How does information communication technology affect energy use?

Abstract

In recent decades there has been considerable optimism that information communication technologies may lead to structural transformations of production, consumption, and transportation systems, helping to reduce energy consumption. Here we analyze the effects of information communication technologies on energy production and consumption as well as on the number of cars used in nations, analyzing data for 1990-2012. We find that the prevalence of landline phones is positively associated with higher levels of energy and electricity production and consumption, that the extent of Internet use is positively associated with the number of cars on the road, and the ubiquity of cell phones is not associated with the number of cars or with electricity or total energy production and consumption. These findings suggest that information communication technologies have not typically contributed to environmental reform and, in fact, may have exacerbated some environmental problems.