'Climate Corps' program continues to produce results, CSX says

For the fourth straight year, CSX Corp. has participated in the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps program, which pairs MBA student "fellows" with leading companies to help support sustainability initiatives.

This year's CSX fellow, Hanyan Wu from the Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary, focused on solar energy opportunities and high-efficiency lighting projects across the Class I's network. Hanyan also helped spearhead a project that would provide the city of Jacksonville, Fla., its first electric vehicle charging stations in the coming months.

In addition, he helped determine the feasibility of solar photovoltaic systems at three locations, and optimal sites for future efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects. The proposed energy initiatives would generate costs savings totaling $240,000, as well as prompt reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by 1,572 metric tons (the equivalent of 328 passenger vehicles) and annual kilowatt hours by 2 million (enough to power 211 homes), CSX officials said in a press release.

"CSX never stops searching for new ways to increase energy savings and implement more efficient technologies," said Carl Gerhardstein, CSX's assistant vice president of health, environment and sustainability. "Year after year, our EDF fellows bring an invaluable outside perspective that helps keep [us] focused on sustainable, economical investments in our facilities and infrastructure."