Earth2Tech Week in Review

Opinion: Why Venture Capital Needs to Back More “Now” Innovations: The current pace of progress won’t help us reach the emission reduction levels needed to avoid the serious climate change impacts forecast for 2050. The solution? Pump as much venture capital into “Now” innovations as we do into new technology.

EcoFactor: Finally a Smart Way to Control Thermostats: The software that 3-year-old startup EcoFactor has developed to intelligently manage connected thermostats is one of those game-changing technologies that makes you think: Wait, the industry doesn’t already do it that way?

Beyond Salt: Desalination Startup NanOasis Eyes Wider World of Clean Water: Startup NanOasis, recently awarded a more than $2 million ARPA-E grant, hopes to not only provide tech for desalination projects in California, but also sell into the market for water filtration systems in developing countries

Tendril Partners With Game Maker; “Eco-Warrier” to Gain Strength as Lights Dim: Tendril Networks, which makes energy-management technology for consumers and utilities, is partnering with an unnamed “major computer game manufacturer” to build a new computer game whose main character, an “eco-warrior,” will gain power as users reduce their energy consumption in their homes.

Applied Materials Buying Advent Solar, Cheap: While the amount for the deal is not being disclosed, it “was done very cheaply,” Lux Research analyst Ted Sullivan told us. “Investors did not get their money back — pennies on the dollar is a very safe assumption.”

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