An eco-friendly startup called Green Plugaims to reduce the mess of cables and cords beneath office desks worldwide. The company is part of a movement to create a universal power supply so consumers won't have to buy new chargers every time they get new cell phones, for instance. Not only does it look better under your desk, but it reduces waste and saves money.
Green Plug is making a universal power adaptor with mini-USB cables that can connect to and charge multiple devices like cell phones, MP3 players, laptops, digital cameras, and other portable electronic devices. Currently, these devices require separate AC adapters that Green Plug says "is very costly, is extremely inconvenient and contributes to wasted resources and pollution."
In addition to reducing the tangled jungle of cables behind your computer, Green Plug's universal power adaptor will monitor the energy flow and stop it once a device is fully charged, eliminating wasted energy - and saving you money off your electric bill in the long run. The device will cost under $100 and go on sale in early 2009, the company stated.
The universal charger would also reduce electronics waste: 434 million consumer electronics are tossed each year. And when each electronic comes with a proprietary charger, it's likely that those will end up in the dumpster too.
Electronics manufacturer Westinghouse announced a deal on June 14 with Green Plug to include their firmware and apply the "universal" standard to their products. But the standard really isn't "universal" until everyone uses it - and it may be tough to get other manufacturers to follow suit.
Companies that make proprietary chargers get revenue when replacements are ordered, and consumers that do not have Green Plug's charger will be miffed when a power adaptor doesn't come in the box.
