Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  January 13, 2022

University of Michigan Invests in Projects to Lower GHG 

The University of Michigan announces an initial $5 million investment in energy conservation measures that will reduce GHG emissions by adding LED lighting projects and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning improvements across the campuses.

The projects are funded by a central revolving energy fund that will support U-M’s carbon neutrality commitment. The fund provides loans to various university units to invest in energy-conserving infrastructure improvements. The university departments will pay its annual energy cost savings to the fund until the entire project is repaid, allowing the fund to support new projects over time.

“Sustained innovation is crucial in the fight against climate change and I applaud the university units who are taking action to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions,” President Mark Schlissel said in a report by the University Record. “Our revolving energy fund will provide a sustainable financing system to encourage the greater participation we will need to fulfill U-M’s carbon neutrality goals.”

U-M aims to achieve carbon neutrality for emissions from purchased power (Scope 2) by 2025; eliminate direct, on-campus GHG emissions (Scope 1)  by 2040; and establish goals by 2025 for a wide range of indirect emission sources (Scope 3). The university is on pace to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2025.

U-M energy management staff chose more than 25 projects for funding during the current fiscal year to reduce GHG carbon emissions.

Last year Schlissel committed $25 million in preliminary funding over the next five years. The revolving energy fund is expected to fully launch during the 2022-23 fiscal year. 

One recent retrofit is the School of Kinesiology Building, which is estimated to save 41% in energy cost savings.

The university’s other carbon neutrality projects include exploring geothermal heating and cooling systems for the planned Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building on North Campus, committing to procure all purchased electricity from renewable sources and acquiring four all-electric buses for the Ann Arbor campus that will be deployed during the 2022-23 academic year.

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