Digital Home Thoughts: Bye Bye Standbye

"The Bye-Bye Standby® Energy Saving Starter Kit. This starter kit is a simple way to take control of your electrical devices, reducing your electric monthly bill, and energy consumption, and at the same time reduces harmful carbon emissions (C02). It is easy to install and use and is really convenient. With Bye-Bye Standby you can power down connected electrical devices in your home, office, or school, using the wireless remote control with the patent pending smart socket adapters, giving you peace of mind, saving you money and helping the environment by conserving energy."

If you ever take the time to measure it, you will be shocked by the amount of phantom power you are wasting between your home theater and computer equipment. I've cut way back through using a Smart Power Strip (which I previously reviewed here) and appliance timers hooked to power strips. While those methods have given me an automated and transparent way to reduce my usage, they stil have not completely cut my phantom draw. At $24.99 for two outlets, this device apprears to allow you to eliminate nearly 100% of your phantom draw without having to physically unplug your devices every time you turn them off.