This is why I keep my printer off, unplug my TV, DVD player, lamps as night...I save about a good $20 a month just from doing this every night - also, if you're not up real late at night, set up the energy saving sleep mode on your computer - saves a lot...of course, if you have scheduled tasks like virus check, degfrag, etc etc, then I don't recommend it.

vrykolakas electrica.

@TheManator: your lamps!?

@matto: Yeah, we got these neat LED lamps that charge when they're off.

Might be an option for some of my gadgets, but since the computer runs pretty much 24/7, it won't be much use in that area.
The screen, now that's another matter entirely...

Now if they could only kill Vampire Weekend we could save the world from bad taste as well.

WHOO! 20$ A MONTH! That's so worth me spending all that time unplugging stuff whenever I won't use it. NOT.

Why not take it a step further, and just turn off your whole house with the breaker. There. One switch, and everything is off.

re: "exciting news for people like me, who tend to forget to power off their Wiis at night"

I don't think these chips are able to distinguish between you accidentally keeping a machine on or off, only that it will cut all power as long as you've turned it off.

Either way, I look forward to having this installed in every gadget in the near future.

10% might be a nice bonus on an individual's electricity bill, but it's a long, long way from "saving the planet" (I don't actually think planet needs saving). I've seen scientists estimate that we'd need to cut as much as 80% of our carbon output to make a difference.

@TheManator: You bought these "neat" lamps and then defeated their "neat" feature? Why not just buy standard lamps and leave them plugged in?

I don't think I'll be taking economic advice from you.

There are probably people in here that -CAN- turn off their PCs, they just choose not to. I am guilty though, for I leave my computer on standby at night.

@CaptainIndia: :(

@Hamm Beerger: You do realize that no one solution is going to do that? And therefore something that contributes substantially to the problem is always going to be helpful? Anyway, the "neat" thing about his lamps is that they use LEDs, and therefor consume much less power than incandescents or even CFLs. His unplugging just makes them even more efficient.

@Elaine Chow: "The circuits consume no electricity even when in stand-by mode..."

They consume no electricity ever?

@TheManator: wait, your lamps? they 'charge' at night? lamps generally have a physical switch that completly disconnects them from power, so there is no standby mode at all. seems like inefficent lamps if they use power when turned off, even if they are LED

@Hamm Beerger: @daversW: Got them at biglots for $25 - what do you expect? :P

@The Monarch: All right, that was uncalled for. I just think they're over-hyped to the point of annoyance.

And for the sake of relevance: brilliant invention. Another example of how tech can save the world.
My only question: how many manufacturers are going to put in these chips (extra cost of chip and of redesigning devices) when all of the cost of electricity is consumed by the consumers (who are quite unconscious of the power leech)? My guess is it will take a pretty drastic hike in the rate of electronics before consumers demand more efficient electronics.

@CaptainIndia:
genius :-)

@dragonphyre: Wow, someone took their smug pills. $20 a month is $240 a year. Save a little here, a little there and savings add up.

For example, if you make coffee at home and put it in a travel cup instead of buying a $2 cup from Starbucks, you save another $20-$30 a month - or another $240 - $360 a year. If you cut back on buying DVDs and rent instead from companies like Netflix, you can save even more money.

Some people - people who might even be described as cost-conscious and/or fiscally responsible - actually look at what they spend and where they spend it and find places where savings can be had.

These tend to be the people who don't receive monthly stipends from their parents.

I can't imagine my power bill is 10% standby power. Not that every device in my house isn't on standby, but the full usage draw has to be so much greater that I think it would be negligible. I'm gonna buy one of those little home wattage calculators and find out.

@kaneshadow: Get the killawatt power meter. It's great.