SmartPower SmartTip of the Week: Break out the power strips

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Brian F. Keane, SmartPower

The power strip: tacky and clunky, but easily hidden and an absolute must-use to avoid wasting energy in the home.

According to the US Department of Energy, "In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off." Unplugging your chargers, small appliances and other items is essential to combating that kind of energy waste. But, your home's "main drains" of unused electricity are in the entertainment center.

You have your TV running through your TiVO, running through your DVD player, all running through your stereo—it's, no doubt, a sweet set-up. It is important to know, though, that when you click "off" on the remote for all that stuff, none of it is really off.

The easiest remedy to all this wasted energy is to plug all these devices into a power strip. And don't worry, you can hide it stealthily out of sight in your entertainment center cabinet and/or work desk and still be able to easily click it on and off whenever you want to! When you do, you will really be turning off all those electronic gadgets – saving yourself close to $200 in energy costs a year!

Of course, you are not going to want to shut off your TiVO if you need to record an episode of Grey's Anatomy that you already missed the first time it aired. So to be on the safe side, plug the TiVO into the wall and allow it to stay on. I mean, let's be real. We don't want to do without anything . . . but the wasted energy. So if you need a gadget to be on – then by all means, keep it on. But do we really "need" the TV, DVD player and stereo—not to mention your kids' Wii—burning energy day and night?

Use a power strips for your entertainment center and compare your energy costs.

It's a great way for all of us to get energy smart and to do our part to help reduce climate change.

And check out the SmartPower Blog for more on clean energy and energy efficiency.

Related: smartpower, saving money, power strip, environment, entertainment center, energy savings

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/home/smartp...-strips-193662/

Edited July 5, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I bought a kill-a-watt to see what my electrical items use for power. My Direct TV box draws 40 watts..... ON or OFF. However, electricity is pretty cheap here since it's mostly hydro and nuclear. Every bulb in the house is a CFL. Except the one in the fridge.

http://www.p3international.com/products/sp...0/P4400-CE.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I bought a kill-a-watt to see what my electrical items use for power. My Direct TV box draws 40 watts..... ON or OFF. However, electricity is pretty cheap here since it's mostly hydro and nuclear. Every bulb in the house is a CFL. Except the one in the fridge.

http://www.p3international.com/products/sp...0/P4400-CE.html

Wow. 40 Watts on or off? That can add up over time. Pretty cool device.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I believe cable boxes are similar (I have a DVR too). Unplugging the D-TV box causes it to reboot which takes 5 to 10 mins. So I only unplug it when I'm gone for a couple days.

Edited July 5, 2008 by LuckyStrike

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

I bought a kill-a-watt to see what my electrical items use for power. My Direct TV box draws 40 watts..... ON or OFF. However, electricity is pretty cheap here since it's mostly hydro and nuclear. Every bulb in the house is a CFL. Except the one in the fridge.

http://www.p3international.com/products/sp...0/P4400-CE.html

pretty neat - how much is one of those? i looked around on the site and didn't spot a price. did you order it straight from the company?

[Heracles 417]

pretty neat - how much is one of those? i looked around on the site and didn't spot a price. did you order it straight from the company?

You can get it from www.newegg.com

Back home I am used to all power sockets having on/off switches on them.

Edited July 5, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

pretty neat - how much is one of those? i looked around on the site and didn't spot a price. did you order it straight from the company?

You can get it from www.newegg.com

Back home I am used to all power sockets having on/off switches on them.

thanks b-y. it's less than $25 with shipping.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I bought a kill-a-watt to see what my electrical items use for power. My Direct TV box draws 40 watts..... ON or OFF. However, electricity is pretty cheap here since it's mostly hydro and nuclear. Every bulb in the house is a CFL. Except the one in the fridge.

http://www.p3international.com/products/sp...0/P4400-CE.html

pretty neat - how much is one of those? i looked around on the site and didn't spot a price. did you order it straight from the company?

$30 harbor freight

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=93519

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

we have switches on all our plugs over here. I find it funny that the power strip featured is a UK/Irish plug type. Why don't you guys have them?

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Does anyone know if using the off switch on the power bar, is equivilent to plugging the appliance out? Or just better than nothing?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Does anyone know if using the off switch on the power bar, is equivilent to plugging the appliance out? Or just better than nothing?

Good question. I would assume there is no electricity being used by the power strip when switched off.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Does anyone know if using the off switch on the power bar, is equivilent to plugging the appliance out? Or just better than nothing?

Good question. I would assume there is no electricity being used by the power strip when switched off.

You assume correct. The multiple switches is for convenience.

here's one for the US

http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_detai...p;productID=172