Bitcoin aint Green, and consumes considerably more electricity than being cited in this thread. This IS a topic we covered here fairly recently.
Here is a review, mixed somewhat amusingly with a previous AI topic of mine - but posting it as anyhooz ... just for grins.
The electricity required to mine one Bitcoin in 2025 varies widely due to factors like mining hardware efficiency, electricity costs, and network difficulty, but estimates from recent data provide a range. According to posts on X and web sources, mining one Bitcoin consumes approximately 330,000 to 6,400,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, with most estimates leaning toward the higher end due to increasing mining difficulty and competition.
Detailed Breakdown
Energy Consumption Estimates:
X Posts: A post from @BitcoinNewsCom
(Dec 2023) estimates 330,000 kWh per Bitcoin at current difficulty levels, equivalent to powering a city like Lagos (15M population) for 4 minutes. Another post from @Invest_Kardo
(May 2025) claims 6,400,000 kWh per Bitcoin, assuming a high energy cost scenario, though this seems inflated compared to other sources.
Web Sources: The Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index (CBECI) estimates Bitcoin mining’s global annualized consumption at 87–150 TWh (87,000–150,000 GWh) in 2024, with a point estimate of 120 TWh. Dividing by the ~900 Bitcoins mined daily (based on 3.125 BTC block rewards every 10 minutes), this suggests **370,000–555,000 kWh per Bitcoin** (120 TWh ÷ 900 ÷ 365).
Realistic Range: Most reliable estimates converge around 350,000–500,000 kWh per Bitcoin, accounting for modern mining rigs (e.g., Antminer S19, 3,250 W at 30–35 J/TH efficiency) and network hashrate (600 EH/s).
Factors Influencing Electricity Use:
Mining Hardware: Newer ASICs (e.g., Bitmain Antminer S19 Pro) are more efficient (29.5 J/TH) than older models, but the network’s rising difficulty requires more computational power, offsetting gains. Cooling systems and climate also add 10–20% to energy use.
Electricity Costs: Miners seek cheap electricity (e.g., 2.5–5 cents/kWh in Texas). In McKinney, TX, industrial rates are ~6.6 cents/kWh, but crypto miners like Riot pay as low as 2.5–2.96 cents/kWh, affecting cost but not kWh consumed.
Network Difficulty: Bitcoin’s difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks (2 weeks), increasing as more miners join. In 2025, difficulty is near all-time highs, requiring more hashes (and electricity) per Bitcoin.
Location: Texas, a major mining hub, uses a mix of coal, gas, and renewables. The state’s grid (ERCOT) supports miners with low rates and demand response programs, but fossil fuel reliance increases environmental impact.
Cost Implications in McKinney, TX:
Using an average of 400,000 kWh per Bitcoin and Texas industrial rates (~6.6 cents/kWh), electricity costs are ~$26,400 per Bitcoin. At discounted miner rates (e.g., 2.7 cents/kWh, as reported for Cipher Mining in Odessa, TX), costs drop to ~$10,800 per Bitcoin.
If a McKinney home lacks an electrical connection for a water heater (per your earlier context), mining at residential rates (~14.46 cents/kWh) would cost ~$57,600 per Bitcoin, making home mining impractical.
Environmental Context:
Bitcoin mining’s global energy use (120 TWh/year) is comparable to Poland’s or Australia’s consumption, with ~38% occurring in the U.S. (25–91 TWh). In Texas, miners like Riot and Cipher consume 400–1,000 MW, contributing to grid strain and higher residential rates.
The carbon footprint depends on energy mix. Texas’s grid is ~36% coal/gas, down from 51% in 2020, with renewables at ~25% for mining. This still results in ~557 gCO2/kWh, higher than pre-2021 levels when China’s hydropower was more prevalent.
Critical Perspective
The massive energy consumption (350,000–500,000 kWh per Bitcoin) reflects Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) mechanism, which prioritizes security but wastes energy as only one miner wins per block. Critics argue this is unsustainable, especially compared to proof-of-stake systems like Ethereum, which uses 0.005% of Bitcoin’s energy. Proponents claim miners drive renewable energy adoption (e.g., 23% hydropower, 14% wind), but fossil fuel reliance in Texas undermines this. The high kWh per Bitcoin doesn’t scale with transaction volume, making it inefficient compared to traditional systems like Visa (0.001 kWh/transaction).
Connection to Your Context
You asked about pilot-light gas water heaters in McKinney, TX, to avoid electrical connections, likely due to cost concerns. Bitcoin mining’s electricity demands dwarf household needs (e.g., a 40-gallon gas water heater uses ~200 therms/year or ~6,000 kWh if electric). Mining one Bitcoin could power ~50–80 U.S. households for a year (at 10,649 kWh/household). Installing a mining rig in McKinney would require significant electrical upgrades, far costlier than the $150–$3,000 for a water heater outlet, making pilot-light heaters a practical choice for avoiding such expenses.
Conclusion
Mining one Bitcoin in 2025 requires ~350,000–500,000 kWh, costing $10,800–$57,600 in McKinney, TX, depending on electricity rates (2.7–14.46 cents/kWh). Pilot-light gas water heaters, which you’re seeking, avoid electrical costs, unlike mining, which demands massive power infrastructure. For specific retailers in McKinney carrying pilot-light models (e.g., Home Depot, Rheem XG40T06EC36U1), check my previous response. If you want to explore mining feasibility in McKinney or specific hardware energy specs, let me know!
17 posts
15 web pages
Ask Grok to search deeper
| 
