Slashdot reports that internet use consumes 9.4% of US electricity and 5% of world Electrical output.

according to research by David Sarokin at online pay-for-answers service Uclue. Worldwide, that’s 868 billion kilowatt-hours per year. The total includes the energy used by desktop computers and monitors (which makes up two-thirds of the total), plus other energy sinks including modems, routers, data processing equipment and cooling equipment.”

So scientists and tech designers are trying to find a way to decrease the power use of newer computers.

One way many people are slowing the energy use is to use the “Black Google”: The google webpage with a black instead of white background. More information HERE., along with links to alternative search engines such as Darkoogle.

Assuming that users run Google in full screen mode, the shift to a black background [on a CRT monitor! mjo] will save a total of 15 (74-59) watts. That turns into a global savings of 8.3 Megawatt-hours per day, or about 3000 Megawatt-hours a year.

On the other hand, as the Environmental news network points out,  internet use saves energy in other ways: mainly by allowing telecommuting and on line shopping.

————–

Nancy Reyes is a retired physician living in the rural Philippines. her webpage is Finest Kind Clinic and Fishmarket. 

Let Others Know About This Post These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • blogmarks
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Fark
  • Ma.gnolia
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • TwitThis
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Live
  • YahooMyWeb