Andy Masley (2025-04-28). A Cheat Sheet for Why Using ChatGPT Is Not Bad for the Environment.
Using ChatGPT does not significantly harm the environment. Its energy consumption is very low compared to other daily activities. Worrying about using ChatGPT distracts from addressing major climate issues. Stopping ChatGPT wouldn’t noticeably reduce overall emissions. We should focus on bigger changes, like reducing car use and promoting green energy.
ChatGPT uses 3 Wh. This is enough energy to:
• Leave a single incandescent light bulb on for 3 minutes.
• Leave a wireless router on for 30 minutes.
• Play a gaming console for 1 minute.
• Run a vacuum cleaner for 10 seconds.
• Run a microwave for 10 seconds
• Run a toaster for 8 seconds
• Brew coffee for 10 seconds
• Use a laptop for 3 minutes. ChatGPT could write this post using less energy than it takes you to read it.
When I hear people say “50 ChatGPT searches use a whole bottle of water!” I think they’re internally comparing this to the few times a year they buy a bottle of water. That makes ChatGPT’s water use seem like a lot. They’re not comparing it to the 1200 bottles of water they use every single day in their ordinary lives.
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