Retail companies using energy-efficient practices, such as monitoring building temperatures, can reduce costs. (Bright_Star/FLICKR)

BY HANNAH KOKJOHN – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Just as the U.S. Census Bureau released its unexpectedly dismal March report of a 1.1 percent drop in U.S. food and retail service sales, Prenova Inc., an Atlanta-based energy management company, twisted the [...]

BY SARA SARGENT — MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

As late August temperatures in Chicago dip into the 60s, fall seems to be right around the corner. The commodity price spikes of the summer might feel like a trend of yester-month as crude oil and other energy prices beat a rapid retreat from their July highs. But [...]