Stake vampire power with Innergie smart hub

Tired of switching off your power strip to save cash?

A new technology is determined to put an end to the wasted electricity of plugged-in gadgets everywhere.

Enter Green Plug, a San Ramon, Calif.-based company whose technology automatically detects several plugged-in devices' power demands and adjusts its power supply accordingly, turning the device off when not in use.

The company has teamed up with power accessory manufacturer Innergieto introduce a smart hub that will, so to speak, save you some green.

Bye bye, power leaks.

To encourage widespread use, Green Plug has been licensing their technology to consumer electronics makers for free with the hopes that their power-sapping technology makes its way into the array of power strips and hubs on the market today.

Innergie is the first to bat with their mCube90, pictured above, which should make an appearance at CES next month and is available for order on its site.

The Innergie unit will use the technology, called Greentalk, allowing you to plug whatever you want -- your smartphone, Netbook, iPod, Playstation 3 -- into the hub and it will detect how much power to supply, cutting the electricity flow when needed and saving you energy and expense (after the fact, though: Innergie's universal adapter retails for $129.99, quite a lot of green).

The mCube90 can manage 65W of continuous power and 90W of peak power, and the roughly 5 in. by 3 in. by 1-in. device tips the scales at just over nine ounces. It also protects against over current, over voltage and output overload situations, according to the specs.

Could you just shut off your power strip? Sure -- but the technology tailors the treatment to each device. More scalpel, less hatchet, if you will. [via Discovery's Sustainable blog]

Related: Heather Clancy: Westinghouse is plugged in. Green Plugged, that is.