Climate Corps Handbook

Download the Handbook

A PDF document of the Climate Corps Handbook is available for download at the EDF website.

The Climate Corps Handbook was initially created for Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps Program that places trained MBA fellows into companies to capture unrealized financial and environmental gains through the identification and implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.

The Handbook is intended for use as a reference manual for identifying, analyzing and prioritizing energy efficiency investments in office buildings and data centers. The handbook contains a set of chapters focusing on areas of a typical company’s energy use and associated energy savings opportunities—lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning), office equipment, water heating and vehicles. See below links to navigate the handbook:

Chapter 1. Introduction Introduction Climate Corps program objective Chapter 2. How to use this handbook How to use this handbook Chapter 3. Steps to identify and prioritize possible efficiency measures 7 Steps Chapter 4. Barriers to energy efficiency Structural Barriers Organizational Barriers Financial Barriers Chapter 5. Interpreting electricity bills and benchmarking energy use Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Chapter 6. Lighting Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Tactics for Reducing Energy Use Chapter 7. Office Equipment Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Tactics for Reducing Energy Use Chapter 8. HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Tactics for Reducing Energy Use Chapter 9. Water Heating Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Tactics for Reducing Energy Use Chapter 10. Energy Management Systems (EMS) Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide EMS Options

Chapter 11. Data Centers and IT Equipment Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Tactics for Reducing Energy Use Chapter 12. Company-owned/Company-leased Vehicles Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Tactics for Reducing Energy Use Chapter 13. Energy Efficiency Finance Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Chapter 14. Non-financial Considerations Goals Overview Information Gathering Guide Appendix A: Lighting Background Information Lighting Functions Lighting Sources Guidelines for Lighting Design Appendix B: Energy Use by Miscellaneous Equipment Miscellaneous Equipment Appendix C: HVAC Background Information Unitary Vs. Centralized HVAC Systems Performance Measurements Appendix D: Water Heating Background Information Background Central Vs. Distributed Equipment Appendix E: Driving Tips for Increasing Fleet Efficiency How to Maximize your Vehicle's Fuel Efficiency Appendix F: Energy Efficiency Case Studies Overview Case Study 1: Adobe Towers, San Jose Case Study 2: 260 Townsend, San Francisco Case Study 3: 100 Pine Street, San Francisco Appendix G: Glossary of Terms Glossary