A second reason for growing Internet energy consumption is that we spend more and more time on-line. Before the arrival of portable computing devices and wireless network access, we were only connected to the network when we had access to a desktop computer in the office, at home, or in the library. We now live in a world in which no matter where we are, we are always on-line, including, at times, via more than one device simultaneously.

While I agree with the point, i would like to remind everyone about the insane amount of news papers and print magazines that where produced, printed, shipped, read once and then discarded, especially up to the early 2000s before paper sales started to tank. I think it’s muchore effective and cheaper to transfer this content via the Internet instead.

Afaik some where still used in space probes in the 2000’s.

Bold to assume he would build something for the benefit of the peasant class. Or create something where he cannot profit from financialy.