Conservation Tips

Gizmos & Appliances: The reality, virtually all small electronic devices rely on external power or ac adapters. These energy sources are also known as power supplies and battery chargers. Although called by different names, you can identify power adapters by their two pronged plug and black box. Power adapters convert high voltage ac electricity from the wall outlet to low voltage dc power. The number of these devices in our home and businesses is large and growing -- five to ten power adapter driven devices for every home.

The Standby Problem: As useful and convenient as these electronic devices are; there is a problem. Even though the devices are turned off their power adapters are on standby, consuming energy. Most of this standby power is wasted “phantom” energy that evaporates without people knowing it. To some familiar with their glutinous ways these transformers of energy are characterized as “vampires”. By 2010 it is projected that consumer electronics and small appliances could account for 30% of a typical home’s electrical bill. The U.S. Department of Energy quantifies the problem differently, stating; “75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off”.

Coping Tips: From an energy-efficiency standpoint it makes sense to unplug any device with standby power that your are not using at the moment. A less extreme approach is to only use power strips that have an on/off switch and where possible gang those devices that function together such as a PC, a monitor and a printer. Monitor the charging of products like cell phones, digital camera batteries, and other battery driven devices and plug their ac adapters in only when they are recharging. Replace energy hungry devices with energy efficient devices. Put your power strips in an accessible location so it is easy to unplug the energized devices. Unplug and/ or put away all electronics you do not use on a regular basis.

Coping Drawbacks: De-gadgetizing your world may be a good idea; but how many of us are willing to get rid of or put on the back shelf our TV’s, stereos, computers, printers, Digital cameras, clocks, coffee makers, cell phones, power tools and on and on? Flipping the kill switch on a power strip sounds good, but shutting down your computer and other peripherals is at times not practical. How about those devices with a remote? Once you cut power you can’t control them. And what about the need to reset those appliances with clocks? Time consuming and inconvenient. So you pull the gizmos plug but where do you lay its’ adapter and cord? Unfortunately there is no total solution to the standby power problem , but there is...

The Watt Doc Solution: Unplugging the power adapter from your power strip or wall outlet and docking it on the Watt Doc achieves the following:

• when in use it eliminates all nonproductive and wasteful standby power consumption from the adapter. According to Pacific Gas and Electric of Northern California a plugged-in 5 watt ac adapter costs the consumer over $12.00 per year. Have several power adapters? This becomes real money.
  
  
• enables the user to selectively remove from the power source (wall outlets and power strips) devices they don’t need; allowing the user to maintain power to the devices they do need.
  
  
• creates power strip efficiency by freeing up and unblocking outlets that are unavailable due to bulky ac adapter occupancy. Eliminates the need to purchase additional power strips due to loss of their ac outlets.
  
  
• provides an organized approach to ac adapter storage; saving valuable desk, drawer, or cabinet space.
  
  

Watt Doc and Human Behavior: The Watt Doc is a method; an instrument of change. It’s primary mission is to help you conserve the nation’s energy at the same time that it’s cutting your utility bill. We may see this as a small step; minor, having little impact on our world. However it is man's small steps that often set the direction for future progress. Aside from the Watt Docs’ direct impact of eliminating energy loss; it serves a function of equal importance to you and the folks that surround you. It is sending a highly visible message to others that you are an active participant in the effort to preserve the world's dwindling resources. In this respect the Watt Doc performs a function much like a banner, poster or billboard. It says to the world, “I’m changing my energy consumption behavior, how about you?”