MNN - Mother Nature Network

Remember that old adage you learned in philosophy class — that the simplest solution to a problem is probably the best one? Well, Occam and his razor would go nuts over this $35 surge protector that connects to your computer via a USB cable.

 

When the Eco-strip senses that your computer is off, it powers down all the other gadgets plugged into it, too. It’s estimated that 40 percent of all electrical usage is wasted by devices that continue to consume power even while switched off. This way, you lighten your phantom load (and energy bill) in the process. In other words, goodnight you speakers of useless consumption, you monitors of energy drainage.

 

Story by Jessica Tzerman. This article originally appeared in Plenty in January 2008. This story was added to MNN.com in October 2009.