The Environmental Defense Fund’s innovative Climate Corps Fellowship is a summer program that places top MBA and MPA students in companies, cities and universities to build the business case for energy efficiency. The results from this year’s class of Climate Corps Fellows: $650 million in energy savings from companies like Target, McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts.
“In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to save, and energy efficiency is a huge, and largely untapped, opportunity,” Victoria Mills, managing director of EDF’s Corporate Partnerships program, told Sustainable Life Media. “EDF Climate Corps has shown once again the magnitude of cost savings and carbon pollution reductions available to organizations that know how to look for them.”
This summer, 96 fellows were provided a high-level work placement, training on energy efficiency best practices, and access to experts in the field. EDF Climate Corps fellows are not expected to have a background in energy efficiency, but are chosen on their ability to do technical and financial analyses, manage projects and help facilitate organizational change. Fellows are paid $1,250/week and reimbursed for travel expenses incurred during Climate Corps training.