And what constitutes a better road design, you ask? Well, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Concrete Sustainability Hub are conducting studies on how improved road designs could lead to energy savings and lower greenhouse emissions. "The understanding has always been that roughness matters more than deflection" in terms of fuel consumption, said researcher Mehdi Akbarian. "But we are showing that it depends on the scenario -- the location of the pavement, the [road] design." Where does concrete fit in all this? Read more.