Xbox One and PS4 could consume more energy annually than Houston

A recent study from the National Resources Defense Council tested the next-gen consoles, specifically the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, to see how much energy the systems used. The results show that, despite some big steps taken by Sony and Microsoft, the new consoles use up to three times more energy than their predecessors.

A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council put the PS4 and Xbox One under the power efficiency microscope and came back with less than glowing things to say about the new devices. According to the organization, both consoles draw more power than they should despite heavy investment in power-saving technologies. The long-term impact? ”Over five years, the Xbox One’s 250 kilowatt hours per year usage represents roughly $150 in electricity costs, enough to buy two or three new games!”