You'll Never Think About "Energy Savings" The Same Way Again
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 10.26.07
In the same vein as Scott Amron's "Off" light switch, where you have to pick between hanging up your jacket or turning on the light, comes "Energy Savings," a design-as-art statement that changes a standard light switch from consumption to conservation. It gives new meaning to the term "energy savings," and it's one of the most interesting piggy banks we've ever seen.
It's half of the "Covers" project by Boiler Design, conceived as a way to rethink our interaction with energy on the consumer end. Hit the jump to see the second half of the project. ::Boiler Design via ::Apartment Therapy
Part two of the "Covers" project answers the question, "What use is an electrical plug when your not plugged in?" Two simple tabs on the ends of a standard cover plate hopefully remind you to unplug unused electronics, and create a handy place to put the plugs when they aren't in use.
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I love the first pic of the coin operated switch. Very effective idea. Wish it could become a standard.
Next will be pay toilets in the home. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do...
i think this is a great idea! I wihs we had one at home....
I like the idea of having a place to wrap the cord around. It would encourage me to unplug stuff. AT the same time I wouldn't need to crawl all over the floor finding the plug!
It's a shame the coins don't actually activate a light (say, for the time it takes to generate that cost of electricity). Still, I bet that's the way about 80% of the readers read that image at first glance, so maybe someone will actually go that next step.
very effective idea and i wish it could become a standard too!
Hopefully the "Energy Savings" switch gives you more time than the ones in churches all over Europe. Of course, those are "Energy Givings"...
what a load of amazing stuff
i think this is so cool it rocks
The problem with the general idea of paying for energy as we go, is that our energy is produced incredibly cheaply. For example, a quarter is enough to produce 3.5 kWh of energy... which will power the average floor lamp for 59 hours and 31 minutes. Not exactly enough to make most people conserve...