Please use some brainpower (perhaps 12 watts) to give this thought-provoking article a review.  While energy consumed by mining has no analog for fiat currency, Bitcoin detractors who complain about energy needs may not be fully weighting the comparable consumption from day-to-day electronic transactions in fiat.  Further, the ability to locate mining operations where green(er) energy is abundant (e.g., near geothermal sources) may be underappreciated.