Did you know that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is actually creating a bigger draw on the power grid…and our pocketbooks?
Here’s how it works. Data centers house the computing infrastructure necessary for AI processing and experts have reported that while the amount of energy required by data centers didn’t change much from 2005-2017, when AI came on the scene, it caused that consumption to double from 2017-2023. According to the latest MIT technology review, 4.4% of all energy is consumed by these data centers, and it is costing consumers more.
Here’s the good news. All these big numbers add up to the fact that a little bit of conservation can go a long way – meaning that you don’t need to decrease your own energy consumption very much to offset those costs.
Here are a few tips on some simple things you can do to conserve energy in your home:
-Turn lights off when you leave the room.
-Try limiting your use of appliances which require the most energy. You can start by running only full loads in your washer and dishwasher.
-Energy efficient appliances can help too.
-Smart power strips will cut power to your devices when they are not in use.
-Seal doors and windows to reduce the amount of energy required to cool or heat your home.
-Simply adjusting your thermostat by a couple of degrees can make a big difference as well.