Power hungry

Games consoles, such as the X-box and Sony's Playstation 3, can use up to five times more energy than a medium-sized refrigerator, according to an Australian study.

The consumer group Choice found that a Sony PS3, switched on but not in use, could cost almost $250 a year in electricity bills. A fridge would cost less than $50 a year.

The Playstation 3 was found to consume over ten times as much power as the Nintendo Wii. The Apple iMac used just two-thirds of the energy consumed by a PC.

With the oil price skyrocketing everyone is trying to save energy it can be a concern.