“the standby mode of the electrical appliances can represents up to 10% of the electric consumption of a housing (except heating)”[1]

The Energy Saving Adaptor, designed by Gilles Belley in collaboration with EDF's Design Department, aims to reduce unnecessary energy consumption resulting from electrical products being left on standby.

The adaptor is a central hub featuring individual portals into which the user's devices are plugged. It monitors the power supply to each device and detects any equipment which has been left in standby mode. The corresponding portal on the hub, linked to the device, lights up indicating that the device is on standby to signal the user to switch it off. If the user does not respond, the "standby mode cut-off" turns it off automatically after three minutes.

What's interesting about this concept is that the designer provides the user with the information needed to behave in the 'right' way through eco-feedback first, but if they do not comply the product automatically switches the device off. By building in intelligence, the designer ensures that his goal of saving energy is met, regardless of how the user chooses to behave.