Driving a new era in energy management

While every organization would like to save on energy costs, it's not always easy to make the needed changes.

Enter EDF's Climate Corps, who specialize in removing the obstacles to cutting energy costs or building out a sustainability plan.

The proof is in the numbers. Since its inception in 2008, Climate Corps has grown 1,500%. This rapid scaling up points to what our fellows are capable of sleuthing out: So far, nearly $1.3 billion in potential energy savings.

Building a new status quo

Each summer, highly trained graduate students serve EDF Climate Corps fellowships for an array of public and private organizations, from churches and hospitals to major companies like Facebook, Citigroup and Apple.

While sustainability plans can sometimes raise ire in business circles, fellows develop innovative cost-saving solutions tailored for each company, proving that saving the environment and saving money can go hand-in-hand.

The recommendations often go far beyond using more efficient lighting or encouraging recycling. Fellows are expected to deliver recommendations that lead to systemic and lasting reductions in costs and emissions—efforts modeled on the Virtuous Cycle of Organizational Energy Efficiency that EDF developed with MIT.

After graduating, Yale MBA student Elizabeth Turnbull Henry (left) was offered a job at Adidas Group, where she was a fellow.

Growing green returns

For example, former fellow Elizabeth Turnbull Henry has implemented an in-house venture capital fund based on projects that offer attractive financial returns and reduce greenhouse gases at Adidas Group, where she is an Environmental Affairs senior manager.

“The greenENERGY Fund is generating buzz because it is working beautifully, accelerating verified carbon reductions at a nice profit,” Turnbull says. “Efficiency is a tremendous source of value. I’ve had colleagues tell me, “I wish I could put my retirement savings in this!”

Spread the word to businesses

As Darden Restaurants manager Brandon Tidwell explained, harnessing the knowledge of 2013 fellow Felipe Mai was key to helping his organization prioritize investments.

"He was able to identify the two most effective and valuable technologies that could reduce our energy use and save almost $20 million," Tidwell says.

The hunt is on for 2014 organizations who want to host a fellow and see similar cost savings. Companies, cities and universities are encouraged to apply.