A program sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund — the Climate Corps — could help N.C. Central University save about $1.4 million year in utility costs.
And that's money that could be used to provide better resources to students.
"EDF's Climate Corps program uncovered energy efficiency opportunities that could save the University millions of dollars and cut our carbon footprint by half," said Chancellor Nelms in a video about the project.
The New York-based EDF is a national nonprofit organization that addresses environmental problems and has specifically established a record of assisting minority-serving institutions to cut energy costs.
The EDF was established in 1967 with a mission statement stating that the fund "is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations."
Among these rights are access to clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and flourishing ecosystems."
The EDF, according to its mission "works to create and advocate solutions that win lasting political, economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-efficient and fair."
The Climate Corps trains graduate students to work as fellows with host organizations like NCCU to identify ways improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Two Corps fellows, David Fox, a NCCU graduate student, and Sahil Thaker, a Duke University graduate student, found improvements to heating and cooling systems that could save $1.4 million per year and reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent.
"Climate Corps was an outstanding opportunity to make a real world difference regarding energy efficiency and sustainability," said Sahil Thaker.
"Our work at North Carolina Central University uncovered millions of dollars of potential savings and helped shape energy policy for the state's 16-campus university system."
EDF's Climate Corps fellows have worked with the City of Raleigh, Elizabeth City State University, and Johnson C. Smith University.
At Elizabeth City State University, Climate Corp fellow Tyrone Davis II cut energy cost over $31,000 year lighting, heating and window upgrades.
"If universities could find ways to be more energy efficient, use energy that they need in a better way. Then they can cut cost on utility, which helps out budgets across the board," said Davis.
Climate Corp fellow, Jon Yee, developed a plan at Johnson C. Smith University that is expected to save the University over $225,000 per year.
According to program associate Jill Logeman and program assistant Marilyn Robinson, there are a number of ways to cut energy consumption at college campuses.
These include retrofitting old buildings for conservation, something that can yield savings up to 50 percent.
But educating students and staff to do simple things like cutting lights and computers can also yield tremendous savings.
The EDF is also developing a green curriculum in e businesses and commerce at N.C. A&T where the goal is to try and understand the business value of environment sustainability.
The EDF, with their slogan "Finding the Ways that Work," has a long history of environmental accomplishments under their belt.
In the 1970s a EDF founders set in motion the DDT and whale hunting bans.
EDF scientists were behind the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which establishing the first comprehensive health standards for water nationwide.
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