Energize Colleges Energy and Electrification Intern

Be a part of the Climate Solution!

Start Date: 

Length of Internship: 3 months 

Location Type: On-site

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 College of the Sequoias are seeking students for the position of Energy and Electrification 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. You must be a student of College of the Sequoias 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 March 2026 to May 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.  

The Energy Efficiency Electrical Intern will assist the College electrician with projects focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing electrical energy consumption across campus facilities. The intern will support the inspection, maintenance, and improvement of lighting, electrical equipment, controls, and energy-saving systems. Responsibilities may include identifying opportunities to reduce energy use, assisting with LED lighting upgrades, monitoring equipment performance, collecting energy-use data, and supporting preventive maintenance activities. The intern will gain hands-on experience with electrical systems, energy-efficient technologies, safety practices, and facility operations while working under the direction of qualified electrical staff. This position provides valuable practical experience while contributing to the College’s sustainability and energy-efficiency goals.

Responsibilities

• Assist the College electrician with energy-efficiency projects throughout campus facilities.
• Inspect lighting, electrical equipment, and controls to help identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
• Assist with LED lighting upgrades, replacements, and other energy-saving improvements.
• Help collect and document energy-use data to support efficiency evaluations and projects.
• Assist with preventive maintenance of electrical and energy-related equipment under supervision.
• Help troubleshoot basic electrical and energy-efficiency issues while following all safety procedures and electrical codes.
• Maintain records of completed work, equipment upgrades, and energy-efficiency improvements to support the College’s sustainability goals.
• This is an in-office position, so work is conducted on-site.

Qualifications

• Be a currently enrolled graduate or undergraduate student at College of the Sequoias.
• 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. 

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 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. 

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.