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The Insatiable Power Hunger of Home Electronics

An anonymous reader writes "A Wall Street Journal columnist recently got his hand on a power meter and decided to write about his findings, the resulting article being discussed here on Slashdot. That author concluded that gadgets are getting a bad rap, and are relatively insignificant power consumers in the grand scheme of things. A rebuttal has appeared, arguing that not only are modern electronics significant power consumers already, while everything else is becoming more efficient, home electronics seem to be getting worse. This echoes the Department of Energy's assertion that 'Electricity consumption for home electronics, particularly for color TVs and computer equipment, is also forecast to grow significantly over the next two decades.' Are gadgets unfairly maligned, or getting an unearned pardon?"

5 of 340 comments (clear)

  1. Color TVs? Is that really necessary to specify? by thc69 · · Score: 4, Funny
    particularly for color TVs and computer equipment
    Oh good, all my black and white TVs and computer equipment are okay...
    --
    Procrastination -- because good things come to those who wait.
    1. Re:Color TVs? Is that really necessary to specify? by Forseti · · Score: 5, Funny
      Monochrome CRTs use remarkably little energy.

      Obviously! None of them have been plugged in for 20 years! ;-)

      --
      Delay is preferable to error. (Thomas Jefferson)
  2. Re:My results by thetroll123 · · Score: 5, Funny

    On a side note, don't you just love those British 3-prong plugs? Just be careful not to step on one in the middle of the night barefoot! :-)

    Or, more generally, don't step on anything pointy barefoot. Time of day and intended purpose of the pointy thing are not important.

  3. Re:My results by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That would explain why my light bill is 80 pounds per month!!

    For those of us not living in the UK, what is that in kilograms?

  4. Re:My results by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny
    One thing I will say about the UK plug: at least there is no question that you have a ground (earth).
    Unless you have the ones with the plastic earth prong...

    If that leaves you with some question as to whether you will have an operable earth ground when the ground prong is plastic, you are not qualified to plug appliances into the wall. Please contact a trained professional.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"