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Now here's an idea whose time has come: Belkin's new Conserve Surge with Timer, a power strip that not only provides protection against power surges, but also protects you or your business against using too much energy.

The problem with too many of our modern electronics is that they never really turn off. Even if you push the off button, they are still drawing power, sometimes a minimal amount, sometimes quite a bit. This "vampire power" makes it easier for devices to start up when you need them, but it also accounts for as much as 10 percent of household energy use. For businesses which are full of computers, monitors, printers, servers and other high-tech, high-energy devices, this could be even higher.

Belkin's solution, marketed toward IT centers, is a power strip that contains six "auto off" outlets that eliminate all power usage through those outlets after 11 hours of use. This ensures that any device plugged in to those outlets is completely powered down for evenings and weekends when they would otherwise be costing a company a lot of money.

The power strip has an easy-to-use "on" button for the beginning of the day, then counts down 11 hours until it turns the six outlets completely off. (Two other outlets are "always on," for key devices like PCs that might need access around the clock.)

The Belkin Conserve sells for $34.95, and it's being marketed to businesses, but this would also make a great solution for home, where TVs and DVD players and other devices suck up too much juice when we're not using them. 

No matter where you'd use it, give this exciting new product a look. You'll be glad that you did.