In explaining the unfolding environmental problems on our planet, a lot of fingers have been pointed at energy consumption. And rightly so. Despite some misguided attempts to prove otherwise, it is now accepted that our excessive energy consumption is accelerating climate change and exacerbating environmental degradation. Admirably, a lot of effort has been devoted to reducing the amount of energy we, as a species, are using on a daily basis. This effort collectively came from disparate backgrounds, including politicians, NGOs, the scientific community and a growing number of highly motivated, well-intentioned individuals. At the same time, a general consensus has also begun to surface regarding the solution to our problems. In a nutshell, if technology got us into this mess, perhaps technology can get us out of this mess. Technology then has become a centrepiece of humanity’s drive to live in greater harmony with planet Earth, thus far the only planet we can call home. This is both idealistic and realistic at the same time; idealistic because we are setting very ambitious technological goals, and realistic because the only alternative to technological solutions is to give up most of the pollution-causing comforts of life we now take for granted. Fortunately, recent innovations have come to the fore that are demonstrating very impressive cuts in energy consumption while simultaneously keeping us in the life