People value connections. The Internet allows almost instantaneous connections between multiple people almost anywhere on and even above our planet. But it’s not free. The Internet uses about 2% of worldwide electricity. Say 200GW. In one day, the Internet thus uses 1.7e16J of energy. Assuming our planet has 7 billion people, this calculates to 2.47e6J per day per person.

A human at rest uses energy as well. Even while sleeping our metabolic rate accounts for energy to pump blood, to compress lungs and to dream. A typical MET value comes in at 6e6J per day per person.

Compare the two daily energy consumptions. They are almost equal. In effect, we’ve developed a technology for inter-connections but it almost equals the base energy consumption of a human being. There are many other modern and dated technologies that we use. How much energy will we continue to commit to these technologies as our energy supplies dwindle?