carbon footprint

Mother Earth is getting a little bit of relief as more companies yield to pressure from environmentalists and activist shareholders to reduce their carbon footprints. But Gaia isn't the only one who's benefiting: Just ask some of the companies that have saved serious greenbacks by going green.

The Empire State Building is perhaps best remembered as the site of King Kong's last stand, but in real life, the monkey on the building's back wasn't a giant gorilla -- it was a giant electricity bill. But that was before one of the most remarkable green renovations ever undertaken.

It has become clear to politicians and scientists that corn-based ethanol isn't the solution for creating a home-grown fuel source. Enter "cellulosic ethanol," made from wood chips, weeds or algae. Could it be the fuel of the future?

A natural gas boom is coming in the U.S, but while consumers are likely to benefit from the cheap energy source, investors may not. Huge new discoveries of domestic reserves may keep prices down, and the political push toward renewable energy sources could cut into producers' profits.

Have your calculator and utility bill handy if you're keen on buying a Chevy Volt (or Nissan LEAF) and want to compare fuel costs with gasoline cars. The EPA is still grappling with how to provide consumers with ratings comparable to the familiar MPG labels.

Despite promises of environmental benefits and lower costs to consumers, smart meters are running into stiff resistance in some areas where you'd least expect it. Among the concerns: More electromagnetic radiation and loss of privacy.

The 500-pound gorilla of retailers, Wal-Mart, is attempting to shirk the carbon footprint of its mega-stores. Mint.com took a close look at the chain's plans and aspirations. To see a larger version of this infographic, click here. Budget Plannerfrom Mint.com

Think you can't make a difference when it comes to the environment? Think again. These five steps are easy, low-cost ways to cut carbon emissions on an individual level without much, if any, cost to you. In fact, you'll likely save money.

The eyes of the world are turned to Copenhagen and the pivotal environmental summit taking place in that quaint, lovely Scandinavian city. The task faced there by the leaders of the world is simple to articulate: Save the planet from the carbon menace and all the ills associated with the curse of...

Until now, green companies in the developing world have lacked a yardstick to track their stock performance versus the rest of the market. The newly introduced "carbon-efficient index" fills that gap -- just in time for the Copenhagen climate meetings.