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A Dutch university and Climate Office have tested the energy next-gen consoles (PS4, XB1 and Wii U) use in 1 year, with an average use of 2 hours a day. When converted to Euros, this is what you would pay (a year, used 2 hours a day):

  • Playtation 4: €44,- a year
  • Xbox One €46,- a year
  • Wii U: €7,- a year

In comparison, this is what some other consoles and the average refrigerator use:

  • Playstation 3: €31,- a year
  • Playstation 3 slim: €16,- a year
  • Xbox 360: €28, a year
  • Xbox 360 slim: €17,- a year
  • Wii: €5,- a year
  • Xbox: €5,-  a year
  • Gamecube: €3,- a year
  • Playstation 2: €12,- a year
  • Average refrigerator (on 24/7): €38,- a year. New, efficient refrigerators only use €16,- on average a year.

Remember, this is if the console is on for an average 2 hours a day during 1 year! This also does not include power use while the console is in stand-by mode.

Conslusions:

  • With every new console generation, power use goes up, and thus making consoles more expensive on a yearly basis.
  • Slim versions of console will most of the time cut energy use and thus be cheaper energy wise.
  • Nintendo is very good in making sure their consoles don't need a lot of power. The Wii U only uses €7,- a year on energe, the Wii only €5,- a year and the Gamecube only €3,- a year!
  • The Playstation 4 and Xbox One also use more energy than the average refrigerator which is on 24/7!
  • While energy use in consoles goes up, energy use in other things like refrigerators goes down.

Source (Dutch)