Irvington, NJ — Irvington has been matched with an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps Fellow who will provide expertise and support for evaluation, planning, and implementation of projects that will help improve the energy performance of the facilities.
This technical assistance program has been made possible through funding provided by EDF. Since the Climate Corps° program’s inception in 2008, over 1,100 graduate students have been placed in more than 520 leading organizations spanning the United States and China.
Together they have helped identify energy savings worth more than $1.6 billion, the equivalent of 2.2 million metric tons in carbon emissions. Climate Corps° Director Scott Wood said, “With public school districts and local municipalities often looking to do more with less and to meet their aggressive sustainability targets, Climate Corps has proven to be a valuable resource. Fellows are helping jumpstart and accelerate climate and energy projects that can cut costs and reduce carbon emissions. Every dollar saved on energy is a dollar that can be reinvested in the community and help the mission of these important institutions.”
The EDF Fellows will begin work in June 2021. Sustainable Jersey provides guidance to the EDF Fellows to help them advise participating schools and municipalities about resources specific to New Jersey, as well as initiatives that earn points toward the Sustainable Jersey certification program. “Supporting municipalities and schools with technical expertise to do sustainable energy projects is an important step toward our goal of a sustainable New Jersey,” said Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon. “Now more than ever, we need
our municipal and school district leaders to emphasize and more importantly to showcase how solving climate change also builds a healthier, stronger economy and a more resilient future for all.” Sustainable Jersey has been placing EDF Climate Corps Fellows since 2015. Learn how these Fellows have helped New Jersey municipalities and school districts advance their energy initiatives: Previous EDF Fellow Projects.
About Sustainable Jersey
Sustainable Jersey is a non-profit that provides tools, training, and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Currently, 81 percent or 458 of New Jersey’s 565 municipalities are participating in the municipal certification program and 372
school districts and 1,021 schools are participating in Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.