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$10 billion. That is the annual dollar amount of the potential roof top solar installations being proposed to customers by Clean Power Finance’s national network of 1,550 installers.

There are plenty of examples of how things go awry in the world of business and buildings when it comes to growth and environmental impacts -- those problems help fuel the sustainability solutions industry.

At the Green Grid Forum in March 2012, several companies that host digital marketplaces and social networks highlighted their efforts to create greener data centers. Today data centers use more than 2% of all electricity. Approximately half of electricity in the U.S. is generated by burning coal. Rapidly rising data center energy use will contribute an ever increasing amount of greenhouse gas emissions unless we can decouple the growth of data storage and processing from fossil fuel pollution.

Much has been written about Google and its millions upon millions in investment in renewable energy. But until recently, the public seldom got a peek into the inner workings of the Silicon Valley juggernaut and its own energy practices.

That changed with last fall when the company lifted the veil on its energy consumption, efforts to make that more efficient and other work to reduce the environmental impacts of operations.

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Today, more than 1.8 billion square feet of commercial property is certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. And for many, obtaining the shining LEED plaque that attests to green building achievement is a major goal

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For all the talk about the energy-saving promise of smart meters, which allow two-way energy data communication between ratepayers and their utility providers, it’s still just mostly potential. In hopes of getting more consumers engaged in tracking and managing their home energy use, GE this week announced a raft of new products, launched under GE’s Brillion home-energy-management-system brand.

You won't find it on the list of ingredients, but many cans of Campbell's soup come with a bit of bisphenol-A, which helps keep can linings from leaking. The widespread use of chemical, also known as BPA, has raised concerns from parent groups, cancer groups and the Food and Drug Administration. This week, the Campbell Soup Co. said it will stop using BPA in its cans.

Jason Kottke points to a post by Steven Gordon of the Speculist , who writes that In the Future Everything Will Be A Coffee Shop. It is an interesting point, and may mark a possible reversal of the trends we have seen toward the big box in the suburbs, and a possible revitalization of our main streets. Gordon lists some of the institutions that are going through a trend toward "coffeeshopification."

When you think about the Dutch company Philips, you probably think about LED lighting or healthcare solutions. You probably wouldn’t guess that one of its sustainability product highlights in 2011 was a coffee machine. And not just a regular coffee machine – its SENSEO Viva Café Eco is the world’s first ever recycled designer coffee machine, using old electronic appliances to create a first-class coffee system. I learned about it while reading the company’s latest sustainability report, which was released last week.

Planning a home improvement project this spring? Whether you’re simply painting a room or undertaking an entire kitchen remodel, here are 10 questions to ask your contractor to make sure your project is good for the planet, your family’s health and your budget.