Model Comparison
Gemma 3 12B vs GPT-4o
Gemma 3 12B: Ultra-efficientGPT-4o: Ultra-efficient
Side-by-side environmental impact comparison. GPT-4o uses 72% more energy per query.
GPT-4o uses 72% more energy than Gemma 3 12B
0.43 Wh vs 0.25 Wh per query · 0.19 g vs 0.10 g CO₂ · 2 mL vs 0.90 mL water
Gemma 3 12B
Google
Energy per query0.25 Wh
CO₂ per query0.10 g
Water per query0.90 mL
VS
GPT-4o
OpenAI
Energy per query0.43 Wh
CO₂ per query0.19 g
Water per query2 mL
Gemma 3 12B
ProviderGoogle
CategoryText / Chat
Inference LocationSelf-hosted (varies)
Confidenceestimated
Efficiency TierUltra-efficient
GPT-4o
ProviderOpenAI
CategoryText / Chat
Inference LocationAzure US East / Sweden
Confidencepeer-reviewed
Efficiency TierUltra-efficient
Frequently Asked Questions
Which uses more energy, Gemma 3 12B or GPT-4o?
GPT-4o uses 72% more energy per query than Gemma 3 12B. Gemma 3 12B uses 0.25 Wh per query, while GPT-4o uses 0.43 Wh.
What is the carbon footprint difference between Gemma 3 12B and GPT-4o?
GPT-4o uses 90% more CO₂ per query than Gemma 3 12B. Gemma 3 12B emits 0.10 g of CO₂ per query compared to GPT-4o's 0.19 g.
Which is more environmentally friendly, Gemma 3 12B or GPT-4o?
Gemma 3 12B is the more environmentally friendly option, using 0.25 Wh per query compared to GPT-4o's 0.43 Wh. That makes GPT-4o roughly 1.7x more energy-intensive.
Calculate your footprint with these models
See how your daily usage of Gemma 3 12B and GPT-4o adds up over time. Our calculator estimates energy, carbon, and water impact.
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