Africa's population is expected to double over the next 25 years. But with Africa's housing already insufficient, expensive and not meeting the soaring demand, the continent faces a housing crisis. Today, 56 percent of Africa's urban population lives in informal settlements as a result of natural disasters and the significant lack of affordable housing available. Could eco-friendly homes offer an affordable and sustainable housing solution?

Three African countries are piloting the use of a 3 and 4 wheeled bikes powered by solar energy.  Dubbed the Solar E Cycles, the bikes are fitted with solar panels that tap the sun’s energy and charge the batteries during the day.  The energy stored in the batteries powers the vehicle for a distance of up to 50 kilometers a day, at a maximum speed of 35 kilometers per hour, before a recharge is needed.

We all like to do our bit for the environment. We recycle, use kitchen waste to make compost, use reusable shopping bags, etc. These are all done in an attempt to decrease the usage of our planet’s resources and to reduce pollution. However, there might be more than you can do without even setting foot out of your home. When it comes to energy consumption, temperature regulation is one of the highest costs. We heat our homes in winter and cool them in summer.

Three young inventors from New Delhi, India have developed Chakr Shield; a technology that traps over 90 percent of pollutant suspended particulate matter (SPM) emissions from exhaust pipes of diesel generators. The SPM in form of soot (black carbon) is then recycled to make inks and paints.  

It is estimated that 844 million people lack access to a clean drinking water service, 2 billion people drink water from a contaminated water source. Each year this leads to an estimated death rate of 502.000 people. Producing clean water is a very intense process that requires a considerable amount of energy and efficient technology to run the water purification process.

Climate change adaptation costs in developing countries could rise as high as US$250-500 billion per year by 2050 according to UNEP. With the world grappling with climate change, we need sustainable solutions to save our precious planet. Air pollution, deforestation and contaminated waterways are major issues, and there is a lot of work to be done in these sectors.

Communal spaces are a hallmark of a strong community, offering a meeting place for locals and information to visitors about the kind of area they are visiting. Africans value community deeply, but are the most likely to be affected by climate change. This means that outdoor spaces need to be designed in a way which doesn’t damage the environment and is welcoming to everybody.