Earlier this year Environmental Defense Fund created the Climate Corps, a group whose students show companies how to save money through energy efficiency. Rather than recruiting students of all types, though, the Climate Corps focused on MBA students from top business schools.

The Climate Corps students have returned from their first summers of work, bring back some pretty impressive stories to tell. John Joseph, a Stanford University student, spent his summer at Intuit (the software company responsible for Quicken and TurboTax). In just one summer, Joseph found more than a half million dollars worth of potential savings for Intuit: from little things like turning off vending machines when they aren't in use, to bigger things like upgrading the air conditioning and heating systems. More students' stories are available on the EDF's website.

There's little question that many companies can use the additional help that the Climate Corps and similar programs can provide. The EDF's plan seems like a great opportunity for companies and students alike — MBA students interested in a career in corporate sustainability get a head start and the participating companies get a clear demonstration of how greening their businesses can save them money.

Image — EDF