# Energy Consumption?

### What about Ethereum's energy consumption?

Ethereumwas using a proof-of-work mechanism that consumes a large amount of energy, however, in September 2022, Ethereum underwent its biggest update yet, dubbed 'The Merge'. This upgrade switched the blockchain to a proof-of-stake mechanism which **greatly reduces its environmental footprint**.

This update could reduce the energy required to secure Ethereum by about **99.95%**, creating a **more secure network for a much smaller carbon cost**. This will make Ethereum a truly low-carbon blockchain while boosting its security and scalability.

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