Energy Leaks And High Cost Gaming, Continued

So while the U.S. government may want to keep us in the style we're accustomed to, I'd like to take a moment to suggest some alternatives. There are plenty of examples of third-world and underdeveloped nations in Africa and Asia using solar power, with the help of technology giants like Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, to fuel their technology needs. And there are a number of tech companies creating commercially available solar-powered systems; Taiwanese computer maker Micro-Star International, for example, has developed notebook PCs and digital music players that run on sunlight. Solar roof panels for homes aren't cheap, of course. But Northern Ireland's Secretary of State recently announced a plan that would require all new homes in the region to have renewable energy systems, including solar-power roof panels, by 2008.

Solar power roof panels

So why not a solar-powered Xbox 360? If game consoles and gaming-class PCs are sucking up a ridiculous amount of energy event when they're shut off, then can't we have a Toyota Prius-like system that can power our notebooks and even our handheld consoles when we're outside? We've got solar-powered jackets, solar-powered tents, solar-powered toys. It's time to get solar-powered gaming.

And I'm not just suggesting this because I'm a tree-hugging environmentalist. That's only part of it. The other half of the equation is this: gaming is expensive, and most of us look for an edge out there to lower the cost. Some folks go to extreme lengths to save money, such as pirating software (I've previously made my disdain clear for pirating of any kind of copyright material) while others simply look for a copy of a pre-owned game before shelling out $50 for a brand new copy.

In any event, energy costs obviously add a lot of cost to gaming. If then Xbox 360 is any indication, then the next-generation systems will consume anywhere from two to five times more electricity than previous consoles. So it's time to think about our habits, like "overnight pauses" and leaving the consoles on in standby mode, as well as ways to turn the tables on outrageous energy costs and rising electricity bills.