The Internet has four main energy guzzlers: access networks (world-wide infrastructure including antennas, transmitters and routers); data centers (packed with cooling systems and computers that store websites, GPS, records, etc.); embodied energy (used to mine raw materials, ship these to smelters, ship refined materials to assembly plants, manufacture and ship each item to its end user); and automated processes (website and software backups and updates, bots, ads, etc.).

How Much Energy Do We Need?, DeDecker, Kris, 2018; see also www.lowtechmagazine.org

Jaafar Elmirghani is working to reduce energy consumption worldwide

Belkhir, Lotfi and A. Elmeligi, “Assessing ICT global emissions footprint: Trends to 2040 and recommendations,” J. of Cleaner Production, 2018; https:/doi.org/10.1016.j.jclepro.2017.12.239.

Mills, Mark P., “The Cloud Begins with Coal: Big Data, Big Networks, Big Infrastructure and Big Power,” Aug. 2013. Sponsored by the American Mining Assoc. and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.