is the internet bad for you (the world)?

sending an email across the atlantic ocean does not burn any jet fuel, but the internet is not without its own, huge carbon footprint. one estimate suggests it takes a whopping 152 billion kilowatt-hours per year just to power the data centres that keep the net running. add to that the energy used by all the computers and peripherals linked to it and the whole thing could be responsible for as much as 2 per cent of all human-made co₂ emissions, putting it on a par with the aviation industry...

but there could be an upside too. more at new scientist