AT&T is trying to help you go green by introducing a mobile phone charger that won’t draw power if it is not charging a device.
Dubbed the “Zero charger,” the USB charger shuts down when it is not in use, so you won’t have to unplug it to save energy. This may seem like a little thing, but conventional chargers will continue to draw power when they’re plugged in. This can add up.
“In the U.S., the total amount of electricity that flows through internal and external power adapters is nearly 470 billion kWh per year or about 12 percent of the nation’s annual electricity consumption,” AT&T said, using the Department of Energy as a source. “During the process these devices consume about 120 billion kWh per year of electricity and turn it into heat, costing the nation over $12 billion in electric bills.”
If the Zero charger can put even a tiny dent in that wasted figure, it will be well worth whatever they’re going to charge for it. No word on pricing or availability, but look for it to roll out soon for a reasonable price.
[Via AT&T]