LivingPlug Charges Ahead with Release of INLET
San Francisco, Calif. (PRWEB) June 18, 2014 -- LivingPlug (http://www.livingplug.com), which creates solutions that change the way people relate to electrical outlets, today announced the general availability of its integrated base (INLET) and faceplate system. INLET gives the century-old duplex electrical outlet a makeover by enhancing aesthetics, increasing its utility and improving child safety while promoting energy conservation. The INLET will be on display at booth number 929 at this week’s Dwell on Design exhibition, kicking off on Friday, June 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Historically, electrical outlets have posed a challenge to architects, interior designers and homeowners. For almost a century, the form factor and function of the duplex electrical outlet has remained unchanged with the outlet's current appearance and function based on the utility of the lowest common denominator of use in a household (see http://www.uglyoutlet.com for photos depicting outlets at their worst). INLET addresses these deficiencies by concealing unattractive outlets on its own, while the custom faceplates make a statement of individual creativity and match or accent other elements in one’s living environment. Enhanced utility, including three outlets, a USB port, and on/off button, further improves LivingPlug’s appeal.
“As a society, we rely on electricity in our household for so much,” says Charley Curran, co-founder of LivingPlug. “Yet, most people would agree that electrical outlets are ugly, beige and boring. With INLET, we’re redefining and redeveloping the electrical outlet with respect to aesthetics, design, safety and utility. Consumers now have a more simple, responsible and creative way to interact with the electrical outlet.”
“People are getting increasingly passionate about the hardware that surrounds their daily lives - this is seen in the enthusiasm around smartphones (iPhone), thermostats (Nest) and sound systems (Sonos)," said Sam Leichman, co-founder of LivingPlug. "And yet, while pervasive, electrical outlets are so unattractive that publications like Architectural Digest and Elle Decor are regularly airbrushing them out of their photos. LivingPlug gives people the opportunity to make them so much utilitarian, while providing a platform to personalize and greatly improve how they appear."
Why Choose LivingPlug’s INLET
INLET provides a number of advantages over other electrical hardware solutions. It’s truly the first-of-its-kind electrical outlet accessory that gives owners peace of mind that their home safer for their children, aesthetically appealing, and that they’ve taken the steps necessary to be more energy efficient – saving money, energy and worry. Specifically, it:
● Improves the aesthetic of living environments. INLET’s interchangeable faceplate system allows owners to further conceal their outlet. INLET owners can personalize faceplates to make a statement of individual creativity and match or accent other deliberate elements in the living environment. INLET owners can simply select an image from LivingPlug's library of licensed images of art, print and photos or upload a personal photo to create a made to order interchangeable faceplate. To see images of INLET, please click here.
● Provides advanced utility beyond the standard duplex outlet. LivingPlug increased the standard outlet’s functionality by adding a high capacity USB port and a third receptacle.
● Increases child safety. To address this issue, LivingPlug replaced a duplex outlet with three tamper resistant receptacles that prevent electrical connectivity if a metal object penetrates only one of the blades. Additionally, INLET features an optional anchor screw that allows parents to secure it directly to a standard outlet, thereby preventing a child from accessing the non-tamper resistant outlets on the wall.
● Facilitates energy conservation. LivingPlug includes an “UNplug” button on the INLET that when pressed will shut off all power to the INLET as well as the USB port. Research has shown that the average household in the U.S. spends about $1,500 dollars on their electrical bill annually. Of this number, 15 percent or more is wasted due to phantom or vampire charges that draw energy by simply being plugged in. INLET empowers users to stop energy loss from devices that are plugged in or not in use with its “UNplug” button. “For those energy efficient homeowners and renters, INLET’s master kill switch allows them to control the amount of phantom power being utilized,” says LivingPlug Co-Founder Samuel Leichman. “While total savings will vary by individual, there is an opportunity for INLET owners to save upwards of 10 percent on an electric bill.”
“As an artist, I’ve seen the way in which people look at their homes. They have a desire to be connected and inspired by the items in it and frequently ask for functionality and beauty to coexist," says Will Day, one of the first artists to lend his paintings to the INLET faceplates. “I am proud to be part of the marketplace of design elements for the INLET; it is an additional platform for me to share the art I create, while enabling people to showcase their personal taste and surround themselves with something they find beautiful and inspiring.”
LivingPlug is currently available for purchase through its website (http://www.livingplug.com) as well as select retail locations. INLET retails for $25 with faceplates ranging from $15 to $30.
About LivingPlug
LivingPlug creates solutions that change the way people relate to electrical outlets, inserting design and enhanced utility into hardware that the world takes for granted. The company’s first product, INLET, gives the century-old duplex electrical outlet a makeover by increasing its utility and child safety while promoting energy conservation and enhancing aesthetics. LivingPlug’s collaboration with designers to improve the looks of an outlet with a customizable, interchangeable faceplate system is previously unseen in the commoditized electrical component industry. INLET gives its owners peace of mind that their home is safer and they’ve taken steps to be more energy efficient -- saving energy, money and worry. http://www.livingplug.com
Kimberly Angell, Wish Public Relations, (415) 471-7272, [email protected]
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