Non-grounded outlets and thermostats?

[Old Sloppy]

Screw the center plate screw through the loop on the adapter to keep it secured in place

The center plate screw is allso a ground connection (if the house is a three wire building) so this is required for the surge strip to work .
If the house is a two wire building ( like my mother in law's house) then the surge strip then is just an extension cord (with no ground).

Harry