The Internet: the most important driver for future electricity demand in households

Panel: Panel 2: Dynamics of Consumption

Authors:
Bernard Aebischer, Centre for Energy Policy and Economics (CEPE)
Frédéric Varone, Catholic University of Louvain

Abstract

Electricity demand in Swiss households may increase up to 30% over the next twenty years due to interconnection of appliances and installations alone induced primarily by the use of the Internet. At least a quarter of this additional electricity use could accrue when the appliances are not even in use but in standby- or off-mode. This waste of energy runs counter to the goals of (Swiss) energy efficiency policy and makes it more difficult to reach the CO_2 emission reduction targets. Appliance manufacturers and the installation industry must therefore work to avoid such waste. The (Swiss) government can also accelerate and strengthen efforts of the industry to reduce standby-energy use by creating favourable political conditions together with other European countries, the European Union and the International Energy Agency.