Digital lifestyle could reduce energy use by 20% by 2050

The digitalisation of everyday life could lead to a 10% to 20% reduction in energy consumption by 2050 compared to 2020, according to a study by researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. The study's calculations were based on an energy system model that also considered socio-ecological factors. The PSI, based in Villigen, announced on Wednesday that savings achieved in one area, which might lead to increased consumption elsewhere, are more than offset by improved technology and changes in behaviour. While digitalisation does not solve all energy-related problems, it supports the transformation towards a net-zero emissions energy system, providing significant benefits for this transition. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The shift to more people working from home, for instance, reduces petrol consumption as commuting decreases. However, it increases household energy use for heating and cooking.