Seven School Districts in Monmouth and Ocean County Matched with Environmental Defense Fund Fellows

on Apr 30, 2015

EDF fellows to assist with advanced sustainable energy projects

Today, Sustainable Jersey announced the seven New Jersey school districts that will receive an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps fellow to provide on-site technical assistance with advanced sustainable energy projects. This technical assistance program has been made possible through funding provided by New Jersey Natural Gas.

“We are proud to partner with Sustainable Jersey and work together toward a common good, connecting communities with the resources they need to make wise energy choices,” said Anne-Marie Peracchio, director of Conservation and Clean Energy Policy for New Jersey Natural Gas. “This unique opportunity helps the host school districts bridge the gap between available resources and energy-efficiency initiatives. We hope they will leverage insights gained from the process into guidance that will enhance Sustainable Jersey for Schools action items for other school districts to follow.”

Through the EDF Climate Corps fellowship program, Sustainable Jersey for Schools is pairing three specially trained fellows, typically MBA or similar graduates, with seven school districts to provide expertise and support for evaluation, planning and implementation of projects that will help improve the energy performance of their respective buildings. The EDF fellows will begin work with school district staff in June 2015. “We are thrilled to have Sustainable Jersey participate in EDF Climate Corps again this year. We look forward to seeing these three students build upon last summer’s results, and improve energy management practices within the school districts,” said Victoria Mills, managing director of EDF Climate Corps.

“Supporting schools with technical expertise to do sustainable energy projects is an important step toward our goal of a sustainable New Jersey,” said Sustainable Jersey Co-Director Donna Drewes. “This assistance will result in lower energy costs and a reduced carbon footprint for each district and its schools.”

The seven school districts that were awarded an EDF Fellow submitted an application that was reviewed by Sustainable Jersey for Schools. Since the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program launch in October 2014, two-hundred schools and sixty-eight school districts have registered for the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program. 

2015 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AWARDED AN EDF FELLOW

Monmouth County

  • Long Branch Public School District

  • Manasquan School District

  • Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District

  • Ocean Township School District

  • Shrewsbury Borough School District

Ocean County

  • Lavallette Borough Board of Education

  • Manchester Township School District