Green Options » vampire power

How to Reach Echo Boomers: Making Energy Culprits into Energy Smart Heroes

Brian F. Keane — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:34 +0000

Each year in the U.S., we unknowingly waste the amount of electricity equal to what’s produced by 17 coal-fired power plants.

Consider what such enormous waste means for all of us.

Millions of tons of CO2 are being needlessly pumped into the atmosphere and exacerbating global climate change, while countless dollars and tons of coal are being wasted, as well.

HiSaver Uses Motion Detection System to Stop Vampire Power

Ariel Schwartz — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:20:36 +0000

Time for another addition to the growing collection of devices that claim to stop vampire power (AKA power used while electronics are in standby mode): the HiSaver. Astra Corporation’s product, which debuted at last week’s Consumer Electronics show, uses a motion sensor placed on top of your computer to control a custom power strip. If you’re away from the PC for a certain amount of time, the HiSaver automatically shuts off the strip.

Standby Kill Chip: The End of Vampire Power?

Ariel Schwartz — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:05:22 +0000

We’ve seen lots of tools recently to stop vampire power— the power used by electronics when they’re off and still plugged in— but the Standby Kill Chip may be the best. The chip is installed directly in electronics or power strips. It uses an algorithm that senses when an electronic device is in standby mode and shuts it off.