Energy Efficiency
Signatories are committed to providing timely and up-to-date information on the energy efficiency of games consoles on the market.
This section includes information on the energy use, power consumption and settings of each console placed on the market.
Energy Use
Since the GCVA was recognised in 2015 there have been six tiers of power caps introduced to improve the energy efficiency of consoles in the EU. These power caps, together with power management requirements (such as automatic power down time limits) have helped drive substantial energy efficiency improvements in games consoles.
Typical Electricity Consumption (TEC) values are shown below for Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony consoles. TEC values provide an estimate of the energy used by each console on average during one year of use. TEC is calculated by multiplying the measured power consumption of consoles in commonly used modes (e.g. gaming, media, navigation, and standby) by the estimated typical time spent in each mode.
| Manufacturer | Console Model | Estimated annual TEC | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Xbox Series S | 132 kWh | Based on the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) model using the « Intensive » profile with the default « Energy Saving » standby mode used 1/3 of the time and gaming at HD resolution. |
| Microsoft | Xbox Series X | 225 kWh | |
| Nintendo | Nintendo Switch [HAC-001(-01)] | 6 kWh | When used for gaming an average two hours per day. Only Wi-Fi is connected. |
| Nintendo | Nintendo Switch – OLED Model [HEG-001] | 6 kWh | When used for gaming an average two hours per day. Only Wi-Fi is connected. |
| 21 kWh | When used for gaming an average two hours per day. When the wired LAN connection is maintained during Sleep Mode. | ||
| Sony | PS4 CUH-10xx | 151 – 160 kWh | Based on gaming at HD resolution |
| Sony | PS4 CUH-11xx | 136 – 144 kWh | |
| Sony | PS4 CUH-20xx | 104 – 110 kWh | |
| Sony | PS4 CUH-12xx | 89 – 95 kWh | |
| Sony | PS4 CUH-21xx | 82 – 88 kWh | |
| Sony | PS4 CUH-22xx | 81 – 85 kWh | |
| Sony | PS4 Pro CUH-70xx | 133 – 138 kWh | Based on gaming at UHD resolution |
| Sony | PS4 Pro CUH-71xx | 131 – 136 kWh | |
| Sony | PS4 Pro CUH-72xx | 131 – 134 kWh | |
| Sony | PS5 CFI-1016A | 134 – 135 kWh | Based on mix of gaming using 25% PS4 games (at UHD resolution) and 75% PS5 games (at UHD resolution) |
| Sony | PS5 CFI-1016B | 133 – 134 kWh |
Power Consumption
and Settings
For information on the power consumption and settings of each console, please see each manufacturer’s website:
How can I minimise console energy use?
Enable automatic power down
If you want to set up your console to minimise energy use, ensure you have automatic power down enabled. This will ensure that the console shuts down after a period of inactivity.
For instructions on how to set up power management settings on your console, see:
Microsoft: see “Shut-down mode” on About power options on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Nintendo: see “Power management functions of Nintendo Switch family consoles”
Sony: see “How can I minimise my console energy use?” on PlayStation and the Environment (Our Products)
Choose the correct power settings for you
Consoles have various power settings that can help you save energy depending on our preferences. For more information on these settings and how to select the optimum settings to help you save energy see:
Microsoft: see About power options on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Nintendo: see “Power management functions of Nintendo Switch family consoles”
Sony: see “How can I minimise my console energy use?” on PlayStation and the Environment (Our Products)