The environmental impact of Google searches.

[trekkiedane]

TIMESONLINE article.

Physicist Alex Wissner-Gross says that performing two Google searches uses up as much energy as boiling the kettle for a cup of tea.

Nicholas Carr, author of The Big Switch, Rewiring the World, has calculated that maintaining a character (known as an avatar) in the Second Life virtual reality game, requires 1,752 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. That is almost as much used by the average Brazilian.

I know that the net is a terrible waste of the most refined form of energy we have: electricity. But how do we consumers go about telling the industry we want them to start making more efficient electronics? -stop buying their products -Yeah, I don't see that happening either.

When it comes to cars we have the choice to get one that has a better mileage (or just use it a lot less), we can insulate our houses to keep the cold out (or in; depending), we can use efficient light sources, take shorter showers, use nature instead of machines to dry our washing…

We indeed have a lot of choices when it comes to most of the things we do on a daily basis, but not so with computers (or all that other electronic stuff we have come to depend on for our entertainment (and work/studies)). I mean: when's the last time you saw a computer advertised primarily for it's low power consumption?

I don't really have a question, 'cept perhaps: do you feel the Google-guilt?

 

[Amaris]

TIMESONLINE article.

Physicist Alex Wissner-Gross says that performing two Google searches uses up as much energy as boiling the kettle for a cup of tea.

Nicholas Carr, author of The Big Switch, Rewiring the World, has calculated that maintaining a character (known as an avatar) in the Second Life virtual reality game, requires 1,752 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. That is almost as much used by the average Brazilian.

I know that the net is a terrible waste of the most refined form of energy we have: electricity. But how do we consumers go about telling the industry we want them to start making more efficient electronics? -stop buying their products -Yeah, I don't see that happening either.

When it comes to cars we have the choice to get one that has a better mileage (or just use it a lot less), we can insulate our houses to keep the cold out (or in; depending), we can use efficient light sources, take shorter showers, use nature instead of machines to dry our washing…

We indeed have a lot of choices when it comes to most of the things we do on a daily basis, but not so with computers (or all that other electronic stuff we have come to depend on for our entertainment (and work/studies)). I mean: when's the last time you saw a computer advertised primarily for it's low power consumption?

I don't really have a question, 'cept perhaps: do you feel the Google-guilt?

I wonder if he used Google to research his theory?

J.

 

[trekkiedane]

He did, but he had no tea while doing so!

 

[Amaris]

He did, but he had no tea while doing so!

Ah, then he's carbon neutral.


J.

 

[Hoser]

I mean: when's the last time you saw a computer advertised primarily for it's low power consumption?

06-07, but I haven't been reading them lately.

I think Macs were promoting their low energy consumption. HP as well.....I'd google it, but NOW I FEEL GUILT

 

[RoJoHen]

As long as I don't have to pump the internet full of gasoline, I think I'll survive.

 

[Evil_Kirkneivel]

Nicholas Carr, author of The Big Switch, Rewiring the World, has calculated that maintaining a character (known as an avatar) in the Second Life virtual reality game, requires 1,752 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. That is almost as much used by the average Brazilian.

Then can I cut out the middleman and, instead of using Second Life, just maintain a Second Brazilian?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I don't really have a question, 'cept perhaps: do you feel the Google-guilt?

Not until the dickhead in the article pointed it out. Up until now I thought Google-guilt was when someone walks up behind you and sees that your Google search history has a bunch of porn-related keywords on it.

 

[Evil_Kirkneivel]

Not until the dickhead in the article pointed it out. Up until now I thought Google-guilt was when someone walks up behind you and sees that your Google search history has a bunch of porn-related keywords on it.

This situation is referred to as 'goo-guilt'.

 

[Holdfast]

Not until the dickhead in the article pointed it out. Up until now I thought Google-guilt was when someone walks up behind you and sees that your Google search history has a bunch of porn-related keywords on it.

This situation is referred to as 'goo-guilt'.

Only if you finish your search too quickly.