California law makers have recently passed an act requiring all electronics manufacturers to list how much energy the device consumes while in stand by mode. Thinks like laptop chargers, cell phone chargers or your cable box that displays the time all consume energy when they are "off". In a time when energy is at a premium and people are trying their best to cut down on consumption, these devices are like vampires, constantly sucking down eletricity for no benefit.
An interesting name for a real albeit not widely know problem. Read about it here.