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Our History

A Brief History of SEI

1997
Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) is founded in San Rafael, CA.
Old Logo: Strategic Energy Innovations

Affordable housing building
1999
SEI launches energy efficiency projects in affordable housing buildings in California.

2000
SEI launches Energize Schools educational program in Hawaii and hires its first Hawaii-based employee.
Middle school students working on hands-on project

SEI team members working together
2003
SEI receives its first foundation grant.

2006
SEI establishes a green dorm program to retrofit dorm rooms at colleges and universities. 
SEI team members in old office

The first Climate Corps cohort
2010
SEI's Climate Corps fellowship program launches with its first cohort of emerging professionals.

2011
SEI opens the first School of Environmental Leadership in
​Marin County, CA.
Cyane Dandridge speaking to group of students

SEI team member presenting about the SEED Fund
2012
SEI partners with Optony Inc. to create the Solar Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Fund to empower place agencies to participate in  municipal solar PV projects.

2013
SEI's Energize Schools program focused on conservation and education, expands to high schools in San Diego, CA.
Students presenting about energy conservation

Student participating in energy campaign
2016
SEI creates a network of colleges and universities to advance energy and sustainability education and workforce development through experiential learning -- Energize Colleges.

SEI's Energize Schools program expands throughout California. 

2018
SEI elevates climate education to the global stage at the Global Climate Action Summit.
SEI team member speaking at the Global Climate Action Summit

A group of workers installing something
2021
SEI launches Energize Careers, a program to create a diverse and representational sustainability workforce through industry-advised training of people who experience systemic barriers to high road employment. ​

2022
SEI celebrates 25 years of building leaders to drive and accelerate climate solutions for a resilient world where all communities thrive. 
SEI's 25th Anniversary Party

SCU Faculty Learning Community
2022
SEI's Energize Colleges program won an AASHE Sustainability Award! Energize Colleges and California State University partnered to create the SCU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience and won the Campus Sustainability Achievement Award.

2023
SEI's Climate Corps  program was recognized in the 
2022 U.S. Climate Ambition report — the Eighth National Communication and Fifth Biennial Report of the United States to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Climate Corps is highlighted under the Workforce Development and Training section in Chapter 9 as a program model that other organizations are looking to replicate across the country. ​
2022 US Climate Ambition Report Cover

Picture
2024
SEI partners with Inner Development Goals on the IDG Framework to showcase the power of human development while aiming to achieve sustainable development goals. This Framework offers a new structure to share the decades of experience SEI's team have in developing a comprehensive approach to nurturing climate leadership.

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​SEI Headquarters
100 Smith Ranch Road, Suite 124
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone:  (415) 507 - 2181
​Email: [email protected] 
States where we work:
​Arizona
California 
Colorado
Indiana
New Mexico
New York 
New Jersey
North Carolina 
Oregon
Washington

Washington, D.C.

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SEI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
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  • About Us
    • Programs
    • SEI's Team
    • Our History
    • Media & News
    • Strategic Priorities
  • Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Advisory Committees
    • Our Board
    • Partners
    • Awards
    • Contact
  • Careers
  • Give
    • Workplace Giving
    • Donate Stock