Tune in, power off

The International Energy Agency recently issued a stark warning. The Paris-based body claimed worldwide growth in IT and gadgets would see energy demands from those devices treble by 2030 unless something was done. Even with best practice, the number of devices expected to be in use within 20 years would cause energy consumption to grow 1 per cent a year, calling for a 20 GW increase in generating capacity. Emerging technology looks set to give energy-inefficient PCs a wake-up call.