It seems like everyone’s favorite phrases these days are “Green Initiative” or “Save the Planet!” So why is this a big deal now, as opposed to 50 years ago or more? The average use of energy has been 335.9 million BTU (British Thermal Units—about the amount of energy it takes to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit) PER PERSON from 1980 to 2006. That’s a lot of energy! The USA’s energy consumption is three times higher than where it was in 1950, mainly due to the invention of computers and the internet. In fact, computers consume 13% of the total amount of energy the United States uses every year. That’s a lot if you think about all the other electronic devices that we use—toasters; washing machines; hairdryers; gas pumps; street lamps; deep-fry cookers; microwaves; blenders; TiVos; latte machines; the list goes on and on.
What does all this energy production mean for our Earth? When an electronic device is over-used, it will often go out of commission and become what is known as electronic waste, or e-waste. In 2006, the USA produced over 3 million tons of e-waste, partly because of the 30 million computers that are thrown away each year. Most of this e-waste is exported to poorer countries, such as Ghana, where because of the trash, seven out of 10 children has too much lead in their blood. Not only can e-waste be hazardous to the health of individuals, but it also leads to what are known as “greenhouse gases.” Greenhouse gas can be created from the use of electronics, and from e-waste. Greenhouse gas, in layman’s terms, is a gas that absorbs and emits radiation into our atmosphere. In small doses, these gases were not doing the Earth much harm. In fact, they were a natural occurrence in our ozone. However, with the extreme amount of gases being created recently, the Earth’s ozone layer is depleting, leading to higher levels of UV (ultraviolet) rays, global warming and all the other scary things you hear about on the six o’clock news.
So how can we save the planet from what appears to be “destruction by electronics?” One simple way to save energy every day is unplugging your electronics when they are not in use. A largely unknown fact is that electronics, even when they are considered “power-off” can still be using 15% of their total used energy in stand-by mode. This is often referred to as “vampire” power. It has been estimated that a computer in “powered-off,” mode can use more energy in the 16 hours that it is not in use than in the eight that it is being used. That wasted energy adds up-- a total of $3 BILLION every year on energy bills.
Unplugging electronics is by far the easiest way to prevent all this from occurring, but doing so can be tedious and easily forgotten. While some companies have invested in green initiatives for their data centers (energy-star air conditioning systems, server virtualization, etc.), they often neglect to invest in a solution for their individual workstations. These stations can use up to 50% of total energy, often because nearly ALL employees forget to shut off and unplug the electronics in their vicinity.
With all this in mind, what can be done? Belkin, the leading manufacturer of computer peripherals and power/surge protection products, has come up with an amazing solution. The Belkin ConserveSurge with Timer eliminates the “stand-by” power by automatically shutting off the power to the outlets in the evenings and on weekends. The ConserveSurge with Timer features eight surge protected outlets—two that are always on (use these for desktop clocks, fax machines, and CPUs), and six outlets that are “switchable” (these can be used for less important pieces such as desktop printers, cell phone chargers, monitors, etc.) The ConserveSurge with Timer comes with a power button/timer than allows for 11 hours of uninterrupted power, with a flashing indicator when power is about to be shut off. This can easily be bypassed with a push of the button. The ConserveSurge with Timer is extremely end-user friendly, with an immediate out-of-box instant use, and since it is so simple it is compatible with everything that has a standard U.S. plug.
With all the negatives of global warming, greenhouse gases, and ozone depletion, it’s imperative that this country begin working towards a new future of energy consumption. Namtek Corp. and Belkin are committed to this idea and are ready to answer any questions involving the ConserveSurge with Timer. Let’s help save the planet, and put a little money back in our pockets (from all that saved electricity off your bill!)
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