62 Trillion Spam E-mails = ?

"According to a report released this week by computer security company McAfee, spammers last year generated a whopping 62 trillion junk e-mails."

"What does that mean in terms of energy?"

"Instead of sending messages asking for money or marketing Viagra, the electricity used sending the e-mails could have powered 2.4 million homes for a year or driven a car around the planet 1.6 times, according to the report. "

"Spam-related emissions for all e-mail users around the world in 2008 totaled 17 million metric tons of CO2, according to ICF International, the consulting firm that partnered with McAfee on the study. That's .2 percent of the total global emissions."