The 11 Most Off-the-Wall Stories in 2011

Whether these were surprising moves by companies or governments, unexpected green angles on the news, or our annual "Earth Day Fail" roundup, presented below are some of the most surprising stories of the year.

BAE Systems' Bid to Design a Greener, Next-Gen 'Tank'
By Leslie Guevarra

BAE Systems is in the running to deliver a design for a hybrid-electric, next-generation ground combat vehicle -- don't call it a tank -- as part of the Army's effort to modernize its armored fighting vehicles.

Why the All-Electric Leaf May Not Be Your Greenest Fleet Option
By Matthew Wheeland

Although electric vehicles are flooding the marketing -- and shoppers are finally climbing on board -- but new research suggests that deploying Leafs in large numbers may swell your fleet's carbon footprint.

Good Vibes' Ecorotic Ratings Provide a Green Index for Sex Toys
By Leslie Guevarra

The San Francisco-based firm brings a green lens to its adult products.

Toxie Awards Name Flame Retardant Worst Chemical of the Year
By Tilde Herrera

In a red carpet ceremony in Los Angeles Thursday, the second annual Toxie Awards honored bad actor chemicals for their ubiquity and negative impacts.

10 Ways to Boost Your Building's Energy Efficiency in 2012 Has your building become fat and lazy? Here are retrofit tips on how to turn that energy hog into an efficient, high-performer.	In Defense of Plastic Bag Bans A detailed counterpoint to Marc Gunther’s recent article, In Defense of the Plastic Bag.
10 Predictions for Cleantech and Sustainability in 2012 Was 2011 good or bad for sustainability and green technology -- and what does last year's news portend for the future?	Why Agriculture Needs to Catch Up on Climate Change Action Agriculture is one of the first sectors that will be seriously affected by climate change, yet the sector is far behind in quantifying and reducing its carbon footprint.
What's Your Biggest Accomplishment in 2011? The end of the year is a perfect time to reflect on where you've succeeded, as well as where you need to work harder next year. Sustainability leaders from leading green companies and organizations tell us about their big wins in 2011.	GreenBiz.com's 11 Most Popular Stories of 2011 Each year, we publish thousands of news articles and in-depth blog posts. These may not be the best (but some are), but they are the ones that most resonated with our readers.
US Treasury Building's Green Investment Pays Off in LEED-Gold Rating The third-oldest federal building Washington, D.C., has earned gold-level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.	Tackling the Nexus(es) of Sustainability and Innovation Businesses are increasingly approaching the challenge of developing a sustainable economy as a challenge of innovation. While this is a more productive approach, it's not without its own set of obstacles.

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The 11 Most Off-the-Wall Stories in 2011

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