With so much of the world focused on the issue of climate change, those who want to make a difference in their own lives are looking for places where they cause the most damage. While they might be more focused on the food they eat or the clothes they wear, there might also be other aspects of their lives that are causing issues. Gaming, particularly on consoles, is not yet the best it could be, but things might be changing.
What is the Issue?
Consoles might not seem like they would cause too much of a drain in theory, but the reality can be quite different. These devices require an awful lot of electricity to power them. They are not easy to run, and it is important to remember that many gaming sessions can be hours long, only adding to the issue. A gamer might also have a big TV to connect the console to, plus speakers and other pieces of electronics that make playing the game more enjoyable overall.
On top of all of this, many games also now require an internet connection. Connecting to the cloud might seem easy enough, but it again requires a massive drain of electricity. Choosing to be a gamer means that you might be using more electricity than you might realise, and such a drain is obviously not the most eco-friendly of moves.
Inspiration From Other Types of Gaming
Could it be down to the types of games played? Do we see a similar drain of resources and electricity in other parts of the gaming community? Those who choose to play casino games might be the ones to look for here.
Casinos themselves are not the most eco-friendly places in general. In addition to powering the gaming cabinets, many casinos will use bright lights that will be on 24/7 to help create a feeling of timelessness. They need to be able to offer food and drink to their punters too – all of which need electricity – and most casinos will also need some form of an HVAC system too to maintain an optimum temperature on the casino floor. With a casino often forming just part of a complex that might also include a hotel at minimum, it is easy to see how these are not the most energy-efficient installations out there.
So, how does this differ from an online casino? To put it quite simply, less is needed. Those logging on to play the leading casino online games of the moment will be doing so from their own homes. The ecological damage done by playing in these games will be much less than if they were to go to a casino – and that is even without counting in the damage caused by travel. To put it quite simply, less is more. Though it might not seem like it, this is an approach that can be carried across to console gaming and other areas that might have a similar sort of drain.
Improvements in Consoles
A lot of the work needs to be done not by the average consumer but by the console companies themselves. They are the ones who need to look at how their game consoles currently use energy and make changes within the development of the console to create something that is more eco-friendly.
A green console currently does not exist. If a player wants to choose one that has a little less of an impact than others, it might be worth taking a look at the total cost of ownership of each console. This will help them to determine which might be the better option based on factors like how much the console costs in terms of energy bills.
Using Green Electricity
Another option is to power the console with green electricity from the go. Many households are beginning to look into the viability of adding energy sources to their properties. Whether they use turbines, solar panels, or other forms of energy production and storage, one of the uses of this electricity could be for powering a gaming console.
While it would be great to see the gaming companies themselves stand up and make eco-friendly changes, this is something that an individual can do on their own in the short-term. It might not be the most elegant of solutions, but it is definitely an option.
A Long Way to Go
Are consoles currently eco-friendly? No, not yet. Do they have the potential to be eco-friendly? Absolutely! A lot of development needs to be undertaken, but there is no reason why we cannot see a green console hitting the market one day. Combined with renewable energy sources and other practices, it might soon be possible to enjoy a hobby like gaming without any concern as to the environmental impact that might come along with it.