The government took steps yesterday to slow down a charging energy hog of the high-tech age: computer servers. U.S. EPA announced the first-ever Energy Star requirements for computer servers, which means that the most efficient ones can now be sold with the Energy Star sticker.

On a February night in 2008, the wind died in the usually blustery Texas Panhandle, and a forest of wind turbines there stopped whirring. Alarmed, grid operators rushed to protect the electricity delivery system. Within minutes, electricity going to some major industrial customers was reduced dramatically. Disaster averted.

For many, the gold standard for "green" buildings can be summed up in one word: LEED. But as the green-building movement expands to the wider public, some are beginning to question whether to keep following the LEED-er.

The U.K. government yesterday unveiled plans requiring all homes to install "smart meters" by 2020 as part of a plan to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

China is said to be responsible for building half of the world's new floor space, but as in much of the rest of Asia, little attention is being given there to green building practices that save energy and use sustainable building materials.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has filed paperwork with the Energy Department describing how the state would spend $226 million in stimulus funds on energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.