5 January 2009 13:03 GMT / By Ben Crompton
It's the start of a new year and possibly the start of a resolution or two, so if your New Year aims include saving cash and possibly trying to be a little "greener", then one or both of these products may interest you.One is the Standby Buster and the other is the PC Power Down. Made by the same company, Ivy Energy Saving Limited, these two products are designed to make it easier to avoid leaving the various TVs, stereos and computers that are scattered about our homes on standby.
The Standby Buster works by cutting off the electricity supply to the equipment it is plugged into and is activated by a remote control. The emphasis here is on ease of use and means that many appliances can be switched off from afar without the tedious reaching around behind the TV to get to the socket itself.
Priced at £14.63 it appears to be an affordable way in which you can save yourself some cash in the long run.
Apparently leaving a typical home entertainment system - TV, DVD, digital TV receiver and hi-fi - on standby when not in use can cost £40 a year according to a 2006 report from the consumer magazine, Which?
PC Power Down runs along a similar vein but as the name suggests is dedicated to switching off your PC as well as any peripherals when not in use. This is especially relevant at night, a time when computers are often left running.
You can get more details of the different products, and how they can save you money, by clicking on the links below. Eco, Gadgets, Hardware, Daily Tech Deal, Ivy



Is Facebook about to buy Opera to create own Facebook browser? EXCLUSIVE: Pocket-lint source tells us "yes"
APP OF THE DAY: The Weather Channel review (iPhone / iPod touch) Tonight for the first time, just about half-past ten...
Mazda CX5 2.2 TDI AWD A very zoomy SUV
Apple testing 3.95-inch iPhone 5, with 16:9 display 1136 x 640 resolution revolution
Pentax K-30: 16-megapixel weather-proofed mid-level DSLR 81 seals makes this one tough cam
Jony Ive: Next Apple product is our most important and best work yet Better than iPod, iPad and iPhone?
Running blind: How Simon Wheatcroft uses his iPhone to see Runkeeper and more let this man run solo
WIN: Tickets to Ibiza Rocks to see Maverick Sabre and Labrinth live Epic prize courtesy of Sony
Dragon's Dogma Adventure time
Which smartphone is best for the sun? Screens for the Summer
Bungie Destiny contract reveals Xbox 720 will arrive in 2013 - E3 announcement? Commissioned for Xbox 360 and "next Xbox"
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Roger likes a Tango at 12 o'clock
Batman Nokia Lumia 900: Limited edition phone heading to UK Who are you? I'm Batman
Robert Moog Google doodle best yet, even better than Les Paul Synthesizer synthesiser
British Gas turns Team GB swimming stars into superheroes Aquanauts assemble
Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
The compact system camera to beat all others?
Nokia Lumia 900 review
Is big beautiful?
HTC One V review
V for victory?
Huawei Ascend G300 review
Big bang for your hundred quid
FIFA 12: UEFA Euro 2012 review
Lacks polish, if not the Polish
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T review
Transforms your money in to a great tablet
Nikon Coolpix P510 review
Does the P510 zoom beyond expectations?
Fujifilm X-Pro1 review
Like a Leica
Volkswagen Beetle Design 1.2TSi DSG review
The bug is back. Again.
BlackBerry Curve 9320 review
A BB for beginners?
Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR review
Can Fujifilm’s latest put the ‘super’ in superzoom?
HP Envy 14 Spectre review
The Ultrabook that isn't an Ultrabook
The Walking Dead: The Game review
Fleshed out zombie bonanza
Nikon Coolpix S6300 review
Point, shoot and scoot