Nonprofit solar provider earns $1 million UN grant

"There is enough energy to go around for every one of us and for our children. On this scale, energy security is energy sustainability … and each and every one of us has the duty to use energy sparingly, wisely and responsibly," Ho said.

UN-DESA also presented a special award for sustainable transport to BYD Co Ltd, a Chinese manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, automobiles and buses based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

About 75 percent of BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is connected to green energy, said Brendan Riley, fleet sales vice-president for the company, who accepted the UN award.

Riley said BYD is the world's largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries. "Everything revolves around the production and storage of zero-emission electricity," he said.

"We have three main business groups," Riley continued. "There is new energy business for solar and battery storage. We also have an IT group which makes consumer electronics like laptops for other companies and an automotive business which includes BYD and Denza vehicles in China."

The Denza unit is a joint venture with Daimler AG, which manufactures Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Employing about 180,000 around the globe, BYD operates a plant in Lancaster, California, that makes electric buses.

Riley said about 10 percent of BYD shares are owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Warren Buffett's investment vehicle. A veteran of the aerospace industry, Riley joined BYD several years ago and said the company's commitment to a business model focused on sustainability and green energy was a major attraction for him.

"BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu is like Elon Musk (founder of electric car company Tesla Motors). I have always wanted to work for a visionary like that," Riley said.