Hanscom to receive advanced power strips Published Jan. 16, 2013 By David Wong 66 Air Base Group Civil Engineering HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- In an effort to reduce power consumption and save the Air Force millions in energy costs, Air Force Materiel Command purchased more than 77,000 advanced power strips. Hanscom is scheduled to receive more than 3,000 of these advanced power strips this month. Although most modern electronic devices have a "power save" function, they are still consuming a small amount of power. Advanced power strips incorporate power sensing technology that allows non-essential power consuming items to be turned off automatically. These particular new power strips use a control device, such as the computer, to control the power to peripherals on somebody's desk, such as monitor or speakers, civil engineering officials explain. When the power strip senses that the computer is not being used, it will automatically turn the power to the peripheral devices off and then turn them back on when the computer is being used. The difference is that with an advanced power strip, peripherals are completely turned off, while in "power save" mode, power consumption is just reduced. At no time will power to the computer be shut down. The intent of this program is to replace all current power strips at each workstation with an advanced power strip. Distribution of these power strips is scheduled to begin in February and is expected to last several months. For more information, contact Bruce Finley, Hanscom energy manager, at 781-225-5594, or email the Hanscom energy team at 66.ABG.CEK.Energy@hanscom.af.mil.