish" goes for $710. Both are surprisingly subdued compared with something like Matsushita's anime-infested "Intelliworks."
(Credit:
EcoCentric)
(Credit:
EcoCentric)
A lot of the energy-conserving lamps we've seen look like something out of a Cold War-era Soviet office building. But the "Lightening Stick" (sic) by "green" home designer Oliver Heath is a refreshing exception. This steel fixture has "a row of color-changing LEDs down its spine" that can be set to your preferences, according to Shiny Shiny. But do be careful not to mistake it for the "Lightning Rod."
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