Dr. Keoleian co-founded and serves as co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems. His research focuses on the development and application of life cycle models and metrics to enhance the sustainability of products and technology. He has pioneered new methods in life cycle design, life cycle optimization of product replacement, life cycle cost analysis and life cycle based sustainability assessments ranging from energy analysis and carbon footprints to social indicators. Systems studied include alternative vehicle technology, renewable energy systems such as photovoltaics and willow biomass electricity, buildings and infrastructure, information technology, food and agricultural systems, household appliances, and packaging alternatives. 

Professor Keoleian currently teaches interdisciplinary graduate courses on Sustainable Energy Systems and Industrial Ecology and co-directs the Rackham Graduate Certificate Program in Industry Ecology. 

Awards

AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellow (2002- 2003)

AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellow (2001- 2002)

1999 Arch T. Colwell Merit Award (recognizes authors of outstanding papers presented at SAE meetings): 1 of 14 selected from over 2160 papers published by SAE in 1999.

Selected to present the Annual Critical Review Paper at the Annual Meeting of Air and Waste Management Association, 19-24 June 1994, Cincinnati.

AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellow (1993-1995)

Research Interests

Life Cycle Design Life cycle design is a framework for integrating environmental considerations into the development of products. Successful environmental integration often must be achieved within the context of shortening time to market cycles, more stringent regulations, and global competitiveness. The objective of life cycle design is to minimize environmental burdens across the life cycle while also optimizing, meeting performance, cost, and legal requirements that influence the product system. The product life cycle encompasses raw material acquisition and processing, manufacturing, use and service, and end-of-life management. A multi-criteria matrix has been developed to elucidate conflicts and tradeoffs between requirements.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) LCA is a analytical tool for quantifying and characterizing the environmental burdens associated with a product life cycle. Research challenges involve large scale modeling of complex product systems, data quality issues and uncertainty analysis, and impact assessment.

Life Cycle Optimization(LCO) Life Cycle Optimization is a tool recently developed by CSS that integrates life cycle assessment with dynamic programming to analyze the optimal service life of products. Evaluating the optimal life of a product poses a challenging resource and environmental management problem. Extending the service life of an existing product avoids the additional resource investments and environmental impacts associated with the production of a new product. On the other hand, replacement of older, inefficient product with newer, more efficient product is an important mechanism for reducing environmental impacts. LCO addresses the dynamic nature of technological innovation and can be used to analyze optimal service life and the effects of technology turnover on environmental performance.

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Life Cycle Costing is a tool for evaluating the full array of monetary costs associated with a system from acquisition, operation, maintenance, service and retirement. LCC addresses both private costs including hidden, contingent/liabilities and less-tangible costs as well as social costs that include user costs and externalities such as health impacts of pollution.

Sustainability Indicators and Metrics The life cycle modeling methods described above provide scientifically based approaches for developing sustainability indicators and metrics. The life cycle is a useful framework for identifying and organizing environmental, economic and social indicators for sustainability. The ultimate goal is to bring a broad base of scientific understanding to inform policy.

Industrial Ecology Industrial ecology is the systematic analysis of global, regional and local material and energy flows and uses that are associated with products, processes, industrial sectors, economies,communities, and other complex system boundaries. A biophysical model traces human needs to the production and consumption activities that meet these needs, and the resultant ecosystem consequences that affect the planets life support system. This model provides a foundation for evaluating technological, economic, social, and policy issues and opportunities from a systems perspective.

Current/Recent Research

Title: Energy Sustainability: Integrating Resource Assessment, Economics, and Public Policy to Optimize Renewable Electricity Generation
Sponsor: Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute
Principal Investigators: Duncan Callaway (PI), Meredith Fowlie, Greg Keoleian, Tom Lyon, Michael Moore, Steve Skerlos
Project Duration: 2/07 – 1/09

Title: Michigan at a Climate Crossroads: Strategies for Guiding the State in a Carbon Constrained World
Sponsor: National Environmental Trust, Energy Foundation
Principal Investigators: G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: October, 2005 - May 2007

Title: Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure Materials and Systems: Developing an Integrated Life Cycle Design Framework
Sponsor: National Science Foundation, MUSES (Materials Use: Science, Engineering, and Society), Biocomplexity Program
Principal Investigators: G.A. Keoleian, V. Li, R. Robertson, S. Batterman, S. Kessler, G. Helfand
Project Duration: September 1, 2003 - August 31, 2009

Title: Implications of Greenhouse Gas Policy Instruments on Material Flows – A Life Cycle Approach Integrating Engineering, Public Policy, and Market Behavior
Sponsor: National Science Foundation, MUSES (Materials Use: Science, Engineering, and Society), Biocomplexity Program
Principal Investigators: Steven J. Skerlos (PI), Mark Delucchi, Rosanna Garcia, J. Scott Hawker, Gregory A. Keoleian, Tim Lipman, Walter S. McManus, Panos Y. Papalambros, Sandra Rothenberg, James J. Winebrake (at RIT)
Project Duration: 9/06 – 8/11

