Returning to cool gadgets discovered at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Convention, if I may…
The Power Players: The Eco Button and the Trickle Saver.
As I mentioned in my prior CES posts… what green there was in consumer electronics this year seemed centered on the theme of power — efficiency, eco-alternatives, or energy saving solutions. These two gadgets fall into the latter category, both seeking to solve the big problem of Standy or Vampire Power.
It’s been estimated that standby power (the energy consumed by electronics not in use, but still plugged in), may account for 10-12% of energy consumption in homes and companies around the world, and that $3 billion alone are wasted in the US every year alone paying for unused power.
The simplest solution of course is to turn off your electronics, unplug your appliances not in use. But if like me you often forget to do this, then that’s where Trickle Star can help.
Their Trickle Saver products act like intelligent power strips, automatically cutting off the draw of standby power when you’ve turned off your electronics, be it computer, or TV, etc. It’s a simple solution that can save hundreds of dollars in needless electric bills and tons of wasted energy over the long haul. Their website has wonderful info on Vampire Energy and updates on product availability (should hit the US in March).
This little Eco-button is pretty dang sweet. Twenty buckaroos gets you this cute little energy reminder, and the software to make it work. Then simply plug into your PC and whenever you get up to walk away, take a lunch break, go to bed… hit the button. In seconds it powers down your PC, eliminating phantom power. Press the glowing button again and you’re back on in seconds, all your applications right where your left them.
It’s simple, it’s sexy, it saves energy, it saves you money. How much? Eco-button’s website has a savings calculator. Imagine every cubicle in every corporation in the world implementing these… let alone every personal computer in every home. The amount of wasted energy saved would be staggering (approx 5 million tons of CO2/year and $1.3 billion). It’s available now and can be purchased here.
Eliminating standby power is something we can all do right now to better our planet. I’m gonna go unplug my toaster and cellphone charger right now, while I wait for my trickle saver and eco-button to arrive in the mail.
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