Karím Beers studied education as an undergraduate at Cornell University and at Centro Universitario de Bienestar Rural, a small university in Colombia, South America. He worked with formal and informal education and teacher training in the United States, South America, and Africa. Afterwards, he went on to earn his masters in regional planning before joining Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County (CCETC).
For over a decade, Karím led a collaborative initiative to engage community members in saving energy and money through everyday actions. He helped create the Energy Navigators program, in which volunteers receive free training to help other community members reduce their energy use and energy bills and enjoy safer and more comfortable homes. He also helped develop the PowerHouse, a tiny green home, and ReUse Trail, a directory of used items for residents.
Karím said that this experience showed him the importance and effectiveness of local action to fight the effects of climate change, an insight he has brought to his work with the Regional Clean Energy Hub for the Southern Tier, where he serves as director.
The Hub’s progress since its inception has been significant, helping thousands of residents save money on their energy bills and live more comfortably. Karím said he’s glad to see such progress, which he attributes to increasing collaboration both within the Hub’s team as well as with external partners. He looks forward to developing an educational program to help residents throughout the Southern Tier build more resilient communities in the face of climate change.
“I’ve been attracted to the idea of education as a way to release human potential to improve one’s own self, and contribute to the progress of society and the environment we are all part of.””
When Karím isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with all the wonderful people in his extended family, cooking for friends and neighbors, and biking up and down West Hill. He is also very active in the area’s Baha'i community.
To contact your local community energy advisor, visit smartenergychoices.org/get-help. If you want to contact Karím directly, call (607) 272-2292 x186 or email kwb6@cornell.edu.