Their analysis showed the iPad consuming 12 kWh annually. And while costs will vary depending on location, they determined that to be worth $1.36 for the year. They also measured the energy consumption of an iPhone 3G, which came to 2.2 kWh per year for a total of $0.25. Compare that to a 60W CFL light bulb at 14 kWh for $1.61, a laptop PC at 72.3 kWh for $8.31, and a 42” television at 358 kWh for approximately $41.
The EPRI went on to calculate the power used by all iPads in the market and determined that they amounted to 590 gigawatt hours, the approximate equivalent of a 250 megawatt power plant.
“These results raise important questions about how the shifting reliance from desktop to laptop to mobile devices will change energy use and electricity requirements for the information age,” said Mark McGranaghan, vice president of Power Delivery and Utilization at EPRI. He also noted that changing battery technology will likely impact energy use. “Our measurements indicate that new iPads will consume about 65 percent more electricity per year.”
[Some image parts courtesy of Shutterstock]