Not only can overcharging your electronic batteries waste energy but it can ruin your battery or battery life in your favorite products. Also, products that are turned off can still “phantom draw” power, which these outlets can prevent from happening.

A solution? Belkin Conserve Socket Energy Saving Outlet. I purchase several different types of energy saving outlets last month including  Belkin Conserve Socket Energy Saving Outlet ($9.99), Belkin Conserve Power Switch ($6.99), Belkin Conserve Switch Energy-Saving Surge with Remote ($34.97), and Belkin Conserve Smart AV F7C007q Energy-Saving Power Strip ($29.00) in an effort to conserve energy.

My favorite by far is the Belkin Conserve Socket Energy Saving Outlet ($9.99 on sale right now for $7.99). I use it to charge our electronics as well as having one for my flat iron. I would often leave my flat iron all day long, which not only used up unnecessary power costing me money but also left some brown marks on my counter top as well as being a fire hazard. Oops! I set my timer for my flat iron for just 30 minutes and now I don’t have to worry if I turned it off as it will automatically shut off power.

It is very easy (think idiot proof!) to set the time between 30 minutes, 3 hours or 6 hours.   I use the 3 hour mark often with our iPods or iPads as that is generally enough time to get a full charge. It would also work great with fans, heaters, lamps, electric toothbrushes, battery operated drills,  and many more items!

I also bought several of the  Belkin Conserve Power Switch ($6.99). However, if I did it again, I’d spend the extra $3 and upgrade to the timer switch as it’s effortless! I do use the Belkin Conserve Power Switch for my coffeemaker, since I don’t use it but every few days and I don’t need an additional item telling me what time it is. I also don’t use the delay or set ahead function so there is absolutely no reason it needs to be plugged in all the time. You simply flip a switch to turn the power to the item on. It lacks the convenience of the timer but it does allow you to have an item on for longer the 6 hour period if you need too.

I haven’t explored the Belkin Conserve Smart AV F7C007q Energy-Saving Power Strip ($29.00) as much as the other two. It basically will allow you to plug in one master item like a television or a game console. When it is turned off, the items you have plugged into the specified slots will also power down. It also has two slots for continuous items you need plugged in like a satellite or cable box. I need to get behind our television to get this one plugged in and functioning as it would be much simpler to just turn off the main item instead of turning off 2-3 additional items (DVD, sound system, etc.) each time we want to power off the television.

I also purchased the Belkin Conserve Switch Energy-Saving Surge with Remote ($34.97) to try this one out. This one I am using in my office area with my laptop, monitor, and a couple of other chargers. This one relies on a remote control to turn off the power to the specified items. There is a couple of always on outlets too for routers. I keep forgetting to turn off the power to this when I leave this area. However, if we were going on a long trip, it would be easy to remote control it all off with the switch.

I haven’t been using these products to see a drop in our electric bill and I don’t suppose I will see a dramatic difference but those small amounts do add up. If I did want to be nerdy, I could buy a Energy Use Monitor, which now thinking about it, I may do so I can really see the savings.

How do you conserve energy? 

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**This is all my own opinion and not sponsored or affiliated in any way with Belkin. The links provided are affiliate links to Amazon, which I will make a little commission when purchased through the links above – THANKS!**

Join Pocoyo & Friends and help your children learn more about saving energy to better the environment.  Celebrate Earth Hour by turning off your lights from 8:30-9:30pm on March 26, 2011 and participating in your own “Earth Hour” activities.  You can take this unique opportunity to further educate your children about the importance of preserving our environment- beyond just turning off the lights and all electronics for an hour.

In 2010 this Earth Hour message reached 1.3 billion homes and saw hundred of millions of people switch off in 4,616 cities and in 128 countries.

Join in and spread the word.  You can share your Earth Hour activities and read more about others’ Earth Hour acitivities on Pocoyo’s website.

by woodleywonderworks

::FREE REUSABLE OR RECYCLED::

• Visit your local HEB from 3-7 pm on 4/22/2009 and receive a FREE reusable bag when you bring in 5 plastic bags to be recycled.
• Take 3 Plastic Water bottles into a Disney Store and receive a FREE reusable water bottle.
• Be sure to sign up for your mail in rebate for FREE Reynolds Wrap. Available for download on 4/22/09 only.

::FREE SAMPLES::

• First 1,000 entries will receive a limited edition Aveeno Envirosax organic cotton bag and a sample of Aveeno Nourish Haircare. You can also get a sample of Aveeno Nourish Haircare sample from CVS and one from Walmart. You can also get one here by taking a short survey. (Thanks Savings with Shellie!)
• Recycle your empty cosmetic tubes at Origins and you will receive a FREE sample.

::FREE FOOD & DRINK::

• Stop by an O’Charleys on 4/22/2009 and receive a FREE Strawberry lemonade. Valid for dine in only.
• Some Starbucks are offering free coffee on 4/22/2009 when you bring in your own travel mug. Plus, 10 cents off any future coffee order when you bring your own mug!

::OTHER::

• Get double points back at MyCokeRewards.com on Dasani bottles all day long! (Not sure how this is earth day related since shouldn’t we be cutting back on bottled water???)
• Test drive a Subaru and receive a $20 Whole Foods Gift Card with this coupon.
• 40 Tips to Go Green at Home from Simple Mom
• Vote for a Tote over at Purex.com.
• Free Meet the Author Events at Anthropologie in Berkley, LA the Grove, and Palo Alto. Mommyswishlist has all the details!
  

::FREEBIES WITH PURCHASE::

• Publix is offering a FREE resuable bag plus $1 off if you buy a two-pack of GE Energy Smart 10, 13, 20, or 26 watt light bulbs with this coupon. Valid on 4/22/2009.
• Spend $30 or more on green and natural products at drugstore.com and you will receive a FREE Seventh Generation tote bag filled with $40 worth of freebies!
• Visit Walgreens on 4/22/2009 and receive a FREE resusable shopping bag w/ANY purchase with this printable coupon as well as 15% eligible store items and 20% off Walgreens brand products. (Thanks, Mrs. Price is Right.)
• Your kids can have some fun at Earth Hour Kids. Includes many fun projects kids can do to learn about the environment!

::COUPONS::

• Save $1 on Nature’s Source from SC Johnson.
• If you live in Seattle, visit Jones’ Soda headquarters, you can get a free soda. Otherwise, make a Earth Day pledge and you will be able to print out a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Jones’ Soda coupon.

Do you have a Earth Day Related Giveaway? Link ‘em below!

Bring in any 3 plastic bottles to any Disney Store on April 22, 2009 and receive a free water bottle (value $8.50).

P.S. Did you know that the Disney Store has planted over 95,000 trees?

(Thanks Moms by Heart!)