OAKLAND, Calif. -- Despite being a centerpiece of celebrations the world over, fireworks displays often release toxic chemicals into the environment; researchers are developing a new generation of fireworks that shine as bright but leave less of an impact.

Putting advanced computing together with highly advanced -- and more widespread -- traffic sensors, researchers at Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany, have proposed an "organic" method of traffic control that responds to actual conditions. But is there an easier way?

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With Energy Secretary Steven Chu by his side, U.S. President Barack Obama detailed stricter new lighting standards and promised the swift release of $346 million in Recovery Act funds to boost energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings and homes.

NAPLES, Fla. -- The biorefinery will be built on 24 acres at Dow’s site in Freeport, Texas, where it will use carbon dioxide produced at a nearby Dow manufacturing facility. Algenol applied for $25 million in stimulus funds to cover half the project's costs.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Berkeley firm Scientific Conservation Inc. broadly goes to market today with its SCIwatch software-as-a-service solution -- a first in Automated Continuous Commissioning that its creators say enables building owners and operators to cut as much as 25 percent of annual energy spending by tackling a condition called energy drift.

Later this year Timberland will release its Earthkeepers 2.0 boot, the company's first product to be designed with end-of-life in mind. The company has crafted the boot to be disassembled and recycled, a concept that is spreading throughout various industries as companies realize the benefits of taking back and reusing their own, and other companies', trashed items.

GM gives a tour of its Advanced Battery Laboratory and ExxonMobil partners with Electrovaya to create a low-speed electric vehicle.

The increase in food-borne illnesses and the locavore movement has created momentum for more detailed information about where our food comes from.

HIROSHIMA, -- Mazda began using a new paint system at a Japanese facility this week that it claims carries the smallest environmental footprint of any water-based paint system in use today.

The new buzz phrase in the green world is "sustainable innovation." Mentioned at nearly every green conference and on nearly every green blog is the concept of innovation as the silver bullet needed to blast the green movement forward. Ultimately, it's the starting point for designing greener -- and safer -- products.

Bad engineering design is simply wasteful, but a Rocky Mountain Institute initiative aims to create a set of teaching tools to help engineers designs things like buildings or vehicles that use radically less energy and resources.

Tokyo, -- Japanese automaker admits high price of zero-emission i-MiEV -- $47,500 -- is an obstacle to consumers.

Companies around the world have been taking a number of steps to counteract the wastefulness and environmental impacts of bottled water. With its I LOHAS water, Coca-Cola Japan is touting a lightweight bottle that can be crushed easily to take up little space.