The annual cost of a watt of this wasted energy in the U.S. is a dollar. While this may seem like a trifling sum, consider the fact that in an average home this adds up to 50 W of continuous energy leakage. Dujari backs up his observations with numbers, citing a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study. This isn't just a domestic problem either. Computers, printers, and networking subsystems are an essential part of today's office environment.
Offices have multiple fax machines, copiers, laser printers, and postage machines.
Most of these devices remain plugged in all the time. That comprises about 10 percent of total electricity consumption in Germany. Worse, total carbon dioxide emissions associated with this wasted energy are over 10 million metric tons. Consider a typical household of the 1970s. In contrast, today's average US home has at least two TV sets, a VCR, and numerous video games, stereos, and cordless phones, as well as a cable box, and microwave oven.