It's now an odd thing to recommend reading the source code to a skeptic on a tech site that focuses on software development? You've come to the wrong place if you believe that reading the comments section will be more informative than studying the software artifact being discussed.
You and the OP commit a category error in thinking that transactions contribute to Bitcoin's energy expenditure. Transactions are no more a source of Bitcoin's energy usage than solar panels are a source of the Sun's energy usage. The sun produces energy on a schedule that is independent of the number of solar panels around to collect it. Similarly, Bitcoin consumes energy on a schedule that is independent of the number of transactions around to be mined.
You and the OP commit a category error in thinking that transactions contribute to Bitcoin's energy expenditure. Transactions are no more a source of Bitcoin's energy usage than solar panels are a source of the Sun's energy usage. The sun produces energy on a schedule that is independent of the number of solar panels around to collect it. Similarly, Bitcoin consumes energy on a schedule that is independent of the number of transactions around to be mined.