Ideal Bite

If you have a few devices that must be on all the time (perhaps a modem and router) yet others that can be shut off, consider a Smart Power Strip. There are a few always-hot outlets and several regular outlets, plus one control. Unplug or completely power down the device connected to the control and all the regular outlets also power down. http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Hardware-Cable/Item/LCG3/

a great illustration of these phantom power loads...from wired's nextfest (a power strip whose cord glows blue at different intensities depending on how much power it's drawing): http://www.tii.se/static/poweraware.htm

Some houses have switched outlets intended for use with lamps, etc. I use these for items that sap electricity when not in use. Sometimes it's easier to hit a wall switch than to find the power strip on your way to sleep. A few items I've unplugged to stop the drain include any kitchen items with clocks that I don't use daily (including the microwave) and our computers. It saves a noticeable amount on our electric bill!

Great tip, as always, and thank you for what you do. My comment today is on your cocktail factoid re Minnie Driver's reaction to who was chosen to sing her song @ oscars. I feel it was unnecessarily snarky and not your usual sort of information. Maybe I don't read enough of your factoids and I'm all wrong. But if you're going to put stuff like that in, I think you need to balance it with something kind about the person. Perhaps Ms. Driver was disappointed that she hersef wasn't chosen to sing her song. You left it looking like she has something against the other singer. It's not like you to stir up this kind of trouble. I just had to get that off my chest.

Colleen- Thanks for the feedback. Sorry it came off as too snarky - we actually debated internally during edits about whether to include the factoid. Maybe we should have noted that while Minnie is a member of Go Carbon Zero ( http://www.gocarbonzero.org/ ), there's no comment on climate change from Beyonce, as far as we know...

But here is my problem - if I remove power to my TV I lose all my channels (yes, I live in the dark ages - no cable) and the TV goes through a long setup process every time it is turned on. Not to mention I lose my VCR settings (again, dark ages, I actually tape TV, no tivo) which again are very time-consuming to reset (especially when you're running out the door and oops! you forgot to set the VCR for Lost!) But I like the idea of the smart strip - perhaps one of those would work so the DVD player could be powered off at least. What about the powersave function on computers? Mine seems to shut itself all the way down when I haven't used it for an hour - is that still sucking electric?

I am a product designer and I can't ever seem to convince the Electrical Engineers I work with that there should be an AC adapter smart enough to know when it's not being used and stop drawing power. (AC adapters are always wasting small amounts of power when you don't have your cell phone etc. plugged in, and generate heat) Does anyone out there know a)how much power is actually wasted, and b) is there a simple technology/product out there already that can remain plugged in without the need to manually plug/switch something? I would love to incorporate this sort of thing into the next product I work on that requires one of those "wall warts."

This is a great tip. I knew this, but I forget, and your tip was an excellent reminder. I do use several powerstrips in the house and now maybe I'll remember to switch them off.

Hi! This sounds like a great tip, but I am wondering if you have any sources to back up the 40% number (that 40% of electrical costs are caused by "phantom loads"). I don't doubt your claims, but I am wondering where I can find more information about this.

You know...it baffles me that any one would leave an A.C. adapter plugged in when it's not doing its job. Yes, perhaps something like an electric keyboard that someone might want to use at any time...but relaly... I plug in my cell phone when it needs charging, and when I'm done, the phone goesback into my purse (or wherever I happen to want it) and the charger gets unplugged and goes back into a drawer.