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.

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

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