The Binge Watch Energy Index: How much energy does your favourite show really use?

We all love a good binge watch of our favourite TV shows, but have you ever wondered how much energy it actually takes to watch your favourite series? 

Whether it’s a weekend thriller marathon or a comfort comedy rewatch, Irish households across the country are regularly glued to their screens. We crunched the numbers on over 90 of the most beloved TV shows to reveal just how much energy your favourite binge watch really uses.

Using IMDb rankings and the total runtime of each series, Energia calculated how many hours it would take to complete each show, and how much energy you would use to watch on a 55-inch LED TV. We’ve also compared the energy usage with other typical, household appliances. 

Before you hit play, check out the ten most energy-hungry TV shows.

1. Law & Order

The sound of the infamous ‘dun-dun’ is basically a pop culture anthem at this point. With 517 episodes of investigations and courtroom showdowns, Law & Order is the king of long-haul binges. Watching the whole series takes nearly 388 hours and uses 44.979 kWh of energy, enough to take 5 long showers lasting 10 minutes each!

2. NCIS

NCIS has been keeping fans entertained for years with its mix of crime-solving and quirky characters. With 482 episodes, you’ll spend around 345 hours with Gibbs, Ducky, and the rest of the team. Binge-watching all of them will use 40.070 kWh of energy, about the same as leaving the immersion on for 26 hours. From heart-pounding action to funny moments, every hour you spend watching NCIS keeps you on your toes just like the energy it takes to keep that screen going.

3. Grey’s Anatomy

Is the perfect blend of medical drama, romance, and heartfelt moments. Among them is our very own Irish star Richard Flood, who made our hearts skip a beat for all the right reasons as Dr. Cormac Hayes. With 435 episodes, you’ll spend around 311 hours watching the doctors of Seattle Grace save lives and navigate their personal drama. Watching all those episodes uses 36.163 kWh of energy, equating to running an electric heater to keep you warm for 14 hours – more than enough to keep you cosy through all those emotional rollercoasters. 

4. Supernatural

Tracks the journey of brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they battle demons, ghosts, and creatures from the darkest corners of the world. There’s a splash of Irish magic too, with mentions of a mythical “man-witch” and a spell spoken in Gaeilge. With 327 episodes, you’ll be hooked for about 229 hours of spine-tingling action. Watching all of the episodes uses up 26.552 kWh of energy (on a par with 10 full loads in the tumble dryer).

5. Criminal Minds

Taking you into the world of the FBI's Behavioural Analysis Unit, where they work around the clock to catch dangerous criminals. With 324 episodes, you’ll spend 226 hours solving mysteries and getting inside the minds of both victims and criminals. Watching all of them uses 26.309 kWh of energy, which is similar to the amount of energy you’d use to cook dinner in the oven 12 times. Just like the BAU team, you will be putting in the time and energy to uncover the truth.

6. Friends

There’s no better comfort TV show than Friends, the show that’s been making people laugh for years. With 236 episodes, you’ll spend 173 hours enjoying all the funny moments with Monica, Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey. Watching every episode uses 20.076 kWh of energy, which is equivalent to blow-drying your hair 9 times. And if you ever noticed the vintage Guinness poster in Joey and Chandler’s apartment, you're not alone; it's one of the show's subtle nods to Ireland.

7. The Walking Dead

The world of The Walking Dead is full of danger, suspense, and of course, zombies. With 177 episodes, watching the whole series takes 147 hours of fighting for survival. Watching all of them uses 17.110 kWh of energy, which is enough to power 8 trips to the kettle for a cuppa. As Rick Grimes and the others try to survive, you’ll stay glued to your screen, using up that energy as the story keeps you on edge.

8. House

House may not be the friendliest doctor, but his brain is a genius when it comes to solving medical cases. With 177 episodes, you’ll spend 130 hours watching him figure out tough cases. Watching all of it uses 15.057 kWh of energy, enough to whip up 10 meals in an air fryer while House keeps your brain busy diagnosing rare diseases and rolling your eyes at his insults.

9. Suits

Suits isn’t just about sharp suits and clever legal minds it’s about Harvey Specter’s smooth talk and Mike Ross’s genius. With 134 episodes, you’ll spend 105 hours watching their high-stakes drama unfold. Watching all of it uses 12.176 kWh of energy, about the same as 9 coffee runs with your pod machine. Their nonstop hustle in the courtroom will make it hard to press pause.

10. The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory is perfect for anyone who enjoys geeky jokes, lovable weirdos, and endless entertainment. You’ll spend over 100 hours with Sheldon and friends across 279 hilarious episodes. All that watching adds up to 11.867 kWh of energy, as much as powering nine full cycles of your dishwasher. It’s the kind of show that goes down as easily as a bag of Tayto on a rainy evening and just like Sheldon's brain, it never slows down.

How does binge watching our favourite shows stack up against typical household energy usage?

Binge-watching your favourite TV shows certainly uses more energy than you might expect. From fast-paced cases in Suits to comic book chats in The Big Bang Theory, it’s clear that brains, banter, and big personalities make for seriously binge-worthy TV.

While it's interesting to see how much energy these shows can consume, at the end of the day, it’s all about enjoying the experience. So, grab your popcorn, get comfy, and let the next episode roll. The energy is well worth it for these amazing shows! 

Sources and Methodology

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls020735081/?sort=popularity%2Casc

https://www.daftlogic.com/information-appliance-power-consumption.htm

Using IMDb’s rankings of the most popular shows on streaming services, and the total runtime of each series, we calculated how many hours it would take to finish your favourite TV show, comparing it with the energy consumed by a 55” LED TV. 

The energy used to watch each show was then compared to the power consumption of common household items.