“Digital lifestyle” reduces energy consumption according to calculations
Published: Wednesday, Jul 31st 2024, 11:10
العودة إلى البث المباشر
The digitalization of everyday life can reduce energy consumption by 10 to 20 percent by 2050 compared to 2020. This is shown by calculations using an energy system model by researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute and ETH Zurich. Socio-ecological decisions were also taken into account.
Savings in one place that lead to more consumption elsewhere are more than compensated for by more efficient technology and changes in behavior, as the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), based in Villigen AG, announced on Wednesday.
Digitalization ("digital lifestyle") does not solve all problems, but it supports the transformation of the energy system on the way to net zero emissions, it said. Digitalization is a blessing for the energy transformation.
If, as is the case today, many people work partly or permanently from home, they save on fuel because they don't have to drive to work. At home, however, they use all the more energy for heating and cooking. Video calls also swallowed up extra energy in the data centers, it was said.
According to PSI, the researchers used one of the most comprehensive energy system models in Europe to calculate the effects of digitalization on energy consumption.
Six million equations with six million variables thus represent the Swiss energy system and the interactions between technologies, energy and emission sources and sectors.
©كيستون/إسدا
Arabic 
English 
German 
French 
Spanish