Product Spotlight: Advanced Power Strips
A simple and affordable tool that effortlessly saves energy, advanced power strips are a customer favorite on the EFI Marketplace. Below, learn all about advanced power strips, how they work, and why they are a top-selling energy efficiency product for builders, home owners, and business owners alike.
What is an Advanced Power Strip?
An Advanced Power Strip (commonly known as an “APS” or “smart power strip”) looks like any other power strip, but has features that helps you save energy and money by reducing the amount of standby power wasted by your electronics. Standby power is the energy that is continuously drawn by electronics when they are plugged in, but not in use. Some common culprits include computers, TVs, speakers, DVD players, and gaming systems. For this reason, advanced power strips are commonly used in home offices and entertainment system setups.
How Does an APS Work?
Advanced Power Strips work by automatically cutting power from selected outlets when the master outlet is not in use. An APS is available with varying numbers of outlets, but all share the following:
About the Outlets:
Master Outlet - the device plugged into this outlet must be on for the controlled outlets to be on
Controlled/Switched Outlets - outlets controlled by the master outlet
Always-On Outlets - for electronics you do not want to turn off automatically
Take your Entertainment System as an Example
When your TV is plugged into the master outlet and turned on, the controlled outlets will turn on and electronics plugged into them can be used. When your TV is turned off, the controlled outlets and the electronics plugged into them turn off as well.
How Does an APS Help Save?
By replacing your old power strip with an APS, you can significantly reduce standby power and lower your electric bill - but that’s not all! An APS also prolongs the life of your electronics and protects them from power surges.
How Much Does an APS Save?
Save up to $300 over 5 Years!
The average home can save up to $150 over five years by replacing one typical power strip with a Tier I advanced power strip. When using a Tier II advanced power strip, that number jumps to $300 over five years!
Tier I and Tier II - What’s the Difference?
There are two major types of advanced power strips on the market, Tier I and Tier II.
Tier I (The Basic)
This simple APS works on a basic master/switched outlet principle using current sensing technology. When the master outlet device is on, the controlled/switched outlets are on as well.
Tier II (The Upgrade)
In addition to basic master/switched functionality, Tier II advanced power strips are able to use motion and remote control sensors to control the master outlet (typically a TV). Within a set time frame, if no motion or remote control signals are sensed, the TV and subsequently the controlled outlet devices (DVD player, gaming system) are automatically powered off.
