How much energy does a ChatGPT query use?

About 0.34 watt-hours, according to OpenAI's CEO — roughly what an LED bulb uses in a couple of minutes. OpenAI has not published the model, prompt length or methodology behind that figure.

How much water does ChatGPT use?

About 0.32 millilitres per average query, by OpenAI's own statement (0.000085 gallons) — a few drops. That figure, too, comes without a published methodology.

How much CO₂ does ChatGPT produce per question?

OpenAI publishes no emissions figure. Converting its 0.34 Wh with the grid range Google reports for its own data centres gives roughly 32 to 117 milligrams of CO₂e per query — our calculation, not OpenAI's.

Does ChatGPT image generation use more energy than text?

Much more per item. OpenAI publishes nothing for images, but independent measurements of image models put one image at roughly 0.6 to 3 watt-hours — several times a text query, or more.

Is ChatGPT worse for the environment than other AI?

It can't be settled with what is published. Google reports a lower figure for Gemini, but it is backed by a full methodology while OpenAI's is a single statement. Anthropic, xAI, Meta and DeepSeek publish nothing to compare against.

Can I offset my ChatGPT use?

You can fund verified carbon credits equal to it — or well beyond it, with an AI Climate Pass. It doesn't make your use "carbon neutral" — the emissions still happened — and for most people the amount is small next to diet and travel.

Is ChatGPT bad for the environment?

One question is small: about a third of a watt-hour, by OpenAI's account. The less comfortable parts are that OpenAI hasn't shown how it measured that, and that generated images and video cost far more per item than text.

Energy per querystated by OpenAI: 0.34 Wh
Water per querystated by OpenAI: 0.32 mL
CO₂e per queryour calculation: 32 – 120 mg
Queries to match one burgerquarter-pound beef patty: 82,000 – 300,000

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Your ChatGPT use, over a year

Which AI do you use most?

Text prompts

per day

Images generated

per week

Video clips generated

per month

Your AI use, per year

230 – 860 gCO₂e

Less than a tenth of a quarter-pound beef burger.

Text230 – 860 g
Images—
Video—

Water from text prompts: 2.3 L a year. Nobody publishes water figures for images or video.

ChatGPT: disclosed by the maker. An average ChatGPT query, as stated by OpenAI's CEO. OpenAI has published no methodology, model or prompt length behind it, and no emissions figure — the CO₂e range is our calculation from the energy figure.

For most people that is a rounding error. A typical footprint is measured in tonnes, and diet, driving, flying and home energy are where the tonnes come from.

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What OpenAI has published

One sentence, no method

An average ChatGPT query, as stated by OpenAI's CEO. OpenAI has published no methodology, model or prompt length behind it, and no emissions figure — the CO₂e range is our calculation from the energy figure.

Disclosed by the maker

Energy per query: Yes
Emissions per query: No
Water per query: Yes
Methodology: No

ChatGPT next to other models

Model	Source	Energy	CO₂e	Water
GeminiGoogle	Disclosed by the maker	0.24 Wh	30 – 83 mg	0.26 mL
ChatGPTOpenAI	Disclosed by the maker	0.34 Wh	32 – 120 mg	0.32 mL
Mistral Vibe (Mistral Large 2)Mistral AI	Disclosed by the maker	—	1.1 g	45 mL
CopilotMicrosoft	Disclosed by the maker	0.16 – 0.6 Wh	15 – 210 mg	0 – 0.067 mL
ClaudeAnthropic	Not disclosed	0.16 – 0.6 Wh	15 – 210 mg	—
Grok, Meta AI, DeepSeek & othersVarious	Not disclosed	0.16 – 0.6 Wh	15 – 210 mg	—

See the full ranking and transparency scorecard

Images and video

Where a ChatGPT session gets heavy

OpenAI publishes no figures for image generation or its Sora video model. These are independent measurements of comparable open models.

One image

0.63 – 2.9 Wh

≈ 1.9 – 8.5 text queries

One short clip

30 – 940 Wh

≈ 89 – 2,800 text queries

Common questions

How much energy does a ChatGPT query use?: About 0.34 watt-hours, according to OpenAI's CEO — roughly what an LED bulb uses in a couple of minutes. OpenAI has not published the model, prompt length or methodology behind that figure.
How much water does ChatGPT use?: About 0.32 millilitres per average query, by OpenAI's own statement (0.000085 gallons) — a few drops. That figure, too, comes without a published methodology.
How much CO₂ does ChatGPT produce per question?: OpenAI publishes no emissions figure. Converting its 0.34 Wh with the grid range Google reports for its own data centres gives roughly 32 to 117 milligrams of CO₂e per query — our calculation, not OpenAI's.
Does ChatGPT image generation use more energy than text?: Much more per item. OpenAI publishes nothing for images, but independent measurements of image models put one image at roughly 0.6 to 3 watt-hours — several times a text query, or more.
Is ChatGPT worse for the environment than other AI?: It can't be settled with what is published. Google reports a lower figure for Gemini, but it is backed by a full methodology while OpenAI's is a single statement. Anthropic, xAI, Meta and DeepSeek publish nothing to compare against.
Can I offset my ChatGPT use?: You can fund verified carbon credits equal to it — or well beyond it, with an AI Climate Pass. It doesn't make your use "carbon neutral" — the emissions still happened — and for most people the amount is small next to diet and travel.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-15. Carbon Shredder is not affiliated with OpenAI.

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