the greener side

Google eyeing solar

Even Google's founders think solar is hot.

Need help shopping?

The Ethiscore guide rates a host of products--chocolate, cleaning chemicals, computers, and more.

Sierra mag sees bright future

Bruce Sterling says we can expect a new, post-industrial neo-tech revolution, leading to an "Internet of Things" that would call up your lost car keys

Sun-fueled flying

It makes sense for the beleaguered airline industry to seek alternatives to pricey fuel. Here's a glimpse at one French company's plan to send a plane around the world on solar power.

Web scam victims: all-American

The vast majority of Web fraud happens in the U.S., says a study by VeriSign. E-commerce sales rose by 31 percent in the first quarter of 2005 from last year. Phishing and pharming attacks,--which impersonate legitimate Web sites—are on the rise. Learn how not to bite the bait.

FBI: Keep phones off planes

United Airlines will serve Wi-Fi connections on flights in the near future, to the delight of laptop-toting jetsetters. But if you shudder at the idea that mobile phones will come next on planes, take heart that the FBI doesn’t want cellular chatterboxes aloft either—unless they get new powers to wiretap all the calls.

Successful e-waste startup

I love success stories that show how you can profit from work that does good deeds, whether at the core or as a side-effect of the main mission. If altruism doesn’t motivate, and fear of death isn’t in-your-face enough to cut down on pollution, then greed certainly does the trick.

Earlier this week, I met with the founder and CEO of one such venture that mixes business with the pleasure of helping people. RetroBox has been helping companies recycle and refurbish their tech gadgets since 1996. Its affable CEO and founder Stampp W. Corbin talked until his voice was hoarse. He expects $24 million in revenue for 2005.

“Profitable sustainability has really caught on in corporate,” he said. He’s got clients in 100 of the Fortune 500 companies. Most are terrified about data leaking from old hard drives, printers, and so on.

“E-waste is a term that is all-encompassing. Most of it can be reused,” he said, explaining that 99% of today’s electronics can be recycled. Even the plastic can get turned into playground padding, for example. The bad news? Most products are tossed away or languish in attics, basements, or alleys. And poisons like mercury still exist, even if they're

Corbin pointed out that there are 60 e-waste bills in 40 states. “The legislation really does drive people,” he said. “But who wants 50 different laws?” He’s lobbying with the eWaste Working Group for a federal law that would give people and businesses a tax credit for properly disposing of their junk tech.

Boom in the boondocks

New businesses are suddenly plentiful in small cities such as Reno and Boise. Meanwhile, some companies and nonprofits are teaming to plant seeds to encourage entrepreneurs in depressed rural areas, and IT "homeshoring" is on the rise.

Warning: VoIP can cause death

Expecting masses of people to dump landline phones for Net-based calling within the coming year, the FCC is requiring VoIP phones to brandish a warning that they may not work for 911 calls. The ruling came after poor VoIP service thwarted users' attempts to seek emergency medical care. Free Net-based phone services have steered clear of regulation until recently, but expect to see more belt-tightening by the feds--along with fees for 911 calls.

Bottom feeders rise to the top

Professional scavengers should expect big profits. Here's one high school dropout who turned junk into a multimillion dollar business.