The United States fared perhaps better than expected in the just-finished World Cup, but clearly fell far short of this country's hopes for victory. In the wake of the Cup, Christopher Mines looks at some homegrown success stories in the world of tech and buildings.

In 3 American Leaders in Green IT and Building Technology, he profiles three companies -- Lutron, Haworth and Panduit -- that are bridging the gap between facilities and technology, with great success.

In data center news this week, we report on 1E's new software solution for powering down unused servers and Colt's brand-new, energy efficient modular data centers, as well as a study from Toronto that finds most servers are vastly underutilized.

Also this week: Best Buy sets a new target for recycling used electronics and a study that offers a cure for the nation's e-waste problem.

This paper seeks to address the status of electronics recycling regulation in the US, as well as how this regulatory climate influences industry practice.

Join UL Environment, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and GreenBiz.com as they walk through the coming changes to help manufacturers and other stakeholders understand the new regulated landscape of energy efficiency, as well as how energy-efficient products can be used for competitive advantage in global markets.