We first looked at Belkin’s Conserve Surge protector early last year. The company has just released a new version that includes a clever automatic timer to control power usage. The surge protector has eight outlets – two keep PCs and critical devices permanently on, while the other six outlets are automatically turned off after 11 hours. This allows you to power down non-essential office equipment at night and on weekends, which will save energy and money.
Even when office machines are in “standby” mode, they still use energy, making it difficult to determine whether it’s your monitor or speakers that are keeping the electricity meter clicking over. The Conserve Surge with Timer lets you keep vital equipment continually running while giving other, less important devices, an overnight rest.
To activate the devices in the “auto off” outlets, you simply press the on/off switch. If you happen to be pulling an all-nighter, the blinking LED light on the button will alert you that machines are about to be turned off. Then, if required, you simply turn them on again.
In a perfect world, every employee would turn off all non-essential office equipment before they went home. Consider the power savings for businesses if this device was used on all office workstations where most work is completed during a five-day week. Even if you work from home, this device could assist you to conserve energy and money and, at just USD$34.99, it might pay for itself before too long. See Belkin for more information.
Via Coolest Gadgets
I think you missed a couple important details on the Conserve Surge: it has TWO plugs that do NOT turn off automatically... keeping your computer powered 24/7, for example (whether in standby or hibernate mode).
If you look at the picture, there is a dongle, that would sit on your desk and allow you see it blinking as a reminder of auto-shutoff pending on peripherals, and doubles as the power switch.
Payback time might take a while, but I've got outlet strips I've used for years, and for high wattage items, it would have paid for itself already, and then the savings just keep adding up for years to come.
Of course, this isn't to be used for a single lamp or something like that... just high-drain peripherals where it would be nice to be able to shut down the majority of them with a remote dongle switch and/or 11 hour timer. I for one only put in a 10 hour day (7am to 5pm), so this would be ideal for powering (down) the dual monitors, external hard-drive, speaker system, digital recorder recharger, PDA cradle, cell phone charger...
Easy as pie.
Regards, Doc