Technology can reduce energy costs by 60 per cent. Energy efficiency -- simply put, saving energy -- is the cornerstone of the soon-to-be launched Green Building Index. [News Source]

State chamber scales back in wake of budget crisis. One of the first battles will be whether Arizona proceeds with the "cap and trade'' program being pushed by Gov. Janet Napolitano as part of the Western Climate Initiative. [News Source]

Recession temporarily trumps green energy policies. The global recession is changing everything, including the president-elect’s plans to address global warming. [News Source]

Scientists gather in Wellington for conference on climate change. World authorities on the history of climate change are converging on Wellington for a conference on the greenhouse climate of the Paleogene period, 65 to 35 million years ago. [News Source]

Coming in from the storm. Residents in Togo's northern Savannah region say when it is dry here, not a drop of water can be found for kilometres. But when the floods come, nothing holds back the storms' fury. [News Source]

Virtues of living car-free extolled. Hanna Raskin was shopping for a particular small item at Bed, Bath and Beyond and found herself getting a sweet deal on a large slow cooker. The deal was fabulous. The fact that she was traveling on her bicycle was not. [News Source]

For Utah agriculture, energy efficiency, paperwork sophistication are keys to modern-day survival. When it comes to paperwork, Utah farmers and ranchers are failing, and it's costing them thousands of dollars in federal money that could help them be more energy efficient. [News Source]

Oregon conservationists hope for greener future. Conservation groups that spent the past eight years battling the Bush administration over logging, wildlife and global warming are hoping for major changes from the Obama administration and a more strongly Democratic Congress. [News Source]

Obama offers new hope for science. As George Bush exits and the inauguration of Barack Obama nears, few constituencies are as hopeful and relieved as American scientists. [News Source]

Death of corals is oceanographer’s murder mystery . Healthy coral reefs are as vibrantly alive as tropical rain forests, providing habitat and cover to tens of thousands of fish and other marine animals. [News Source]

More grackles gliding into area. Sightings during a Texas Christmas Bird Count indicate more southern species are spreading north, suggesting the climate is shifting. [News Source]