Comments on: Hacking down on video game energy use

The Nintendo Wii tops the list as most energy-efficient game console in a study which recommends console industry adopt easy-to-use power-management features.

[GlennW007]

wow what a difference between the systems. I'd also like to know if the energy figures include the screen? Then you could do a cost of operation comparison.

[oassaf]

When they shut down does it mean, just shutting off the system by (on a PS3) pressing the PS button and going turn off system, or going the step further and actually shutting it off via the power switch on the back?

[carlhage]

The report is great but proposed solutions, not. Mandated minimum effiency standards encourage device manufacturers to be as wasteful as possible still meeting the mandated minimum (and encourage manufacturers to fight the standards). A better solution is to require an energy consumption label in units relating to $-- preferrably $ per 10-year life. Would you but a video game or TV if it has an energy label of $1800? It worked great for refrigerators, and could work well for all plug-in devices. It would encourage competition and innovation to do better than the minimum.

[stealthxxxxxx]

as i hobby gamer on pc and 360 i have to say i would not mind a more energy efficient way, but pulling my PC windows xp outta standby, is almost as time consuming as booting it back up, i usually just leave it on. and my 360 sometimes gets left on, i noticed the screen goes dim and it does enter its own powersave mode

[ivaskaj]

I agree... make the machines shut down automatically. Then when people come back they will have to wait 5 years for their games to re-load, and might reconsider playing. People may actually venture outside their house again and get some *gasp* exercise... holy ****!!!! Just imagine it... a country where people aren't sickly-pale and morbidly obese. It would be great. **** video games and the televisions necessary to run them; the country was far better off 40 years ago before we got these things.

[faboumen]

Agrarian society sucks, too. Civilization was much better off back when people had to hunt animals and gather their own food, rather than just sit around and pay someone to grow it for them.

[faboumen]

Who leaves their 360 on when they're not using it? You don't even have to get up to turn it off, and it doesn't serve any practical purpose when not being actively used.

[nb2000nb]

I guess it costs to have good graphics and a good physics engine

[UITD]

Oh please. Dont start with this green **** now. People have about had enough of this green crap. 1/2 the people I know wont watch the weather channel anymore because of their obvious slant toward the pro-global warming BS. Its a hoax and al gore has sold the sheep another lemon. Probably doesnt help that corrupt GE is behind NBC and their recent acquisition of the weather channel. And now the firing of those OCM's that didnt sign the "I believe in global warming" documents.. This, along with the obama win, is yet another string of fleecings going back to the JFK murder and beyond.

[findconsolegames]

Different story but I have just bought a LG DVD HDD recorder - when on standby it is something like 3 watts, compared to 25 when on.

Thought that was quite good

Dave

http://www.findconsolegames.com

[matthewbulat]

Consider using a remote controlled power board. This can be connected to the gaming machine, sound system, TV, DVD player etc. Individual buttons (4) control individual power points. Price is about $40 AUD. Reduce your standby energy consumption a great deal. Do you want to find out how much its costing you? I have a review of a power point energy meter at link
http://www.matthewb.id.au/index.php?view=article&catid=6:energy-efficiency&id=25:power-point-energy-meter-review&option=com_content&Itemid=8
These cost about $30 AUD. Also consider the extra cooling costs from machines running all the time.
Australia households has a average standby power consumption of $80 per year. This can be almost eliminated with best practices.

Regards
Matthew Bulat
http://www.matthewb.id.au/