Cities, Universities Join EDF Climate Corps to Save Energy, Money

Contact: Georgette Foster, gfoster@edf.org, 919-881-2927

(Raleigh, NC - Feb. 13, 2012) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the first cities and universities to be selected in 2012 for EDF Climate Corps, which trains MBA and MPA students to indentify cost-effective ways to save energy.  New host organizations include the City of Cleveland (Ohio), City of Atlanta, City of Los Angeles, Envision Charlotte (NC), Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Port of Oakland, San Diego State University-Imperial Valley, the Smithsonian Institution and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  The New York City Public Housing Authority and Howard University (D.C.) are hosting fellows again this summer.

During their 10-12 week summer engagements, EDF Climate Corps fellows analyze energy-saving opportunities and develop custom energy efficiency investment plans that cut costs and carbon emissions.

“Cities and universities know the value of saving a dollar and saving a kilowatt, and EDF Climate Corps gives them a plan in a few short months,” said Michael Regan, EDF energy efficiency director.

Now in its fifth year, EDF Climate Corps has recommended changes in lighting, computing and ventilation systems that could:

• 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 one million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of 200,000 passenger vehicles.
• Save $1 billion in net operational costs over the project lifetimes.

The application deadline for 2012 summer hosts is February 23.  Cities and universities are encouraged to apply at edfclimatecorps.org.  For more information and a list of 2012 hosts, contact info@edfclimatecorps.org.

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About Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EDFEnergyEX; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; and http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/.

About EDF Climate Corps

EDF Climate Corps (edfclimatecorps.org) places specially trained MBA and MPA students in companies, cities and universities to build the business case for energy efficiency. EDF Climate Corps fellows analyze energy-saving opportunities and develop custom energy efficiency investment plans that cut costs and carbon emissions.