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Save energy, save money: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii energy consumption put to the test

Posted Nov 19, 2008 at 9:25AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 Tags: NRDC

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Ecos Consulting firm have published a joint study which focuses on the energy consumption of the current gen consoles: Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3.

To a degree, we can call each of these consoles a powerhouse in their own right: they generate cool graphics, keep us entertained, and make life as we know it generally fun. But to call each of them a "powerhouse", in the most literal sense (i.e. in the realm of energy consumption), then that's the question, ain't it?

The NRDC has published the findings of their research in a document called "Lowering the Cost of Play: Improving the Energy Efficiency of Video Game Consoles". Based on their results, the PS3 remains as the most power-hungry - energy-hungry, rather - console there is. Then the Xbox 360, followed by the Nintendo Wii.

The document is a rather interesting read, and somehow gets every point across without having to step on fanboy toes. While I'd like to outline everything they've come up with, for brevity's sake (you can read the document yourself at your own leisure), we'll throw in this chart. The chart below speaks for itself.

NRDC - Image 1

What I like about this study is that it takes into account the different versions of the consoles in their lifetime. Also, they've given some suggestions - practical and reasonable suggestions - to manufacturers, game developers, and gamers themselves for ways to be more mindful of energy consumption.

Their conclusion is sound and simple, without being too uptight and demanding:

The single most effective way to save energy is to power down your systemÂ—after saving your game if necessaryÂ—when not actively playing. If you own a console with a powersaving feature such as auto power-off after a preset time, use it.

*Ting Ting Ting!* Note to all students out there readying a paper on video games - this could be a vital resource for you! Unlike the other study on the civic effects of video games, this document from the NRDC is merely two pages long, making it an easy read. And I strongly suggest that you do - whether you're writing a paper on it or not.

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Comments

# WOW — BIH 2008-11-19 12:00

The Wii is off the charts, i guess all that "Advanced" hardware needs alot of juice.

# lol — jrsmaster411 2008-11-19 12:44

I love sarcasm

# So... — damonous 2008-11-19 13:40

If I actually turn my original PS3 console *OFF* after using it, it will only cost me $15/yr.

But, if I am *INSANE* and leave it run 24x7 all year long, it will cost me $160.

Wow. Thanks for the "advice" NRDC. You'll be saving me a lot of money .... unless, of course, you are a government agency; in which case, with taxes I will probably paid well more than $160 for your bonehead analysis.

# wii... — Racer64X 2008-11-19 14:52

WIImp

# So... — anhero 2008-11-19 15:16

If I play my ps3 one hour a day, divide 134 dollars by 24 (24 hours a day) so I end up paying around 5.60 plus the money spent leaving it connected to the outlet which would be around 11 dollars a year (not 12 cause 1 hours is on and was counted by the 5.60) I end up paying around 16.50 dollars a year for my ps3 in the eletric bill...

If Sony expects me to use the ps3 for a 9 years (10 yar lifespan minus one year cuz mine was bought on 2007, one year after original release) then I would have wasted 148.50 dollars, and if energy cost increases which it will then its going to be even more...

SONY YOU BASTARD!!!

# WOW People are stupid. — hush404 2008-11-19 17:04

If your choice in consoles come down to power consumption then you are NO GAMER AT ALL! INFACT! There should be a law to smoke your sorry a$$ for being such a retard.

The facts (according to the charts) is that the max you spend on power for any give console is $15/year - if you turn the sucker off after you finished using it. Else you're folding right? What other reason is there to leave it on?

With games at $60+ a piece - you're a sorry fool to worry about >$15 for a year's worth of enjoyment.

# the fack — Binary 2008-11-19 18:30

Whoever leaves their console on is stupid. I can see why the computers need to stay on but for game consoles, you don't have to wait for it to boot up like your computer does.

Also if you leave your 360 on, you unlock the RROD Achievement.

# sorry but... — trigger 2008-11-19 18:31

that's a pretty stilted way of viewing the study. it's not much about how much of a gamer you are. how shallow. quite simply, all this study is about is getting the info out there to help conserve energy. that's it. that's the message. SAVE ENERGY. duh. i don't see how or why you suddenly whipped the "your less of a gamer because blahblah" card. and you don't have to complicate things by calculating how much you spend for being a gamer per year. that's not the point.

all the NDRC or whatever they're called - all they wanna do is to inform people of the stats and data, and through knowledge, people become more conscious of energy consumption. amen.

# . — ValiX 2008-11-19 19:14

I don't see the reason for the 360, but the PS3 has Auto-start Folding@Home. Haven't you ever wondered how some people have such ridiculous high scores?

# MATH ESSENTIALS FOR IDIOTS — sycoblast 2008-11-20 02:28

you would first want to divide

134(annual) / 365 (days) + 0.37 per day

# THE RROD ACHIEVEMENT!!! — 93pauott 2008-11-20 03:16

IS IT FOR THE PS3 OR IS IT AN EXCLUSIVE???

# X-D — PimpFriedRice 2008-11-20 08:50

Some people unlocked that achievement without even trying. The did it with normal use. Sometimes in just serveral minutes. They should have an achievement multiplier so we can all see how many times XBL users were dumb enough to keep coming back for more.

# Wow... — anhero 2008-11-20 11:22

Next time read carefully before calling one an idiot. My first calculatons had to do with annual bill not daily, thats why I divided first 134 because its the annuals cost of living it on all day by 24 so its 5.60 for that hour on every day. Then for calculated the 12 dollars minus 1 dollas (actually should have been minus 50 cents, small error) for the time off. It gives around 17 dollars a year. I pay way less than 37 cents a year but consiering the ps3s lifespan is gonna last 9 more years then I would end up paying a bit more than 150 dollars for its energy cost for those 9 years (so now I think the ps3 cost me 550, not 400).

bahh whatever

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