Previous |
Next |
September 09, 2008, 11:44 AM ET
U. of Melbourne Researchers Hope to Trim Networks' Energy Use
Researchers at the University of Melbourne are looking for ways to make computer networks more efficient—and warning that if networks continue to suck up electricity at their current rate, they could be using as much as 10 percent of Australia’s power in 10 or 20 years, according to The Australian.
The research team is led by Rod Tucker, a professor at the university who is director of the Special Research Centre for Ultra-Broadband Information Networks. He says the Internet already consumes half of one percent of Australia’s electricity to bounce information around on optical telecommunications networks. Data centers consume another half a percent, he says.
And those figures don’t include the power required by end-users’ machines. “The part of the internet that consumes most of the energy is the modem in the home,” Mr. Tucker says. “The home modem is usually switched on all the time. It sits there when you are in bed asleep, using energy all the time.”
The good news as far as overall sustainability is concerned, Mr. Tucker says, is that people might drive less—and use less fuel—as it becomes possible to accomplish more errands online.—Lawrence Biemiller
Categories: Research
Add Your Comment
Commenting is closed.