Ecos Research and Policy division performed the first-ever comprehensive study on the energy use of video game consoles, on behalf of the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC). Conducted in Ecos' Durango, CO, laboratory, the research revealed that the nation’s consoles consumed an estimated 16 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year — approximately equal to the annual electricity use of the city of San Diego.
The study concluded that the incorporation of more user-friendly power management features could save up to 11 billion kWh of electricity per year, save more than $1 billion per year in energy costs and avoid emission of more than 7 million tons of CO2 annually. The research report provides recommendations for users, video game console manufacturers, component suppliers and game developers for improving current and future video game consoles.
