About the Program
Video: Faces of EDF Climate Corps - 2010
If improving building energy efficiency were as simple as flipping a switch, organizations could easily cash in on big cost savings and emission reductions.
Unfortunately, limited resources, information gaps and organizational barriers prevent many organizations from taking advantage of smart energy investments. EDF Climate Corps can help.
Climate Corps is Environmental Defense Fund’s innovative summer fellowship program that places specially-trained MBA and MPA students in companies, cities and universities to build the business case for energy efficiency.
Results
EDF Climate Corps works. Since the program began in 2008, fellows have uncovered efficiencies in lighting, computer equipment and heating and cooling systems that can:
Cut 1.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity use and 27 million therms of natural gas annually, equivalent to the annual energy use of 88,000 homes;- Avoid over 1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of 200,000 passenger vehicles; and
- Save $1 billion in net operational costs over the project lifetimes
To date, companies report that projects representing 86 percent of the energy savings identified by EDF Climate Corps fellows are complete or underway.
Learn more about our results and the specific projects our fellows have worked on >>
Our Goals
Energy efficiency represents an enormous opportunity to cut costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings consume 70% of electricity in the U.S. and emit more than a third of greenhouse gases.
EDF created Climate Corps to overcome the barriers that prevent organizations from investing in energy efficiency. By delivering a laser-like focus and a compelling business case for energy efficiency, EDF Climate Corps fellows work with their host organizations to save energy, cut costs and reduce GHG emissions.
But the heart of the program is the EDF Climate Corps fellows. EDF recruits leading MBA and MPA students from the country’s top academic programs. We train them and place them in companies, cities and universities where they become champions of energy efficiency for the summer, analyzing energy-saving opportunities and developing customized energy efficiency investment plans. EDF Climate Corps delivers energy and cost savings today, while training tomorrow’s leaders to create value through environmental initiatives.
