Think back to the early days of Computers.....There is a product that is a basic power strip in the form of a box. On the Front is a switch for each individual plug on the back. I use these in areas where One thing must stay on..example Vonage. I am able to shut down my computer, monitor, printer and leave vonage online. These are also handy for the elderly. I do not suggest these or any other type of power strip to be used on High wattage appliances such as toaster or microwave ovens, unplugging is still the best option here. Hope this helps someone! Thanks, Tim

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So - if you have a power bar, a surge protector,
if you turn it off, it stops pulling power even if it is plugged in? Is this correct?

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Glad to hear that people are becoming aware of the power vampire thing. Personally i know that even when something is turned off, like a tv, unless it is unplugged electriciity will still be pulled, amd that power is then wasted. I've been using a power surge protector for my computer and one for my tv/stereo, when i finish with the computer it gets turned off and the surge protector switch is turned off, thus all power is stopped, i do the same with the tv/stereo, and leave nothing plugged in at nite except my phone. Each person has the choice to use electricity wisely or let it waste, and there are enough who give no thought to this, so Thank you for everyone who does even one small thing to ease the planet we are gifted to live upon.

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Just a thought on our aging population
Since many people are now caring for aging parents
Please be aware in our striving to be green that we are aware of the needs of the elderly.
Night lights are vital as aging diminishes vision in the dark
Plugging and unplugging should be made as simple as possible and as accessible because leaning over to the floor or even bending to see if something is unplugged can cause a fall or injury that will not only cost thousands but decrease the person's quality of life.
Also aging can cause brain changes which may result in slightly enhanced obsessive behaviors.
I have seen many elderly patients in my practice with an "unplugging " compulsion-- repetitive action that truly interferes with their activities.Think of handwashers and you will get my point.
Leaving the cell phone charger off and having a "dead" cell phone could leave an elderly person without contact in an emergency.
Introduce these kind of green actions slowly and with as little change in equipment as possible.Learning new equipment use can be hard for the frail elderly.
Praise to all you caregivers who care for the aging .

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I am so guilty of this! I have one power strip for my TV/DVD player and that's it and I constantly forget to flip it off! I am very inspired by what people wrote here -- great suggestions! Thank you esp. Renee S. I am goign to buy more surge/power strips, and use them!

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So, finally, do we need to unplug everything to stop wasted energy use? Answering machines and some phones wouldn't work during the night. That might be okay. Vonage phone boxes and cable internet boxes would need to be re-set before use. Reaching behind furniture for hidden outlets would take some bending, lifting and twisting. Are these things worth the inconvenience? YES! I'm going on an unplugging spree right now.

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this might be a silly question, but is it only turning these devices off, or should they also be unplugged?

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Hi Renee S.,I use the power bar at home myself and have 4 of them. I initially bought them as surge protection but found it very convenient when at night before bed, I would simply hit one button and it turns the power off. BTW, whenever there is lightning outside, I will unplug the plug from the wall outlet. A benefit of turning off energy vampires at night is that it cuts the energy field/magnetic field that would otherwise bathe our bodies while we rest in slumber. Not good to bombard our bodies with all those microwaves. I have also either turned off my clock radios or stopped using them altogether. (I do not let it stay close to my head while I sleep.)

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RESPONSE to Kate S., I believe that the switches are on the outlets in Britain (and other countries with 220V current supply)as a safety precaution but you are right that switching it off at the outlet saves energy vampire drain.

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I haven't read all of the comments, but I don't see where anyone has mentioned the Smart Strip. I have them on my computer and tv. My hard drive is plugged into the "hot" plug. When it is turned off, so is my monitor, printer, scanner, fax, and cell phone charger. It prevents them from pulling electricity when the "hot" plug item is not turned on. The same with my tv. I have satellite. So my satellite box is plugged into a constant on plug because it takes so long to reboot the box, but my tv is plugged into the "hot" plug. My dvd, and any other items you would like can then be plugged into the strip and can then only draw power when the tv is turned on. They sell them equipped with surge protection, phone jacks, cable jacks, etc. You choose how to set them up. i.e. what your "hot" item is, what you want to stay on all the time, and what you want to only get electricity when the hot item is on. For those of you who have issues with resetting your clocks, this won't help. But it certainly saves money on your electric bill. We have 5 throughout our home and love them. Even have all of our kitchen appliances plugged into one so we don't have to keep plugging and unplugging them. (toaster, coffee pot, crock pot) Hope this helps some of you.

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