Behind IBM's Quest for a 'Smarter Planet'

Coffee Could Be the Next Big Biofuel Source

Coffee could power your car as well as your brain according to researchers writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

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Rethinking Meetings to Achieve Greener Formats and Sustainable Solutions

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Fast-Tracking Green Economic Recovery: Some Advice for the New Congress

As the 111th Congress gets under way this week, the key task will be developing a fast-track economic stimulus program — ideally one that emphasizes sustainability, says Leanne Tobias.

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California Regulators Plan on Forcing Retailers to Sell Energy-Efficient Flat-Screen TVs

The crisp images shown on flat-screen televisions come at a cost: major strain on the power grid. Beginning in 2011, California regulators will try to ease that strain by requiring flat-screen TV retailers to sell only energy-efficient models.

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McDonald's to Become Both Time and Energy Efficient

No one can deny that McDonald's food service is fast, but up until now it hasn't been very energy efficient. The company's 32,000 stores spend $1.5 billion each year on cooking, lighting, heating and cooling.

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Defining Sustainability

There are scores of different terms for something that many of us refer to as sustainability: corporate responsibility, sustainable development, corporate citizenship, environmental sustainability, corporate sustainability and green business. And there are hundreds of different definitions for the terms. Robert Pojasek offers guidance on defining sustainability — and making it operational — in the corporate world.

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California Entrepreneurs Launch Green Screen Printing Business

A variety of industries have been racing to eliminate toxic substances from their products, and the t-shirt screen printing business is no exception. California entrepreneurs Peter Imai and David Whitaker have taken advantage of this trend by creating Ecoprintworks.com, a site that sells toxin-free t-shirts.

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Seattle Startup Introduces Toxin-Free Dry Cleaning

Of the 35,000 dry cleaners in the United States, only 35 use toxin-free carbon dioxide cleaning methods. A Seattle startup called Blue Sky Cleaners is aiming to grow that number.

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The Top Green Building Stories of 2008

Major developments on the green building front in 2008 hold the promise of even greater momentum in 2009. We take a year-end look at five general areas: the resilience of green building, the hot pursuit of energy efficiency and incentives, increased focus on the built environment, legal landscape and the path ahead.

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Toshiba Constructing Second SCiB Battery Production Facility

Toshiba has big plans for its rapid charge SciB (Super Charge ion Battery) battery in the new year. Due to an anticipated surge in demand for automotive and industrial applications, the company is constructing a second SCiB production facility in the fall of 2009.

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The Top ClimateBiz Stories of 2008

States, cities and the business community moved to fill the void created by a perceived lack at federal leadership in battling climate change in 2008. We saw big promises and goals as companies sought to make their operations leaner, take advantage of the opportunities created by climate change, and begin moving to reduce associated risks. Meanwhile, nongovernmental organizations stepped up to help businesses find their footing while reminding us how far we have to go.

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Hidden Electric Bill Fee Finances New York's Energy Projects

New Yorkers who only skim their electric bills probably don't notice that it contains a charge for something called SBC/RPS. And why would they? The Systems Benefits Charge only averages out to $1.08 per month for most New York City residents.

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Times Square Icons Go Green for New Year's Eve

New York's Times Square ushers in the New Year with a bigger, brighter and greener light ball this evening and billboards that are to be powered by wind energy, starting with the giant Coca-Cola sign at 47th and Broadway.

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Kibbutz Teams Up with Israeli Firm to Create Country’s First Solar-Powered Community

The western Negev's Kibbutz Reim will soon receive the distinction of being the first Israeli community to rely entirely on solar energy as a result of an installation project with the firm Sunday Solar.

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The Top Ten Predictions for Green IT in 2009

Expect 2009 to be a breakout year for Green IT, with it taking a central role not just in IT departments, but in the enterprise as a whole. The economic meltdown, a big new stimulus package, and advances in technology will all combine to put green IT directly at the center of how corporations operate.

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The Top Green Design Stories of 2008

Green design, like all things green, has spread into companies big and small and is now found in all sorts of products, packaging, supply chains and architecture. With many actual results being made throughout the year, there was also a hefty dose of support being given to concepts that will no doubt lead to cleaner, greener design innovations.

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Indiana Department of Environmental Management Stops Issuing Fines

In a move that has angered environmental activists, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has ceased issuing fines against Indiana state agencies that violate environmental permits. Instead, the agency is using legal settlements, or "agreed orders", to take care of issues.

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Once is Not Enough: Continual Improvement is Essential to Sustainability

Improvement is a major ingredient in the process of attaining sustainability and has to be part of what every employee does every day — day in and day out, says Robert Pojasek, who offers advice on how to set those targets.

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