The brief article at the link below reminds white collar workers everywhere to shut down their PCs or laptops when they leave work for the day. According to a study conducted in the UK, one in five office workers leave their computer on overnight at least three times a week. This involves 2 million computers in the UK, and results in the wastage of 100 million pounds (or 187 million dollars) worth of electricity. 87 percent of workers had never been instructed to power down their computers, nor had they been informed of the general importance of conserving energy. Leaving TV sets on in the home, and keeping cellphone chargers activated even after the cellphone has long since been recharged, also contribute to the waste of energy.

We can only assume that the situation in the United States is just as bad.

"Technology on standby significant contributor to global warming" from TechDigest