Humanity at Crossroads – The Need for Eco-Conscious Individuals

The historical advancement of humankind has been connected with better and more efficient ways of energy production and utilization. Humans have focused on creating new sources of energy to gain benefits from them. However, the discovery and utilization of new energy sources have remained highly unchecked due to the advantages obtained from them. But now humanity is at crossroads. The global population is growing exponentially and its requirements are far greater than the ability of Earth to clean up after us.

According to the 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Continued emission of greenhouse gases will increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.” So, what are the choices in such a precarious situation? Should humans continue to use fossil fuels having full knowledge about the drastic impacts on the climate and their unsustainability? Should humans sheerly disregard the lives of their future generations and continue their current patterns of energy consumption?

The current situation requires a speedy transition to green energy in order to save the planet and resources. Half of the population on Earth has already witnessed the disastrous impacts of climate change due to rampant ways of energy consumption. A speedy transition to green energy is not only good for people but for the planet also. Developing renewable energy resources are in congruence with sustainability goals for climate, conservation, and communities. Initiatives to deploy renewable energy resources are needed not only on the governmental level but on the private level as well.

SmartPower Inc., founded by Brian F. Keane, is one such company that is encouraging the usage of clean energy and promoting the adoption of energy-efficient methods in public. SmartPower is a non-profit marketing agency that works on behalf of businesses, state agencies, utilities, foundations, and the federal government to increase renewable energy efforts in America. It assists Americans in making smart energy choices.

SmartPower Inc.’s founder Keane served as the Director of External Affairs at the Conservation Law Foundation from 1998 to 2002 and has been at for front of spreading awareness about clean energy options. He is a distinguished speaker on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Keane has served as a Board member of the Center for Environmental Policy at the American University. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Clean Energy Group.

Keane founded another platform, WeeGreen, in 2017, which helps organizations, communities, and individuals in achieving sustainability goals. He has shaped the energy debate in the United States and has led numerous campaigns on energy efficiency. He has been awarded the “Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service” by the John Merck Fund, one of the leading environmental foundations in the US in 2017. Environmental Protection Agency has also recognized his efforts for popularizing clean energy efforts in America by presenting the Clean Air Excellence Award in 2010 and 2016.

Keane has penned down a striking guide for average Americans, which sheds light on the new technologies and products of clean energy. ‘Green Is Good: Save Money, Make Money, And Help Your Community Profit from Clean Energy’ spreads awareness about clean energy, the benefits of deploying them, and the necessity of adopting them. It describes the challenges faced by clean energy during contemporary times and the available strategies for overcoming them.

Keane attended The National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference held in Denver in 2008, ‘Winning the Solar Customer– The Power of Aesthetics and Peer Effects for Successful PV Marketing and Sales’ in 2016 and 2017 at the University of St. Gallen as a speaker. Considering his efforts for environmental conservation, he has been recognized as the ‘Business Leader’ at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.

Mother Earth needs more eco-conscious individuals like Brian F. Keane, who are able to lead the energy debate in the correct direction and for the betterment of the planet. Transitioning to renewable energy is the need of the hour for saving the planet. It is in the interest of everybody from states to individuals as it will save them from the horrendous impacts of climate change and help them in securing safe energy resources in the long run for their sustainability.