Posts in 'Climate Corps'

So maybe energy efficiency has never captured the imagination in the same way that renewable energy has, but attention to the importance of energy efficiency has surged in recent months.  Why?  Because it saves both money and greenhouse gas emissions.

President Obama’s administration has touted energy efficiency as the cheapest, cleanest, fastest energy source and a July 2009 McKinsey report concluded that, “energy efficiency offers a vast, low-cost energy resource for the U.S. economy – but only if the nation can craft a comprehensive and innovative approach to unlock it.”

EDF has developed an innovative approach to unlock energy efficiency in the commercial building space.  It’s called Climate Corps, and here’s how it works: Climate Corps places talented MBA students from top-ranking business schools in leading companies to make the business case for energy efficiency investments in office buildings and data centers.

We just completed our second year of the program and the outcomes are quite impressive.  Overall, the 2009 class of Climate Corps fellows uncovered efficiencies in lighting, computer equipment and heating and cooling systems that could:

• Save more than $54 million in net operational costs over the lifetime of the projects;
• Cut the equivalent of 160 million kilowatt hours of energy use annually—enough to power 14,000 homes;
• Avoid 100,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year— equivalent to taking more than 12,000 SUVs off the road.

How did our fellows achieve such astounding outcomes?  By keeping an eye toward the “low-hanging fruit:” the no-cost or low-cost solutions that can provide companies with loads of savings.

Here are just a few of this summer’s stories: Read more »

I’m convinced that the principles of environmental sustainability have gained a firm foothold at today’s leading companies. Why? Because even in the grip of the worst recession in 30 years, companies across the Fortune 500 list – from Wal-Mart (1) and GE(6) to Owens Corning (422) and SunGard (435) – are actively pursuing sustainability agendas.

At the same time, legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions is making its way through Congress and the world community is preparing to hammer out a new climate treaty in Copenhagen this December.

So are we done? Not by a long shot.

While many on the biggest companies “get it,” there remains “the next 50,000” – those companies that make up mainstream corporate America that don’t yet get environmental sustainability or worse, haven’t even heard of it. So where must we go from here to spread environmental sustainability from the Fortune 500 to the next 50,000? Read more »

In my last post, I introduced this graphic* (from a McKinsey report that shows the estimated cost for CO₂ abatement using various technologies).  Today, I’m looking at one of the largest opportunities for “low hanging” emissions reductions: the commercial building sector. Read more »

By Catherine Sweere, a 2009 Climate Corps fellow and a Net Impact member, is pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration degree at Carnegie Mellon University.

Efficiency. Renewable Energy. Energy Savings. It seems so easy: Add recycle bins, upgrade light bulbs, buy more efficient desktop monitors, make all your company cars hybrid. Then slap a big green blurb about sustainability efforts on your homepage and you’re done. Is becoming sustainable really so easy?

Meaningful change within a corporate setting is clearly not so cut and dry. With all the green press and government support of green energy initiatives, it’s easy not to see what might be going on behind the scenes within a corporation that makes sustainability become a lasting value.

I’ve spent my summer working at salesforce.com, in the heart of San Francisco, working on energy efficiency projects. Green is a big part of this city’s culture, LEED is required of all new offices, reusable water bottles are the norm, Styrofoam has been outlawed and composting is mandatory.

When you dig deeper into a corporation, the task of achieving sustainable operations is highly complex. Read more »

By Patricia Kenlon, a 2009 Climate Corps fellow and a Net Impact member, is pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration degree at New York University.

I spent my summer with TXU Energy (TXUE) in Dallas, Texas, identifying ways to improve the energy efficiency of the company’s two main office buildings.

TXUE is an electricity provider in Texas with over 2 million customers. It plans to invest $100 million to develop innovative energy efficiency products and services to help its customers save energy.

With so much in-house experience and expertise, I originally felt as if I were bringing coals to Newcastle. However, I was able to identify some great opportunities with the help of the TXUE team. Read more »

By Hunt Briggs, MBA/MS candidate, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan, 2009 Climate Corps fellow at Biltmore Farms, Member of Net Impact

A few weeks ago I wrote about a growing trend among real estate owners  to create more energy efficient facilities. In a similar way, an increasing number of tenants are looking for ways to drive down operating costs where possible. For example, here at Biltmore Farms, we have a specific tenant in Biltmore Park that holds environmental stewardship as a core company value. As a property manager, what can we do to help and encourage tenants to exercise that shared principle?

Green leasing is becoming more popular in real estate these days as building owners and tenants find themselves codependent when it comes to reducing consumption.
Read more »

By Hunt Briggs, MBA/MS candidate, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan, 2009 Climate Corps fellow at Biltmore Farms, Member of Net Impact

I’ve worked with Biltmore Farms in Asheville, NC this summer, deciphering energy bills, tracking power demand trends and seeking cost-effective ways for the operations team to boost efficiency in their building portfolio. Read more »

By Katie Schindall, MBA/MEM candidate, Yale University, 2009 Climate Corps fellow at Sodexo, member of Net Impact

Window film is cool stuff. Literally. It reflects the sun and insulates buildings. It is used to keep buildings cool on hot, sunny days, and to keep heat from escaping in cold climates.

According to an article published on FacilitiesNet in 2006, window film can reduce heat penetration up to 80 percent and improve insulation by as much as 32 percent for single-pane windows or as much as 23 percent for double-pane glass. Anecdotal evidence repeatedly notes increased employee comfort from the decreased solar glare and better insulation. Read more »

We’re about 6 weeks in to the 2009 Climate Corps program and this year’s fellows have been busy already.  Several of them are blogging, about everything from the absence of low-hanging fruit, demystifying energy bills, keeping a green building green, what they learned in energy efficiency training and more.

From San Jose to Houston to Philadelphia, the media is taking notice of this year’s Climate Corps fellows.  Check out these profiles: Read more »

By Lindsay McCombs, MBA candidate, University of North Carolina, 2009 Climate Corps fellow at Grubb Properties, member of Net Impact

With falling asset values and limited access to capital, many in the real estate industry are spending their time on the next best thing to doing deals: going green. Not only do energy and water efficient buildings have relatively low operating costs, Asset Managers report that these buildings also have high occupancy rates, quick space absorption and proud tenants.

As a Climate Corps Intern, I am working with Grubb Properties to identify and evaluate energy efficiency improvements for their portfolio of commercial and multi-family real estate in Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. In addition to working with existing buildings, I have been working with the development team to create efficiency guidelines for new construction.  I have helped internal committees establish company sustainability practices and evaluate the feasibility of using renewable energy to light buildings.

Last week, I attended the Urban Land Institute’s Investing and Developing Green conference to get a better sense of where the real estate industry is heading and the best ways to get involved with the green movement. Read more »