November 7th, 2008
By John DeFore
Green Right Now
Public awareness of “phantom power” usage — the way electronic devices use energy even when they’re turned 
off — may be growing, but it’s likely that awareness isn’t having a huge effect on consumer behavior. After all, most people plug their computer and home entertainment equipment into power strips tucked under desks and behind cabinetry, where accessing it to unplug devices is inconvenient.
The new Conserve surge protector from Belkin presents a solution to that problem by adding a remote control to the equation. Users can still hide the power strip behind or underneath furniture, but everything plugged into its six remote-switched outlets can be powered down completely with the flip of a switch that fits nicely on a desk, beside a sofa, or attached to the wall beside a light switch.
Two outlets on the strip are not affected by the remote control, so devices that need to remain on all the time (video recording devices, for instance) will continue to receive power. The remote requires a battery, of course, and unfortunately it’s an odd-sized one (a 12-volt A23) that can’t be replaced with rechargeables you may have handy.
The Conserve’s packaging boasts that users can expect to save up to $50 a year on their electric bills when they use the strip — coincidentally or not, that’s how much the device costs.
Copyright © 2008 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media
