Westinghouse has committed to using Green Plug's technology in power adapters for its laptops, cell phones and other electronics gear, PCWorld reports.
Green Plug's technology lets each device with a dead battery communicate its individual power requirements to the same power adapter, eliminating the need for a 1.5V, 3V and 4.5V adapter.
Electronics manufacturers can embed Green Plug's firmware into their devices so that they can send their power requirements to the adapter.
Westinghouse says Green Plug could help cut costs if the company can eventually stop shipping power adapters with its products. Of course, for that to happen other, bigger electronics makers will have to get on board.
The adapters will also shut off the power supply when a device has finished charging or is turned off, giving further energy savings.
434 million consumer electronics devices are "retired" in the U.S. each year, many times along with their chargers, according to environmental consultant Greg Lefabre.
