Week #20 Avoid Over-Consuming Video Streaming

Did you know that watching video over the internet at home is roughly the same as having two or three old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs on?

Streaming video accounts for the biggest big chunk of the world's internet traffic.

Most of it goes through these data centres and they host streaming platforms such as Netflix, Facebook and YouTube. 

Netflix says its total global energy consumption reached 451,000 megawatt-hours per year, which is enough to power 37,000 homes, but insists it purchases renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets to compensate for any energy that comes from fossil fuel sources.

These data centres are estimated to currently consume at least 1% of the world's electricity every year, a figure that is expected to rise in the future. (source)

FYI: Pornography accounts for a third of video streaming traffic, generating as much carbon dioxide as Belgium in a year.

A couple of tips:

- If you want to watch videos try to use wi-fi as much as possible. A mobile using wi-fi consumes less energy than one connected to 3G or 4G.

- Even if you're not using your device, by having home wi-fi active, you're still consuming energy. When you leave your home or over the night when you go to sleep, turn off your wi-fi device.