Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Intern

Be a part of the Climate Solution!

Start Date: May 18, 2026

Length of Internship: 4 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 CSU East Bay are seeking students for the position of Energy Benchmarking & Sustainability 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 CSU East Bay 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 May 2026 to August 2026. Interns are compensated at $20 per hour. Interns will assist their site with energy efficiency-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 remotely, to be scheduled with the site supervisor.

Position Summary

The Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Intern will support campus efforts to reduce energy and water consumption, with a primary focus on student housing. This position provides hands-on experience with energy and water-use monitoring systems, data analysis, and behavior-change strategies. The intern will contribute to sustainability initiatives by developing baseline data collection during low-occupancy summer months, identifying efficiency opportunities, and planning behavior-change strategies for the upcoming academic year.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in monitoring and reviewing campus energy and water-use data systems (e.g., dashboards, submeters, utility tracking tools)
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and conservation opportunities
• Develop actionable recommendations to improve energy and water efficiency, particularly within campus housing
• Support the design and preparation of future behavior-change campaigns aimed at reducing resource use among residents
• Collaborate with Housing, Facilities, and Sustainability staff on ongoing initiatives and pilot programs
• Create educational materials (flyers, social media content, presentations) to promote energy-efficient and sustainable practices, to be used during the academic year
• Conduct residence hall walkthroughs/audits to help inform future efficiency projects.
• Document processes and create guidelines for ongoing tracking
• Prepare materials to support future outreach activities, such as workshops, tabling events, and residence hall engagement
• Track and report on project outcomes, including energy savings and participation metrics
• Assist with sustainability reporting and documentation as needed
  
  

Qualifications

• Be a currently enrolled graduate or undergraduate student at CSU East Bay
• Be interested in energy efficiency and sustainability.
• Foundational knowledge in the energy sector or energy-adjacent building sciences (e.g., energy efficiency, HVAC, or green construction), gained through coursework, hands-on volunteer projects, or professional experience.
• Be an organized self-starter with excellent time management skills.
• Knowledge, familiarity, and/or a strong interest in climate change and energy efficiency.
• 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.
• The ability to commit to a schedule of 12-15 hours per week for the duration of the internship.
• Be able to provide a valid Federal W-9 form, required identification, and employment authorization.
• Must be 18 years or older 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.