http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
http://www.belkin.com/conserve/]]>Oct 8th 2009 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.unplggd.com/uimages/unplggd/2008_06_27%20inca%20powerstrip.jpg]]>Oct 8th 2009 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
Power bricks aren't usually polarized, so it shouldn't make a difference.]]>Oct 8th 2009 11:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
I like this product that has a sensor.

http://www.wattstopper.com/products/details.html?id=74]]>Oct 27th 2009 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
(Sorry Bragging, But I am proud of the numbers.)]]>Oct 9th 2009 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 5:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 9:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 8:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
Hands down, I'd recommend the Belkin Conserve power strip, with its remote switch. The alternatives automatically shut off peripherals upon the detection of a master device getting shut off, but that means you always have one device drawing standby power.

I did a video review on Amazon (please vote it "helpful" if you like it):
www amazon com /review/R28XHS2UX1OXCI/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

...and it was mentioned in my winning entry into Microsoft Bing's "Will Code For Green" contest (which won me ten thousand smackers):
http://www.greenzig.com/]]>Oct 8th 2009 10:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
"If one were to use it every day, how much money do you think it would save annually?"

It depends on what's hooked up to it, what your energy rates are, and how long you shut it off. The rule of thumb is roughly $1 per year per watt of energy usage. I discovered that all of my devices drew about 60w of energy on standby (it might be more now that I added a PS3), and I figure I had them on for about 10-15 hours a week. That means I could save myself $45-50 annually by using the power strip, which easily pays for itself in under a year.]]>Oct 8th 2009 11:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
You actually would have to spend more than 20 hours a week to get to the point where you'd only save $50 (with my standby energy usage).

If you watched less and kept your power strip turned off, you'd save even more.]]>Oct 8th 2009 11:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/At work, they use a green one. I think it came from a christmas light kit or something, cause it has a red switch, and red outlet protectors.]]>Oct 8th 2009 10:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 8th 2009 10:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.tripplite.com/en/lp/green-power/index.cfm?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=webad&utm_content=slider4&utm_campaign=green_power

Best on the market. Tripp Lite is installed regularly in mission critical situations like hospitals.

Also, these surge protectors include UPSs, and they're around the same price as the Belkin.

Also, I prefer the auto switch-off when "vampire" or "stand-by" power is detected to Belkin's manual switch. ]]>Oct 8th 2009 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 12:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 12:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
http://www.energyfederation.org/txu_energy/default.php/cPath/39_3042_2387

go here for $10 off of $50
http://www.txu.com/residential/Energy_Solutions.htm]]>Oct 10th 2009 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
2x uncontrolled outlets
4x Z-Wave enabled outlets (group controlled not individually controlled)
Works on Z-Wave wireless mesh technology
13A max load

$52

But you would need some other Z-Wave stuff to go with it]]>Oct 8th 2009 11:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/148943/belkins_green_power_strip_and_other_colorful_fall_products.html and is priced $50, with the remote control you'll always have the tendency to turn it off so you don't waste power

But if you need it for a PC, which has printers, fax, scanners connected, the consider one of these http://www.techchee.com/2007/01/26/smart-power-saving-sockets-for-your-pcs/ a powerstrip that also turns off other gadgets when you shutdown your PC to save more power :D but costs more than $50 (abt $64)]]>Oct 8th 2009 11:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
I bought mine direct from them and I love it. One, for the 12 foot cord I was able to order it with and BECAUSE it is the kind that monitors one device to turn others on and off, which is what works for me. It's three always-on outlets are normally enough for me.

I got mine for $53 in January of '08. I don't know what power strips they offer now.]]>Oct 9th 2009 12:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Bits-Ltd./Item/LCG5/

As soon as I shut off my receiver, it'll kill the power to the TV, along with all the game consoles, while keeping power to the DVR. Works as advertised. ]]>Oct 9th 2009 1:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.oneclickpower.com/store/ products. It's got a lot of versions, I'm using the TV one. It comes with an "always on" (for SAT receiver) and a master one (for plugging in your TV) as well as peripheral plugs. After you turn off your tv, the whole set up turns off, except the always on plug. When you want to turn the set back on, you just need to push your TV remote On button. The IR receiver on the strip detects this and turns the strip back. Keep push the button and your TV will tearn back on.]]>Oct 9th 2009 2:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=P7GT
which has a master and controlled ports, great for electronics where when the CPU/TV is off you want the other devices to stay off. They even make it in a model with a battery.]]>Oct 9th 2009 9:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 10th 2009 12:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 11:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/How much power does this device save.
For example I have seen monitors being advertised as zero power consumption on standby(green monitors).
I am just wondering how much of "energy" and how many toxins and pollutions did Belkin(or any other "green" power strip manufacturer) "waste" while manufacturing these power strips.
I think this would be better if they are used to replace the existing switch boards in the house. Or else I think it will setback the "green" factor since it is and "extra device" which requires to burn fossil fuels so that it reaches us.(apart from the toxic plastics and power used to manufacturer it).
Also I think manufactures of appliances should go green and come with inbuilt cutoff switches that can be operated by a remote control.
The idea of conserving these "small" amounts of power is welcome(since drops of water can make an ocean) but I think using more "resources" to manufacturer and additional device to do the same is pretty lame.
Seems like just another green gimmick.]]>Oct 9th 2009 12:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/Oct 9th 2009 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/
I also use Windows powercfg and Scheduled Tasks to set the computer to save more power when I'm at work, and then switch back to performance when I come home. Just remember where you put that batch file if you RDP in from work occasionally.]]>Oct 10th 2009 11:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/ask-engadget/http://www.greenit.fr/tag/smart-meter to find more information about smart meters and Green IT.]]>Oct 15th 2009 5:45AM