School of Natural Resources and Environment

Systainable Systems News & Highlights

Dr. Larry Brilliant voiced urgency and optimism at annual Wege Lecture (includes link to video)

March 17, 2011

By Kevin Merrill

Dr. Larry Brilliant, an epidemiologist, technology entrepreneur, philanthropist and medical doctor, addressed responses to such global threats as climate change, epidemics, water scarcity and nuclear proliferation Wednesday in the 10th Annual Wege Lecture on Sustainability.

Brilliant, a U-M alumnus who also is president and chief executive officer of the Skoll Global Threats Fund, delivered the lecture titled "Sustainable Humanity" in Rackham Auditorium.

Hoffman named a 2011 Leopold Leadership Fellow

Andy Hoffman, the Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at SNRE, was one of 20 environmental researchers from across North America recently awarded Leopold Leadership Fellowships for 2011. Based at Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment, the Leopold Leadership Program was founded in 1998 to help academic scientists make their knowledge accessible to decision makers.

Master's project wins $25K Clean Energy Prize

A team of four dual-degree SNRE students took second place last week in the Clean Energy Prize contest for their master's project. Team Smart Energy—Andrew Lubershane, who is completing a master's in applied economics in addition to a degree at SNRE, and Erb students Mike Elchinger, Ryan Flynn, and Graham Brown—won $25,000 for a plan that uses an innovative financing model to retrofit municipal buildings for energy efficiency savings. Their master's project client is the Clean Energy Coalition. The group has also received a $50,000 grant from the Ford Motor Company to support implementation of their business plan over the summer.

Campbell, O'Connor chosen as Wyss Scholars to study Western land conservation issues

The Wyss Foundation has awarded fellowships to two students at the University of Michigan' School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) as future leaders in Western land conservation issues. The 2010 Wyss Scholars (listed with their SNRE field of academic study) are Martha Campbell (Sustainable Systems) and David O'Connor (Conservation Biology).

Erb Institute students to help Michigan's "Cities of Promise" save money, gain energy efficiency

Feb. 11, 201

Facing budget challenges and pressure to reduce costs, Michigan's cities and towns are seeking creative solutions. With Ford Motor Company's help, students from The Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan are helping create one solution for Michigan's poorest cities: an innovative financial model that will provide desperately needed capital to upgrade facilities, reduce energy consumption and save money.

Have we changed our ways after the BP oil spill? Not really

On the heels of last week's federal recommendations to help prevent another BP oil spill disaster, a University of Michigan researcher says the tragedy has come close to acting as a catalyst for deeper change---but not quite. "The BP oil spill is, potentially, a 'cultural anomaly' for institutional changes in environmental management and fossil fuel production," said Andrew Hoffman, professor of management and organizations at the Ross School of Business and a professor at the School of Natural Resources and Environment. "But true change in our approach to handling issues related to oil drilling, oil consumption and environmental management have yet to occur."

Erb students win $25K for business plan to convert food waste into energy

A group of students from the Erb Insitute for Sustainable Enterprise and the School of Engineering won first prize in the student division of a Michigan business-plan competition. ReGenerate, a company started by Erb students Paul Davis, Nolan Orfield and Hunt Briggs, along with chemical engineering PhD student Bobby Levine, won $25,000 in the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition on December 10.

SNRE students part of U-M contingent at U.N. climate conference

Thirty University of Michigan students, alumni, faculty and friends are attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico. The two-week conference starts today, Monday, Nov. 29. Representatives from the countries that signed the 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty that addresses climate change and adaptation to rising temperatures, are participating. Of the 10 students in the group, six are from the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Facilitating Climate Change Responses

Hoffman contributes to National Academies book on climate change

Andrew Hoffman, associate director of the Erb Institute and SNRE professor, participated in a series of workshops addressing the behavioral and social science aspects of global climate change. The recently published book Facilitating Climate Change Responses documents the information presented in the workshop presentations and discussions. This material illustrates some of the ways the behavioral and social sciences can contribute to the new era of climate research. Professor Hoffman delivered the introductory comments and moderated a panel discussion for the session on the greening of business, which is covered in Chapter 4.

SNRE's Miller among early-career scientists honored by White House

Three University of Michigan researchers, including SNRE's Shelie Miller, are among the 85 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the nation's highest honor for professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. Ten federal departments and agencies annually nominate scientists and engineers whose work shows exceptional promise for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge. Participating agencies award these talented researchers up to five years of funding to further their work in support of critical government missions.

FTC proposes new guidelines to stop greenwashing

Oct. 7, 2010

The Federal Trade Commission released proposed revisions to the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, or Green Guide, to prevent companies from "greenwashing" products with misleading claims of environmental friendliness.The proposal calls for the elimination of vague claims that cannot be substantiated, like "green" and "eco-friendly;" for details and facts about degradable, compostable and recyclable materials; perimeters for labeling a product as made with renewable energy or materials, "non-toxic" or "free off" harmful substances.

National climate-change study published; dean, faculty were authors

SNRE Dean Rosina M. Bierbaum and Professors Andy Hoffman, Maria Carmen Lemos and Ted Parsons contributed to a series of recently published national reports on climate change. The National Research Council of the National Academies of Science produced the series, called America's Climate Choices, at the request of Congress.

Time to buy a new air conditioner?

With record-breaking heat on the East Coast threatening health and maxing out the power grid, you might ask yourself if ití¢â‚¬â„¢s time to replace your old central air conditioner. Weighing the financial and environmental costs of buying a new unit vs. keeping the old one for another year can be difficult. A University of Michigan study determined the optimal time to replace a central air unit to save energy, reduce greenhouse gases and lower utility bills.

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