Trying very hard not to be evil?

Today Google gave up some data on just how much electricity is used to power its data centers: almost 260 million watts, or about a quarter of the output of a nuclear power plant.  This NY Times article states “utility companies estimate that 260 million watts could power all of the homes in a sizable city — say, 100,000 to 200,000 homes.”

Mind you that we get, essentially for free – or more precisely just for the cost of knowing what we do – all the power of organized information and all that great targeted advertising… but, of course there are other costs.

Here are a few great comments from the same story:

“Google says people should consider things like the amount of gasoline saved when someone conducts a Google search rather than, say, driving to the library.”

As if anyone would have cared enough to drive to the library to learn the correct lyrics to the Flinstones theme song.

and

It sounds like Google and the article is being apologetic for using this energy. They pay for it. They provide a service. I have no problem with that. Agree or not, Google has made all our lives more efficient. And I like that I can search for the words of The Flintstones theme in .056 seconds.

and

It sounds like Google and the article is being apologetic for using this energy. They pay for it. They provide a service. I have no problem with that. Agree or not, Google has made all our lives more efficient. And I like that I can search for the words of The Flintstones theme in .056 seconds.

Finally, for those seriously worried that Google actually is evil, check this video out