Reuters: European Union states approved a proposal for dramatic cuts in standby electricity consumption by household and office electrical appliances, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The so-called Ecodesign regulation, due to be adopted by the end of this year, will force manufacturers to cut the power used by computers, printers, photocopiers, televisions and other devices when on standby by 73 percent by 2020. “It is a concrete contribution to reach the EU’s energy …