(AFP/File) - President and Managing Director of General Motors, Karl Slym poses during the launch of the Chevrolet Captiva Automatic motor-car in New Delhi, last January. India, with its nearly 1.2 bln population, is one of the world's last remaining big-growth markets for global automakers like GM, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai and Honda as they grapple with a wrenching slump in developed markets.(AFP/File/Manpreet Romana)

(AFP) - The 50-mile-per gallon 2010 Toyota Prius is seen during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show, last January, in Detroit, Michigan. Toyota is facing a potential safety issue with its highest profile vehicle, the Prius, the latest in a plague of quality problems that forced it to recall four million vehicles in 2009.(AFP/Stan Honda)

(AFP/File) - A customer is seen checking Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor's Prius hybrid model at a showroom in Tokyo. Toyota is facing a potential safety issue with its highest profile vehicle, the Prius, the latest in a plague of quality problems that forced it to recall four million vehicles in 2009.(AFP/File/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

Tesla Roadster feels right at home in Florida It was a dark and stormy night in South Florida on Thursday December 17th when Tesla opened the doors for a glimpse of its newest store. Despite a tornado warning and flash flooding that topped a foot of water, Roadster owners and enthusiasts, policymakers, and journalists welcomed Tesla [...]

Cuddle up with your walls! Who ever said walls were just for hanging pictures? A Trombe wall is a sun-facing wall designed as a passive solar collector; people can enjoy its benefits in the toasty comfort of their homes. Instead of running your home heating system, you can use the radiant heat flow from an original design. The Trombe wall, also referred to as a solar wall, was popularized by Felix Trombe in 1964 although it was patented by Edward Morse in 1881.

(AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama drives an electric-powered personal vehicle "i-Real" of Japan's auto giant Toyota Motor at his official residence in Tokyo on December 30. The Hatoyama goverment unveiled an ambitious plan to create more than four million jobs by 2020 and achieve robust economic growth with steps to boost the tourism, environment and health sectors.(AFP/Toru Yamanaka)

Middle Eastern and North African countries, often referred to under the umbrella term MENA countries, have the potential to create more than 3 times the world's power needs, according to a new study reported in the Dubai-based Khaleej Times. Countries that move fast, the study suggests, could have the competitive advantage. Who could take the lead: MENA countries, especially ones located on the Arabian Peninsula, as well as others like Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel could be. These countries are no strangers to the notion of solar energy, and Green Prophet has covered countless articles touting solar energy in the Middle East.

(Canadian Press) - In this Friday, Oct.30, 2009 file photo Japanese F1 driver of Toyota, Kamui Kobayashi fixes his helmet during the first practice session at the Yas Marina racetrack , in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Kamran Jebreili, File)

With the new year rapidly approaching, it is a good time as individuals, and as businesses, to look at ways we can reduce our environmental impact, or as a large part of our environmental impact is known as today, our "Carbon Footprint". Faced with the reality of dwindling natural resources and man-made damage to the environment, today's businesses recognize more than ever the importance of reducing their environmental impact. However, when it comes to actually putting sustainable practices into action, many businesses don’t know where to begin. Therefore, the following is a list of proposed actionable steps any business can take to reduce impact on the environment.

(AFP/File) - Japan's Toyota Motor plans to boost its global production in 2010 by 17 percent to about 7.5 million units, Japanese media has reported.(AFP/File/Fabrice Coffrini)