Title: Energy Literacy for Climate Action: Technology, Best Practices, and Insights
Author: Francis M. Vanek
Publisher: iUniverse
ASIN: B0C1R9B9BM
Pages: 416
Genre: Non-fiction / Environmentalism
Reviewer: Christina Avina

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One of the most important conversations a person can have regarding society and the world is that which surrounds energy and the environment. For so long the planet has gone through long periods of environmental stability, followed by environmental upheaval, but none has been greater than with the expansion of mankind and the age of industrialization and scientific progress, which has seen the rise of coal and nuclear power, which greatly impacts the environment.

Being able to understand the various forms of energy and how they are produced, as well as how it impacts the environment, is the driving force behind author Francis M. Vanek’s Energy Literacy for Climate Action: Technology, Best Practices, and Insights. Utilizing over two decades of experience as an engineering professor, the author explores various energy systems and the need for sustainable, renewable energy sources. From the current system of fossil fuels to the backbone of solar and wind power and emerging studies surrounding hydro, biomass, and even geothermal energy, the author hopes to educate and explore these systems to help fight climate change now before it is too late.

Detailed and compelling, the amount of research and development the author poured into the book is astonishing. The balance between detail-oriented facts and insights with the figures and illustrated graphs that show the numbers themselves allows for an insightful book which imparts fantastic knowledge about the various degrees of energy systems in place. The author was able to balance out the technical details of his research with the personal writing style that included personal experiences and moments from his life, making it feel like a conversation happening between the author and the reader.

Readers who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those that explore energy conservation and climate change effects, will find this to be a rather engaging and memorable source of information. One area which was fascinating was how the author proposed curbing carbon emissions, which is something so many people have been searching to do for many years now. The idea of charging a fee for higher carbon emissions is a great and efficient strategy, as the author explores how impacting the market financially could be a good argument to switch over to other forms of energy. The way the author highlights transportation energy as a major source of energy usage worldwide and ways to help with that, like making smaller light-weight vehicles electric was inspiring to read as well.  Through practical examples and forward-thinking strategies, this book inspires a new generation to take informed, impactful steps toward a more sustainable future.