#2 Action on Practically Green Action Plans for Earth Month: Install smart power strip to turn off TVs and computers completely
Installing a smart power strip to turn off our TVs and computers completely doesn’t sound like such a big deal, does it? After all, what’s so onerous about attaching those plugs to a simple gadget I can buy for $31.49 at Amazon – and then remembering to flip the switch to OFF when I go away?
Maybe it’s because power strips are so downright BORING. Most of them look like this:
Honestly. Power strips are not supposed to be sexy or fun…. Or are they? My daughter Mary gifted me an incredibly appealing smart power strip recently. Introducing the Kikkerland Electro Man 4-Plug Multi-Outlet! Here it – er, here HE — is!
Now WHO in their right mind wouldn’t want to use this happy guy to lower their electricity bills and reduce the load on the local utility? And why limit him to TVs and computers? My Electro Man can handle kitchen appliances, too! And I bet he’d love to manage the tangle of hairdryer, face exfoliator, tooth buffer and whatnot that’s accumulated at my end of the bathroom sink.
Gotta love this amiable, relaxed charger dude lying on the kitchen counter — or anywhere you need him! And only $14.39 at Amazon. No-brainer. You can buy him on Practically Green! Unbelievably, he’s rated only #20 on Amazon’s list of Most Gifted Smart Power Strips. I think I’ll order another few for wedding shower gifts before everyone discovers him and he sells out.
From the Manufacturer
Meet a powerful man who is more than a boring power outlet. Perfect for home, school or office, his legs and arms have three-prong sockets with enough room even for the biggest adapter. He features a circuit breaker switch and grounded plugs for safety, and is a fun alternative to the standard, clunky multi-plug. Measures 14″ L x 12″ W x 1/2″ D with a 28″ L cable length.
Product Description
Meet Electro Man. So cool, you’ll wonder what you ever did without him. Ready to lend a helping hand (or leg !) depending on your mood. Plug in up to four different items at a time; don’t worry, he can handle it.. with a smile on his face ! Maximum 15 Amps. Maximum 120 Volts. Maximum 1800 Watts Plug into any safe, grounded outlet and he’s ready to go All four plugs are grounded Green light indicates when power is running to arms and legs 15 Amp circuit breaker/on-off switch with reset feature for overloads or short circuits.
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1 Comment to 'Reduce Energy Bills! Install Smart Power Strip to turn off TVs & Computers Completely'
April 5, 2011
While that Electro Man power strip is definitely cuter than the Smart Strip above, it should be noted that the Electro Man is not a “smart” power strip. The Smart Strip has circuitry to allow one “control” device, like a TV or computer, to completely turn off power to the other outlets. In the Smart Strip pictured, whatever is plugged into the blue outlet controls the 6 beige outlets. The Electro Man is just a regular power strip. The benefit of a genuine “smart” power strip is to reduce phantom loads from devices like chargers that draw power even when they are off. Also, the list linked on Amazon is “most gifted power strips;” only a few these are “smart” strips. You can of course eliminate the phantom load problem by flipping the switch on a normal power strip. “Smart” strips just automate this in some way to make it easier.
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