NPPC launched to lead P2 education
- National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education (NPPC), established in 1991 by competitive grant from US Environmental Protection Agency
- Developed and disseminated P2 education resources nationally
- Click here to watch the NPPC Overview video [11:51 minutes].
Creation of Sustainable Systems concept NPPC --> CSS
- In 1997, coined the term “sustainable systems”
- In 1999, transitioned to the Center for Sustainable Systems
Original logo...do you see the seven design elements embedded in this image? Person caring for the Earth | Person reading a book | A river flowing (also the book) | Mountains (also an “M” for Michigan) Two pine trees (under the mountains) | Sun or the Moon (rising above the mountains) | Cycling of resources
Innovative interdisciplinary sustainability education
- In 2006, launched the Sustainable Systems specialization in SEAS
- In 2007, created the Engineering Sustainable Systems dual MS/MSE degree program
Ongoing pioneer of Systems Analysis tools & applications
- First comprehensive life cycle assessments of an automobile, house, photovoltaic, willow biomass energy, wireless charging, autonomous vehicle
- Tools for life cycle design, life cycle optimization, embodied emissions in trade
- Circular economy analysis such as plastic waste, diapers, peecycling, packaging, automobiles
- Green infrastructure tools such as GIS Spatial Planning (GISP) model
- Green Principles of vehicle lightweighting; mobile/stationary energy storage
- Energy justice models and policy for energy efficiency, clean energy access and equity such as E3B interactive map
- Great Lakes water level variability and impact of climate change models
