ATLANTA -- A CBS 46 Investigation uncovered what appears to be a needless waste of power in some metro Atlanta homes.

A device called the “Power-Save 1200” promises to cut electric bills up to 25 percent. The U.S. Department of Energy has endorsed the technology, but not a single power company in the Southeast is willing to talk about the product.

Motor-based appliances pull in more kilowatts of energy than people use. The leftover energy flows out of the home, completely wasted. The makers of the Power-Save 1200 claim that if a homeowner installs the device near the breaker panel, it will store the leftover power for future use.

The device was intriguing to one Atlanta family. With one toddler and another on the way, the Marks are a high-energy family.

“I have an electric lawnmower, so I have been kicking that on as well,” said homeowner Greg Mark.

“I'm doing potty training, so the dryer is on every day,” said wife Michelle.

The Marks agreed to let CBS 46 install the device in their home. Their electrician said this was the first device he’s ever seen in a home. The electrician said he normally installs the device in businesses.

“It’d be interesting to see if we can really reduce our power without having to change our lifestyle too drastically,” said Greg.

Several months later, the Marks consulted their electric bills for the results.

“The real measure is year to current month and that was a big difference!” said Greg.

The family’s energy use is down 240 kilowatt hours a month, saving the family about $15 to $20 a month. If the trend continues, the $300 investment in the device will be paid back in about 18 months.

The Marks have cut the bill by about 12 percent so far, but with summer approaching, the Marks will be cranking up their energy-hogging air conditioning. That means the largest savings may be yet to come.

“I’m looking forward to cranking it up,” said Greg. “So we’ll see what happens!”