Title: Optimal Replacement of Household Applicances
Sponsor/Collaborators: National Science Foundation, Technology for a Sustainable Environment/ Whirlpool Corporation/ AHAM

Title: Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic Demonstration Project at the University of Michigan
Sponsor/Collaborators: Wege Foundation, United Solar, Ballard, University of Michigan
Principal Investigators: G.A. Keoleian, S. Pacca
Project Duration: September 2004 -

Title: State of Michigan Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Principal Investigator: G.A. Keoleian
Sponsor: Energy Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, State of Michigan, Education Foundation of America
Project Duration: May 1, 2004 - April 31, 2005

Title: Aveda's Product Distribution System: A Strategic Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Consumption
Principal Investigator: G.A. Keoleian, F.B. Talbot
Sponsor: Aveda Corporation
Project Duration: May 1, 2004 - January 31, 2006

Title: Technology Assessment and Evaluation for the NextEnergy Zone Microgrid System
Sponsor: Next Energy
Principal Investigators: J. Schwank, A. Atreya, G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004

Title: Curriculum Development for a Master of Science Degree in Alternative Energy Technology
Sponsor: Next Energy
Principal Investigators: L.T. Thompson, G.A. Keoleian J. Schwank
Project Duration: July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004

Title: Life Cycle Optimization of Vehicle Replacement
Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Technology for a Sustainable Environment
Principal Investigators: G.A. Keoleian, J.Bean, J.W. Bulkley, M.H. Ross
Project Duration: May 1, 2000 - April 31, 2004

Title: A Practical Application for Measuring the Sustainability of Ben & Jerry?s Dairy Suppliers
Sponsor: Ben & Jerry?s Homemade
Principal Investigator: G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: March 2003 to March 2004

Title: Life Cycle Modeling and Improvement of the Stonyfield Farm Product Delivery System
Sponsor: Stonyfield Farms/Polytainer
Principal Investigator: G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: May 1, 2000 - April 31, 2001 Title: Life Cycle Assessment of a Willow Agriculture and Biomass Energy Conversion System
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Principal Investigators: M.C. Heller and G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: October 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003

Title: Critical Evaluation of LEED? Rating System Credit Distribution Using Life Cycle Assessment
Sponsor: National Institute of Standards and Technology
Principal Investigator: G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: January 4, 2002 - September 30, 2002

Title: Life Cycle Assessment of E-Publishing and Digital Libraries: Scholarly Books and E-Book Reading Devices
Sponsor: AT&T Industrial Ecology Fellowship Program
Principal Investigators: G.A. Keoleian, J.W. Bulkley, T. Gladwin, W. Pradt Lougee, M.S. Bonn
Project Duration: January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002

Title: Ultra Light Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) Advanced Vehicle Concept LCI Study
Sponsor: International Iron and Steel Institute
Principal Investigator: G.A. Keoleian
Project Duration: April 18, 2002 - December 31, 2002

Teaching Interests

Teaching provides a unique opportunity to influence sustainable development by preparing leaders for careers in fields such as sustainable product development, sustainable mobility, renewable energy systems, biobased products, and sustainable architecture. My special interest is to facilitate interdisciplinary learning at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.

My current teaching and research activities are tightly interconnected and my courses draw heavily from a variety of research projects conducted with the Center for Sustainable Systems. Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Energy Systems are two core courses that I have developed. Both courses combine lectures, discussion, and term projects for students interested in sustainable production and consumption. They emphasize systems thinking, problem solving skills, technology assessment, thermodynamic principles, and the integration of environmental science, technology, policy, and design.

I also serve as Co-Director of the Graduate Certificate in Industrial Ecology.

Graduate Certificate in Industrial Ecology The Program in Industrial Ecology (PIE) is a Certificate Program of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan. The PIE Certificate is administered through the Office of Academic Programs of the School of Natural Resources and Environment. The Center for Sustainable Systems within the School of Natural Resources and Environment provides curriculum oversight and academic guidance for graduate students enrolled in this Certificate Program.

The Program is designed to be an attractive complement for students seeking graduate degrees in business, engineering, natural resources, environmental health sciences, and public policy. The graduate certificate can be pursued by current University of Michigan graduate students or anyone else who has received a graduate degree within the last five years. The Program is supported by faculty and course offerings from the School of Natural Resources and Environment, College of Engineering, School of Public Health, the School of Business Administration and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

For more information download the PIE brochure at: http://css.snre.umich.edu/pie

Current/Recent Teaching

Industrial Ecology (Natural Resources and Environment 557/Civil and Environmental Engineering 586) Industrial Ecology is an interdisciplinary graduate course that brings together students from natural resources, business, engineering, and public health. This was the first full semester course on industrial ecology offered at a university. I developed this course in 1994 through a competitive grant from the AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellowship Program.

Specific topics covered include life cycle modeling of products and industrial processes, material and energy balances for large complex systems, environmental accounting, and life cycle costing. These methods are used to examine emerging technologies (e.g., biobased products, photovoltaics) and alternative design strategies (e.g., remanufacturing, dematerialization). Term projects, which facilitate peer learning, are organized with teams of four students from different disciplinary backgrounds.

