Computers burn 2% of US power

A new study from researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory contradicts a widely cited report originating with the Greening Earth Society asserting that the percentage of US power consumed in 1998 by the Internet was 8 percent and rising rapidly. California's current energy shortages have prompted some to accuse the tech sector of creating the crisis, but various other researchers have criticized the 8 percent figure. The Lawrence Berkeley study found the methodology behind the study lacking and makes the case that 2 percent is a better estimate of power usage.

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