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The energy used to run video game consoles could power San Diego for a year

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A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council titled "Lowering the Cost of Play: Improving Energy Efficiency of Video Game Consoles" reveals that video game consoles across America collectively suck up "an estimated 16 billion kilowatt-hours per year — roughly equal to the annual electricity use of the city of San Diego." So what's the solution here — never game again? No, but, like with all electric appliances, smart power management is the order of the day:

"Through the incorporation of more user-friendly power management features, we could save approximately 11 billion kWh of electricity per year, cut our nation's electricity bill by more than $1 billion per year, and avoid emissions of more than 7 million tons of CO₂ each year."

You don't leave all the lights on when you go to sleep, do you? Turn off your game console, too — just save and head to bed. Check out the NRDC report for more tips on how to cut back on your power usage.

NRDC, via Ars Technica

 
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(3) COMMENTS

Akito38A:
game consoles typically consume about the same amount of energy a PC uses while its running at normal power. (not s...More »


Comments

By Ron at 11:04 PM ON 11/19/08

But the PlayStation 3 can help cure cancer with Folding@Home plus it now has better energy saving settings. I don't think the other consoles offers as much.

By CoolProducts at 3:19 PM ON 11/21/08

I live in an apartment and am not all too happy about having to foot high electricity bills every month. I regularly unplug/turnoff appliances when they're no longer in use, or when I go to bed. Not only is it helping to save energy, but eases the pinch on my wallet as well.

By Akito38A at 3:07 AM ON 02/01/09

game consoles typically consume about the same amount of energy a PC uses while its running at normal power. (not stand by)

Of course the xbox360 and PS3 are both very PC like in the way they operate.


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