Aug. 7, 2008 - Nissan has developed an "eco pedal" system that prevents drivers from giving their vehicles too much gas.

Earlier this week, green-product design software and information company Sustainable Minds launched its first information services aimed at providing designers with some much-needed advice on sustainability issues. In this SLM interview, CEO Terry Swack walks us through the new offerings - and explains why they're needed now more than ever.

July 25, 2008 - Microsoft researchers have developed a new liquid crystal display (LCD) technology that's three times more energy efficient than current designs.

July 25, 2008 - Soon you may be able to turn your non-electric vehicle into a hybrid simply by attaching an electric motor to your car's back wheels.

June 23, 2008 - The new Phoenix Processor, developed for use in sensors, consumes just 30 trillionths of a watt during sleep mode - a low-power record, say researchers at the University of Michigan.

June 20, 2008 - New fuel cell and hybrid-electric technologies continue to dominate the clean-tech landscape, putting the auto sector well ahead of solar, biofuels, and wind in the race for most patents, according to first-quarter results from the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index.

June 9, 2008 - Toyota has made big leap forward in hybrid engine technology, designing a car that can drive more than 500 miles on a single tank of gas.

May 19, 2008 - The Port of Los Angeles has unveiled a new zero-emissions electric drayage truck that can pull a 60,000-pound cargo container at top speeds of 40 miles per hour. In addition to its environmental benefits, the new truck costs less to operate.

May 16, 2008 - Days after rival Toshiba touted plans to bring direct methanol fuel cells to market in products next year, Sharp says it has made a major breakthrough in the budding green technology.

May 13, 2008 - Toshiba says it plans to begin mass-producing direct methanol fuel cells with an eye toward bringing fuel cell-powered products to market by March 2009, IDG reports.

May 5, 2008 - Researchers at Delft University of Technology have designed a new aerodynamic sideskirt for truck trailers that can help cut vehicle fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 15%.

April 10, 2008 - IBM has unveiled a new supercomputer that is cooled by water instead of air, cutting energy use by up to 40%.  The new "Hydrocluster" supercomputer uses water-chilled copper plates located above each microprocessor to remove heat.

April 8, 2008 - MTI Micro says it's ready to begin mass-producing its tiny methanol-based fuel cells. The company hopes the new fuel cells will soon replace lithium-ion batteries in a wide variety of consumer electronics.

March 31, 2008 - A design innovation in the industrial dryers used during beverage can manufacture can significantly boost energy efficiency in production lines, Food Production Daily reports. The new iDry system, made by Nordson, uses heat induction to dry the cans, saving energy by focusing heat only on the areas that need it.

March 21, 2008 - The X Prize Foundation has announced an international design competition for next-generation fuel-efficient vehicles. The competition is inviting teams to design and build commercially viable vehicles that can achieve fuel efficiency equivalent to 100 miles per gallon.