A big green button to remind you to turn off your computer
The Ecobutton is a ecogadget that plugs into a USB port in your computer. Push the button and it sends your computer into a state of less energy using consciousness. It’s not sleep mode which I find completely annoying as sleep mode seems to take longer to wake up than just turning your computer on from a off state.
I was reading an article about Green Office Space at A Better Office and read that a UK company which provides serviced office space is thinking of implementing 4,400 of these ecobuttons for all of their offices. I think the buttons look nice, makes a statement, and tries to encourage people to remember to reduce their CO2 emissions but that’s about where the love for this product ends.
I haven’t seen one of these buttons yet and when looking at the website photo it looks like they are made out of plastic. I read through their FAQ but wasn’t able to find out what they are made out of. I also find it a bit odd that they seem to glow. It appears that they consume electricity and might even be a little electricity vampire itself. It’s seems like conceptually the product has good intentions, but, I think there are better and cheaper ways to remind yourself to save electricity.
Filed under: eco gadgets
Net little gadget. We just installed NightWatchman at work which is supposed to do the same thing automatically. It’s so new to us that I haven’t seen it in action as of yet.
@Mark, I read about the NightWatchman. Do you know if it automatically shut things down? What if you’re a software engineer and you’re in the middle of compiling code, does it automatically shut things down?
A clever idea and commendable effort. However, it does seem that this product is still an energy vampire.
On another note, a company called vampire labs has solved vampire energy loss within numerous fronts, including cell phone and notebook chargers. Possibly this one as well.
Check em out: http://www.vampirelabs.com