A computer can consume more electricity than you think. On an annual basis, this can quickly add up to hundreds of kWh. Also pay attention to standby consumption, because this is certainly not negligible.
Consumption of a desktop PC
A desktop PC that runs for 4 to 5 hours a day for 250 days per year (European average) consumes approximately 165 kWh (for a standard office PC with a power rating of 150 W – speakers and printer included).
Of course, it all depends on how you use it. Do you combine work with gaming (e.g. 300 hours per year)? The detailed graphics of games require a powerful graphics card that can easily consume 400 watts. In that case, your consumption rises to an average of 240 kWh.
Internet: an invisible giant
The internet seems invisible, but it consumes a lot of energy. Did you know that data centres and servers already account for 1.5% of global power consumption? By using your computer more responsibly, you can save a significant amount of energy.
Laptop consumption
Modern laptops consume an average of 45 watts. With the same usage, this results in approximately 54 kWh per year.
It is immediately apparent that a laptop consumes about 3 times less than a standard desktop PC (165 kWh versus 54 kWh). That is an argument that counts if you want to save money.
And what about AI?
AI tasks consume up to 25 times more power than a regular search. According to Gartner, AI could account for up to 3.5% of global electricity use by 2030. The growth of AI therefore has a direct and significant impact on our carbon footprint.
Standby consumption: the hidden costs
Even if you only use your computer for 4 to 5 hours a day, it still consumes power. In standby mode, your computer's power consumption is up to 30 times lower than in active mode. This 'standby power consumption' may seem negligible per hour, but it adds up considerably on an annual basis.
- Desktop PC: With an average standby consumption of 7 W, this amounts to approximately 53 kWh per year.
- Laptop: A laptop consumes only 1.5 W in standby mode, resulting in an annual consumption of approximately 11 kWh.
A few simple tips
- Put your screen on standby: this reduces consumption by approximately 15%.
- Unplug peripheral devices or use a power strip with a switch.
- Activate eco mode or an ENERGY STAR profile in your settings.
In summary
We now know that a laptop consumes much less energy than a desktop computer. That is a good starting point for reducing your consumption.
But beware, that's just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to your computer's direct consumption, there is also indirect consumption. Every time you surf the web, stream videos or ask an AI a question, servers in huge data centres consume energy. On average, this amounts to around 60 kWh extra per year per user.
To give you a clear picture, here is a brief overview of the annual consumption per type of device:
| Device | Direct consumption (Device + Standby) | Indirect consumption (Internet & AI) | Total per year | CO2 emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop PC | 219 kWh | + 60 kWh | ~280 kWh | ~118 kg |
| Laptop | 61 kWh | + 60 kWh | ~120 kWh | ~50 kg |
How to reduce the energy consumed by my PC, smartphone and tablet?
Fun fact
The difference between a laptop and a desktop (about 68 kg of CO2) may seem small, but it is equivalent to the amount of CO2 filtered from the air by 3 mature trees in a whole year.