The market for tapping value from recyclable waste streams is caught in a series of binds that keep it from scaling, even though countless companies have achieved major benefits from cutting waste out of the loop.

Keeping in line with a mandate to trim its data centers from about 200 to 20, the Army recently awarded its first cloud computing contract to several contractors, including Microtech, Lockheed Martin Corp. and IBM.

John Donahoe, the CEO of the online retail platform, talks about how the company backed into sustainability as part of its business model, how it gathers green ideas from employees, and why 'users' are the new 'consumers.'

While nearly every device is getting smaller and more efficient, information is getting much bigger and unwieldy.

Gadget junkies: It's time to explore the possibilities and benefits of stepping off the treadmill of constantly upgrading to the latest and greatest gear, and setting your unwanted electronics free to find second lives.

This year will bring about major changes in how organizations of any size analyze and utilize their energy use. Here's what data center owners and operators can expect to see in the coming months.