Second Life CO2 Footprint

If you thought Second Life, the popular online 3D world, was entirely virtual, it turns out to leave a considerable real-life footprint. According to recent calculations, Second Life avatars consume about as much electricity (1,752 kWh per year) as the average Brazilian. In terms of CO2 production, this is 1.17 tonnes of CO2 per avatar.

At any given time there are 10.000 to 15.000 avatars 'living' in Second Life, while the total number of residents has already passed the one million mark. With new businesses, banks, schools and even embassies opening every day, it may be time for a carbon offset program...