If you caught wind of our recent debate on the merits of shutting your PCs off at night, you might be wondering if there are any real-world ways to save electricity (and therefore money). In fact, there are: Computerworld recently rounded up 12 gadgets to help you lower the monthly electric bill.
No matter what you’re shopping for, this list has something that can save you some green (by, err, being somewhat green itself). Here’s the rundown:
- The $1400 Vizio SV470XVT HD display saves about $35/year in power costs compared to similar HD displays.
- The Voltaic Generator solar bag is a $500 laptop bag packed with solar cells, capable of charging a laptop and other small gadgets, saving $20/year.
- The Belkin Conserve Energy-Saving Surge Protector is one of the best values in the roundup; it costs $45 and can save about $15/year.
- The HP Color LaserJet CM2320n runs $600 and saves about $10/year.
- The Solio Magnesium Edition charger is a pocket-sized solar charger that, for $170, can save $3.50/year by charging small gadgets.
- The D-Link DGS-2208 switch is a $63 network hub that saves $2.40/year compared to similar networking gear.
- The Etón MicroLink FR160 is a pocket-sized media player — this one hand cranked. For $30, it promises to save you $1.28/year by forcing you to listen to the radio through brute physical labor.
- The PowerFilm AA Foldable Solar Charger is a flexible, foldup solar array that chargers your gadgets with sun power. You’ll shell out about $75 to save one dollar a year.
- The Energy Detective (TED) is a $145 gadget that monitors your power use. How much money it saves you depends upon what you choose to do with the awesome knowledge that it provides.
And finally, nPower Portable Energy Generator is a “coming soon” technology that will convert your own kinetic energy — you know, from walking around — into power for your gadgets. It’ll cost about $150 and save you a buck a year. Like the PowerFilm charger, this gadget will literally pay for itself… if you live to be very, very old.
