Eco Button
The green way to take a break
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Sends your computer into an instant deep sleep!
So far, so simple - but the Eco Button is far smarter than just switching your PC into its regular standby mode. It teaches your machine to shut down all functions that draw power, except from the minimum amount of memory that your machine needs, so you end up running your monitor and hard drive on just 1.8 watts of juice - far less than your normal standby can manage.
Plug into a USB port |
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Download software from Eco Button Website |
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Start pushing that button! |
Just plug the Eco Button into a USB port, and whenever you need to take a break or leave your desk, press the green glowing centre. Your computer enters a special eco-mode that's more like being switched off completely. What you do on your break is up to you and your conscience - but when you're finally ready to hit the grindstone again, the eco-mode switches off instantaneously, with no boring boot-up wait at all.
Save Money! Save the Planet!
Eco Button is designed to work on any PC, and you'll only need 5MB of space and 256Kb of RAM to install it. And if you're as concerned about security as you are about the environment, then you'll be able to activate a password-protection function from the ecobutton's software. Every time you go to restore your session, you'll be prompted for a password before the ecomode can be switched off.
Monitor your savings using the Eco Button software
Money saving, secure and green - you'll be hard pressed to find another button with the same credentials as this. While presidents and prime ministers may have their fingers poised over a red button, hover yours over something green and help save humanity!
More Info
Please Note:
- Eco Button Software can only be downloaded from the Eco Button Website
- Windows 2000 / XP / Vista 32 bit
- Less than 5Mb of disk space and a minimum of 256Kb RAM.
- Administrative rights will be required to install the software. If your computer is part of a network you may need to check with your IT department.
- For added security systems can be set to require a password. With this activated, no one can access the computer when it is in Ecomode.
- Approximately 5.5cm (L) x 5.5cm (W) x 1.5cm (H)
- USB Cable Length Approximately 110 cm
Videos
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Video of the Week: 11th Aug 2008
Rating:
The excellent EcoButton, ideal for helping you to save money on your electricity bill, and putting your computer to sleep when you go get a cuppa.
Dale, Worcestershire - 7th Aug 2008
Firebox Says: Thanks for the video, but remember it's FireBOX, not FireFOX! Ha ha!
Video URL: http://www.firebox.com/video/1714
Win with FireboxIf we spot a video we think is AMAZING we will give away a FREE £50.00 Firebox Voucher to the sender! Upload your video now for a chance to win!
Photos
Win with FireboxIf we spot a photo we think is AMAZING we will give away a FREE £50.00 Firebox Voucher to the sender! Upload your photo now for a chance to win!
Comments
Reviews and FAQs
Press Reviews...
"A big green button that helps you trim your carbon footprint. Press it and your computer goes into a deep sleep, using far less power than in normal standby mode."MSN Tech & Gadgets - May '09
Visitor Reviews...
Thinking of getting one or more of these...on average what would the payback be?Ash, UK - 30th July 2010
Firebox says: It depends how much you use it, there is software for you to track the power and money you have saved one you have installed the Eco Button.
Does this gadget stop the fan on your computer when it is in standby mode ?Kenneth Prior, Birmingham - 29th November 2009
Firebox says: Sorry to baffle you with science, but word from our suppliers is:
Q: What kind of sleep mode does ecobutton™ actually engage, is it just the normal Standby mode?
A: No, ecobutton™ does not employ the normal Standby mode (although you may get the on screen message 'Preparing to Standby' when you use your ecobutton™). The mode that ecobutton™ engages is a deeper energy saving mode than the regular Standby mode you usually find as default on a Windows PC.
On most PCs there are 4 inbuilt sleep states - S1, S2, S3 and S4. With each successive sleep state, from S1 to S4 (hibernate), more of the computer is shut down. However, the majority of PCs are actually supplied with S2 and S3 disabled leaving just the most shallow sleep state (S1) and the deepest (S4 hibernate) available to most users. Most people tend not to use hibernate due to the length of time the PC takes to wake up leaving just S1 as the only convenient option.
The sleep states built into most PCs are as follows:
S1 = Basic Standby (Shallow sleep). Typically wakes up in no more than two seconds
S2 = Less power consumption than S1 and greater than in S3. Wake up is usually two seconds or slightly more.
S3 = Less power consumption than in S2. Wake up time is the same as S2.
S4 (hibernate) = The lowest power state but with a long wake up time - sometimes a few minutes or more.
ecobutton™ re-educates your PC to use S3 when the ecobutton™ is pressed. - confused? In essence the answer is yes, but it depends on a number of variables
Someone in my office thought it would be a good idea to buy everyone one of these. What they failed to realise is that you don't need to spend money on this product, you can easily configure your computer to go into standby with a single press of the power button, and if you leave your computer on and forget to press it then set it to go into stand-by after a time period of inactivity.
I can't help but think what resources went into the manufacturing of these. Save the planet? Nah, it seems like a pointless product for a solution that could have been easily achieved without them.Adam, UK - 11th November 2009
Firebox says: We put this to Eco Button and this is what they said:
A vast amount of PC users either don’t know how to configure their own PC’s to maximise energy saving effectively.
The ecobutton™ just makes it nice and easy to do it with the knowledge that they will be using the most efficient “sleep” mode available on their PC’s.
Not all standby modes are as efficient as the one ecobutton™ uses. The resources that ecobutton uses pays for itself as you use it, becoming carbon negative & saving you money into the bargain!
Does the eco-button still allow you to download while the computer is in the famous "deep sleep mode"?LEW, Aberdeen - 16th October 2009
Firebox says: No you wouldn't be able to download.
I have recently purchased a ecobutton from Amazon/zoo, but cannot get it to work, is there a disc you can send me? When I try to go on to your eco button website via you promt, it says website cannot be found. Look forward to your reply.Carol Poore, Herne Bay, Kent - 8th July 2009
Firebox says: If you could drop us an email with your order number we'd be happy to look in to getting you the necessary software.
I think this item is a great idea, but slightly contradicting as surely you are using energy by plugging in and lighting up the Eco-button itself?Michael, Basildon - 25th May 2009
Firebox says: We asked Eco Button and they said:
The ecobutton™ draws a miniscule 0.08W. We think this is a very small price to pay if it’s going to remind you to use it regularly. It can save so much more energy than it uses just by using it for a short time.
I bought one of these a week ago and in the first 2 days saved 20 grams of carbon emissions! I didn't even use it that much! It's so good that I'm going to get one for my dad's house too.
Long Live The Eco-Button!!!Robin, Ashburton - 13th December 2008
Why has this never been invented before?? My computer takes aaages to boot up and I always worry about electricity costs if I leave my system on hibernate overnight! Finally,a solution that's good for my computer, the environment and my pocket!Chris, London, UK - 12th August 2008
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