IEA Calls for Action to Cut $80 Billion Online Energy Drain

The world’s 14 billion online electronic devices, such as modems, printers, game consoles, and cable boxes, waste around $80 billion in electricity annually because of inefficient technology, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In 2013, networked devices consumed around 616 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, with most of that used in standby mode.  Roughly 400 TWh — equivalent to about 1% of total U.S. electricity usage — was wasted because of inefficient technology.

The problem will worsen by 2020, the agency projects, with an estimated $120 billion wasted as devices such as refrigerators, washing machines, and thermostats become networked. 

Much of the problem boils down to inefficient “network standby,” or maintaining a network connection while in standby mode.  Most network-enabled devices draw as much power in this mode as when fully active, the report notes.  Using today's best technology could cut energy consumption by 65 percent, the IEA said, and applying better efficiency measures over the coming years could save 600 TWh.

Around 14 billion electronic devices are currently used by a small proportion of the world’s population, but that number could rocket to 500 billion in 2050, causing ‘alarming’ increases in energy demand and waste.

“Consumers are losing money in the form of wasted energy, which is leading to more costly power stations and more distribution infrastructure being built than we would otherwise need – not to mention all the extra greenhouse gases that are being emitted,” said the IEA’s executive director Maria van der Hoeven.

“But it need not be this way,” she added.  “If we adopt best available technologies, we can minimise the cost of meeting demand as the use and benefits of connected devices grows.”

IEA Calls for Action to Cut $80 Billion Online Energy Drain