Over 200 students have enrolled in this course since 1994, with an average class size above 30 students. I plan to continue teaching this course, as it is a core course for CEMP, other SNRE students interested in sustainable systems, the Rackham Certificate Program in Industrial Ecology, and the College of Engineering ConsEnSus (Concentrations in Environmental Sustainability).

Sustainable Energy Systems (NRE 574/ Physics 419/ Public Policy 519/ RCNSCI 419) This course examines the production and consumption of energy from a systems perspective. Sustainability issues are examined by studying global and regional environmental impacts, energy economics, energy efficiency, consumption patterns, and energy policy. The physics of energy and energy accounting methods are introduced and applied to the U.S. energy system, which encompasses resource extraction, conversion processes and end-uses. Responses to current challenges such as declining fossil fuels, local air pollution and climate change are explored. These responses include unconventional fossil fuels, carbon sequestration, a hydrogen economy, emerging technologies (e.g., renewable sources: biomass, wind, and photovoltaics; fuel cells) and end-use efficiency and conservation.

Selected Publications

Kim, H.C., G.A. Keoleian, Y.A. Horie, “Optimal household refrigerator replacement policy for life cycle energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost” Energy Policy (2006) 34(15): 2310-2323.

Keoleian, Gregory A., Timothy A. Volk. “Renewable Energy from Willow Biomass Crops: Life Cycle Energy, Environmental and Economic Performance.” Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, (2005) 24:385–406.

Keoleian, G.A., A. Kendall, J.E. Dettling, V. M. Smith, R. F. Chandler, M.D. Lepech, V.C. Li "Life Cycle Modeling of Concrete Bridge Design: A Comparison of Engineered Cementitious Composite Link Slabs and Conventional Steel Expansion Joints" Journal of Infrastructure Systems (2005) 11(1): 51-60.

Spitzley, D.V., D.E. Grande, G.A. Keoleian , H.C. Kim "Life cycle optimization of ownership costs and emissions reduction in US vehicle retirement decisions" Transportation Research Part D 10 (2005) 161-175.

Keoleian, G.A., A. Phipps, T. Dritz, D. Brachfeld "Life Cycle Environmental Performance and Improvement of a Yogurt Product Delivery System" Packaging Technology and Science (2004) 17: 85-103.

Kim, H.C., M.H. Ross, and G.A. Keoleian "Optimal Fleet Conversion Policy from a Life Cycle Perspective" Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment (2004) 9: 229-249.

Heller, M.C., G.A. Keoleian, M.K. Mann, and T.A. Volk "Life Cycle Energy and Environmental Benefits of Generating Electricity from Willow Biomass" Renewable Energy (2004) 29: 1023-1042.

Kim, H. C., G. A. Keoleian, D. E. Grande, and J. C. Bean. "Life Cycle Optimization of Automobile Replacement: Model & Application" Environmental Science & Technology (2003): 5407-5413.

Scheuer, C., G. Keoleian, and P. Reppe. "Life Cycle Energy and Environmental Performance of a New University Building." Energy and Buildings (2003) 35: 1049-1064.

Heller, M.C., G.A. Keoleian, T.A. Volk, and M.K. Mann "Life cycle assessment of a willow agriculture and biomass energy conversion system" Biomass and Bioenergy (2003) 25: 147-165.

Heller, M. and G. Keoleian "Assessing the sustainability of the U. S. food system: A life cycle perspective"Agricultural Systems (2003) 76: 1007-1041.

Keoleian, G.A., and G.McD. Lewis. "Modeling the Life Cycle Energy and Environmental Performance of Amorphous Silicon BIPV Roofing in the US," Renewable Energy (2003) 28: 271-293.

Keoleian, G.A., and K. Kar, "Elucidating complex design and management tradeoffs through life cycle design: air intake manifold demonstration project" Journal of Cleaner Production (2003) 11: 61-77.

Gard, D.L. and G.A. Keoleian "Digital vs. Print :Energy Performance in the Selection and Use of Scholarly Journals" Journal of Industrial Ecology (2002) 6(2): 115-132.

Bjorklund, A. M. Melaina, and G. Keoleian, "Hydrogen as a transportation fuel produced from thermal gasification of municipal solid waste: an examination of two integrated technologies", International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, (2001) 26: 1209-1221.

Keoleian, G.A., S. Blanchard, and P. Reppe "Life Cycle Energy, Costs, and Strategies for Improving a Single Family House" Journal of Industrial Ecology (2000) 4(2): 135-156.

Keoleian, G.A. and D.V. Spitzley, "Guidance for Improving Life-Cycle Design and Management of Milk Packaging" Journal of Industrial Ecology (1999) 3(1): 111-126.

Keoleian, G.A. "Is Environmental Improvement in Automotive Component Design Highly Constrained?" Journal of Industrial Ecology (1998) 2(2): 103-118.

Keoleian, G., S. Spatari, R. Beal, R. Stephens, R. Williams, "Application of Life Cycle Inventory Analysis to Fuel Tank System Design" Intl. J. LCA (1998) 3(1): 18-28.