Green Asphalt: There is enough asphalt on American roads to reach to the moon and back three times. This much asphalt — as well as gravel, cement, and other materials — takes a huge toll on the environment. A new project by the Asphalt Research Consortium, however, is spending five million dollars in order to figure out how to make asphalt more green and sustainable.

One major area of research is ?cold mixing? asphalt, using a process popular in under-developed nations to pour asphalt without needing to expend a huge amount of energy to heat it up first. Since all asphalt needs to come from refined oil, furthermore, heating it up creates the carbon byproduct that creates choking greenhouse gases. Why have US roads refrained from using cold mixing? In general, because they have not had to. As the cost becomes more expensive, however, the green factor applies to both energy and money.

Green House: There are parts of the world that are attempting to turn the clock back on technology to create green resources. As in, so far back that there is no technology. The 1050 K Street project by Timmons LEED is an example of projects that are literally green: this building is constructed with plant roofs and sidings in order to absorb moisture and UV light, cool down the interior, and develop a carbon-neutral structure. While this building can look a bit odd from far away — like a gardener had planted trees and shrubs into the side of the building — it offers a new chance to create projects that incorporate the environment directly.

The Venturi VBB-3: Unveiled this month by Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene at the Wendover airfield in Utah, USA, the third generation Venturi ?Jamais Contente? (which translates as "The Never Satisfied") cost a cool US$6 million to build. The aim of the project is to hit progressively higher targets over the next two years, with the ultimate goal being to exceed 440 mph (708 km/h).

If it manages to do that, this needle-like EV will smash the official FIA world land speed record for a vehicle with an electric motor of 495 km/hr (307m/hr) set by its predecessor the Buckeye Bullet 2.5. Unfortunately no record run could be attempted this month due to dismal weather that flooded the Salt Lake. The team hoped to cross the 600 km/hr (372 mph) threshold this year, but that's been rescheduled to July 2014.

Housed in a 11.64 m-long carbon fiber skin, the 4WD VBB-3 features an electric motor that can deliver power of up to 3,000 hp (2,200 kW) and weighs about 3.2 tonnes in total, with batteries accounting for about half its weight.