By Erin Molon

If your house is like my house, it seems like everything needs to be plugged in! While it is advised that you unplug electronics when you are not using them, that rule is easy to overlook. But what if you could see how much it was costing you to keep the appliance plugged in?

Belkin has created such a visual aid in its Conserve Insight, a seemingly easy to use energy monitoring system. This gadget gets plugged into the socket first and has a socket on its face where you can then plug the device. The connected display gives you the option to see what the environmental impact is in term of CO2 each year or month from the plugged in device, how many watts of electricity it uses, and how much money it is costing you to run it — the last of which is my personal favorite.

While the device is not released yet, you can pre-order it on Belkin’s website. It is reasonably priced at $29.99 so it’s an investment everyone can make.

I see this product as a great way to educate yourself on how much energy you are truly using. While you may know that you are leaving plenty of things plugged in, when you can’t see its cost to the environment and to you it’s hard to really put the waste into perspective. Plus, you know what they say; out of sight, out of mind.

Now I am just left to wonder: How much electricity does the Conserve Insight use?