Planet Switch — Does Al Gore know about this?

Inspired by environmentalists' noting that 8% of the UK's electricity is used to power appliances and whatnot in standby mode, Jeremy Paxton envisioned placing every device with a standby mode on a separate circuit so they could all be turned off at once.

He commissioned former hip-hop graffiti artist Alexander Baynes to create it.

From the website:

Planet Switch

Designed by Jeremy Paxton, creator of the eco-responsible Lower Mill Estate, it's evocative and fun and was initially conceived to turn all TVs and monitors from standby to off (responsible for gulping 8% of the nations electricity) but, in addition to this function, ultimately has been developed to prick the conscience of the entire household to hit the switch from on to SAVE, turning off all lights and other appliances.

Essentially an on/off switch it is simply designed to look like planet earth with the word SAVE as an integral part of the design. The Planet Switch is now going into all new homes built at Lower Mill Estate as standard. This is done by installing a special circuit. For retro fits it will be used as an awareness booster not to waste energy.

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Email Jeremy Paxton — planetswitch@lowermillestate.com — and he'll sell you one for £9.99.

Tell him joe sent you if you like but me, I wouldn't.

No telling what could result.

[via Jonathan Margolis, writing in issue 181 of the Financial Times "How To Spend It" supplement]