Energize Colleges Energy Data & Infrastructure Intern

Be a part of the Climate Solution!

Start Date: 

Length of Internship: 3 months 

Location Type: Hybrid

Are you interested in energy efficiency and sustainability? Do you want to learn about and contribute to your campus’s climate change solutions? SEI’s Energize Colleges Program and Foothill-De Anza Community College District are seeking students for the position of Energy Data & Infrastructure Intern. Join the Energize Colleges Program to gain real-world experience by contributing to a meaningful project related to sustainability and energy efficiency!

This is a paid internship. Note that you must be a student of Foothill-De Anza Community College District to be considered for this position. 

The four goals of the Energize Colleges Internship Program are to:

• Develop intern awareness, knowledge, and behavior associated with energy efficiency concepts, including energy efficiency, demand side management, and electrification.
• Develop interns’ technical skills and career readiness by providing training, hands-on experience, and work and/or internship experiences.
• Provide resources and mentoring to increase interns’ knowledge of sustainability and energy careers. 
• Develop interns’ skills in the coordination of energy, education, and workforce development projects.

This internship requires a commitment to working 12-15 hours per week for a total of 150 hours from April 2026 to June 2026. Interns are compensated at $20 per hour. Interns will assist their site with energy efficiency and/or electrification-related projects, the creation of campus education and outreach resources, and/or the integration of energy efficiency, demand side management, and electrification concepts into course materials.

This is a hybrid position, work is conducted on-site and remote, to be decided with intern and site supervisor at the time of hire.

The Energy Data & Infrastructure Intern will support the District’s sustainability goals by reconciling utility expenditures with physical campus assets. This role is responsible for bridging the gap between high-level utility billing and the mechanical realities of our several-hundred-thousand sq. ft. facilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Utility Ledger Management: Audit and consolidate electricity, natural gas, and water invoices (including Detail of Bills) on spreadsheets to create a multi-year longitudinal study of campus consumption and cost trends.
• Mechanical Asset Mapping: Conduct on-site audits to maintain a master database of HVAC infrastructure (chillers, boilers, remote thermal units, and air handling units). Document unit specs, age, and the specific zones/square footage they serve.
• Area-Based Energy Use Intensity (EUI) Modeling: Develop a proxy EUI metric by allocating total campus energy loads to specific mechanical "zones" to identify high-intensity sectors.
• Photovoltaic (PV) Output Analysis: Monitor and report on PV system performance, comparing solar generation against total grid demand to determine "net-zero" progress.

Requirements:

• Be a currently enrolled graduate or undergraduate student at Foothill College or De Anza College (part of Foothill-De Anza Community College District)
• Be interested in energy efficiency, electrification, and sustainability
• Either coursework, volunteer work, or experience in any of the following fields: Environmental Science, Architecture, Building Construction, Engineering, HVAC, Real Estate, or Food Service Management
• Be able to provide a valid Federal W-9 form, required identification, and authorization for employment
• Be an organized self-starter with excellent time management skills
• Knowledge, familiarity, and/or a strong interest in climate change and energy concepts
• Project management or campus organization experience is a bonus, but not required (volunteer work and coursework may count)
• Strong communication and workplace skills, such as accountability, self-motivation, the ability to work both independently and on teams, respect, openness to giving and receiving feedback, organization, and timeliness.

Recruitment timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submissions, as we may stop accepting new applications once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is identified.

SEI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities thrive. We strive to reflect diverse communities, especially those most impacted by climate change and other kinds of environmental, social, and economic injustices. Persons of color, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

About SEI: Building Leaders For A Resilient World, and Energize Colleges 

SEI is a nonprofit environmental consultancy that builds leaders to drive and accelerate sustainability solutions. For over 25 years, SEI has partnered with schools, communities, and businesses to develop a sustainability leadership pathway from elementary school to early career. The Energize Colleges program helps build a highly qualified energy and sustainability workforce through paid, hands-on internships and fellowships, and academic learning experiences for students to explore sustainability career opportunities. 

Our Hiring Values

SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.