Telstra has revealed the addition of almost one million new mobile services in the six months to December 2011, but Sensis revenues plummeted 24 percent in 12 months.
What uses more power, a Sony PS3 or your average-sized refrigerator? According to Choice magazine gaming systems and associated home entertainment equipment is chewing through more juice than ever.
A report on today’s The Age website quotes Christopher Zinn, Spokesman for consumer group Choice: “While energy-rating labels have been mandatory for whitegoods since the late 1980s, computing goods remain immune. Some, such as a Sony PlayStation 3, cost five times as much to run as an average-sized refrigerator. That translates to about AU$250 a year” he said.
Choice conducted tests on 16 popular computer gadgets such as gaming consoles, LCD and Plasma TV’s, DVD players and the like.
Adding over AU$450 to the yearly power bill, the combination of computer, LCD monitor, Plasma TV, router and DVD set on continuous Stand By puts a constant drain on power consumption in the average modern home.
"The figures are indicative of just how much electricity these small devices can chew their way through," Mr Zinn said.
Choice says the absence of a star-rating labelling system means consumers are unable to make informed decisions when buying electronic goods. It also means manufacturers have little incentive to improve energy efficiency.
In contrast, refrigerators have improved in energy efficiency by 4.6 per cent each year since 1993, with manufacturers phasing out poor energy performers.
Earlier this year Greenpeace got stuck into Nintendo in particular about manufacturing and recycling habits of their gaming equipment. In their sixth edition oft the “Guide to Greener Electronics” Nintendo chalked up a 0/10 rating. Microsoft received a gaming console rating of 2.7/10 while Sony topped the trio at 7.3/10
A subsequent Seventh edition had Sony still at 7.3/10 whilst Microsoft improved to 4.7/10 and Nintendo made an outstanding leap to 0.3/10 !
Much of this Nintendo bashing could be attributed to the simple fact that they, unlike their peers are not in dialogue with Greenpeace about their recycling program.
We all have a responsibility to minimise our footprint on this planet. At the same time, we should be able to enjoy the fruits of our labours. For me, this means gaming to my hearts content. Switching off appliances at the power point instead of using the Stand By option seems a small increased effort on our behalf.
David Bass
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