How Much Energy Does ChatGPT Use per Query?
- Nick Arbuckle
- Aug 8
- 2 min read
Most of us think of ChatGPT as instant and weightless — type a question, get an answer. But every AI response takes energy.
A lot more than you might expect.
In this article, we’ll break down exactly how much electricity ChatGPT uses per query, why those numbers vary between models, and what it means for AI’s environmental impact. And if you want a way to make every query climate neutral, we’ll show you how Viro AI makes it possible.
The Numbers — Energy Per ChatGPT Query
Energy use in AI is measured in watt-hours (Wh), the same unit your electricity bill uses.
Research estimates:
Google Search: ~0.03 Wh per query
ChatGPT-3.5: ~0.12 Wh per query
ChatGPT-4: ~0.3 Wh per query
That means a ChatGPT-4 prompt uses roughly 10× the electricity of a Google search.
Why Does ChatGPT Use More Energy Than Google?
Two main reasons:
Model Size: GPT-4 has hundreds of billions of parameters, requiring more computational work per response.
Processing Method: Unlike a search engine that retrieves results, ChatGPT generates new text token-by-token.
What About Claude, Gemini, and Others?
Not all AI models are equally energy-intensive:
Claude: ~0.15 Wh per query
Gemini: ~0.18 Wh per query
Meta LLaMA: ~0.08 Wh per query (lightweight, efficient)
The Carbon Connection
Energy use is only half the story — the source of that energy matters:
Renewable-powered data center? Lower carbon footprint.
Fossil-fuel-powered grid? Higher footprint.
On a global average energy mix, a ChatGPT-4 query emits ~4.3g CO₂. Scale that to millions of users daily, and emissions add up fast.
How to Reduce AI’s Energy Impact
Pick lighter models for simple tasks (e.g., ChatGPT-3.5 instead of GPT-4).
Be precise with prompts — shorter queries = less processing time.
Use climate-neutral platforms like Viro AI that offset the emissions from each query.
Why Viro AI is Different
Viro AI is the only platform where you can choose from four major AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Meta) and make your queries climate neutral. For every prompt, we offset the energy cost through verified sustainability projects.
Every ChatGPT query consumes real energy — and as AI adoption grows, so does its environmental impact.
The good news? You can choose platforms and habits that minimize your footprint while keeping the AI tools you love.
Ready to make your AI use climate positive?
