Following on the success of the launch of Viridis Africa 2011, where more than 20 major investment opportunities were presented to prospective investors, Viridis Africa is now soliciting business plans in the clean tech industry from entrepreneurs seeking funding to turn their projects to account.

A cool new concept being tested in the Abu Dhabi desert uses a wind turbine to condense water from the air and pump it into storage tanks for filtration and purification. The technology was created by Eole Water after its founder, Marc Parent, was inspired by the water he could collect from his air conditioner unit while living in the Caribbean.

The idea of a solar-powered recording studio seems to be gaining traction as studios convert and bands both big and small seek out an alternative energy recording solution.

sIn the 21st century, where just about everything you do contributes to the decline of the planet, some scepticism remains about the greenness of the modern invention.

A lot of producers claim to manufacture green mobile phones: but how to separate the greenwash from the green facts? How can you make informed decisions about the eco credentials of your phone?

Biomass production in Mozambique. Smart chips for solar hot water panels. New ways of turning sewage into electricity. All interesting new inventions we enjoyed at the Viridis Africa conference, which was definitely worthwhile to attend and meet great minds helping us shape solutions to the impending climate crisis.

It feels as though the world closed ranks in June, united by the universal love for football. The World Future Council was in the middle of it, with the 'Power Kick for Africa' project keeping many of the staff on their toes. To promote the use of renewable energy in Africa, we organized a policy workshop in Ghana's capital Accra. Also, a World Cup public viewing powered by solar energy was organized in the non-electrified small town of Oboadaka, two hours from Accra.

Being energy smart requires that no decisions are taken in isolation. We need to look at the nature of our daily life (private and/or business), how we use technology, which habits need to change, how much change is needed, and how easy/complicated these might be. Firstly consider existing business strategies and operations. They need to be supported by the energy efficiency interventions.