Research Publications

As wildfire risk increases, microgrids offer a form of adaption for communities experiencing ‘Public Safety Power Shutoffs’ (PSPS), or times when utilities de-energize transmission lines to avoid spar...

The growth and urbanization of the world’s population necessitate re-evaluating how cities procure food. Urban food systems rely on industrialized agriculture and extended supply chains which generate...

Water and power systems are deeply interdependent, yet they are typically analyzed and optimized separately. Coupling these systems leverages their mutual dependency to enhance overall efficiency and ...

Alternative but equally plausible future climate realizations can necessitate different energy system investments, posing a dilemma to practitioners when making investment decisions. Addressing this d...

Concrete production has significant impacts on multiple environmental dimensions, yet the social risks embedded in its supply chains remain less examined. This study applies a Social Life Cycle Assess...

By optimizing the timing of electricity purchases for electric vehicle (EV) charging at home, as well as shifting electricity purchases for other household loads, US EV owners could reduce their lifet...

Electric vehicles (EVs) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but widespread adoption is held back by higher upfront and—in some cases—lifetime ownership costs. Here, for a representative EV across the...

Decarbonization and the circular economy are heralded as sustainable pathways to address climate change, but their consequences in the Global South are often overlooked. Countries like Ghana face sign...

Oxidation of hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) is a source of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the lower atmosphere. TFA is deposited in precipitation and accumulates in water bodies and at land surfaces and con...

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have reduced performance, reliability, and lifespans at high operational temperatures. We show that climate change will increase high-temperature risks (HTRs) and the re...

Battery electric trucks (BETs), fuel-cell electric trucks (FCETs) and low-carbon liquid fuels (such as biodiesel and e-diesel) have been suggested as approaches to decarbonize heavy-duty transportatio...

This study assesses the current effectiveness of Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law and explores opportunities to modernize the system in response to shifting redemption trends and stakeholder needs. Speci...

Decarbonizing vehicle production is essential to reducing automotive sector emissions. This study quantifies greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aluminum and steel auto-body sheet components produced ...

About half of the earth’s land surface is composed of international transboundary basins, half of which are managed by formal agreements. However, climate change, population growth, and other changing...

Meat consumed in cities is largely produced in rural regions. Supply chain opacity and complexity hinder understanding of (and the ability to address) the distributed impacts of urban meat consumption...

Consequential emission analyses of power system interventions typically overlook induced structural changes. We estimate the consequential power system emission effects of plug-in electric vehicle (PE...

Lakes are experiencing ice declines and fundamental changes in winter conditions. For Earth's largest lakes that experience seasonal ice cover, the relationship between ice conditions and evaporation ...

Graphite is a key material in electric vehicle batteries. Currently, China dominates global graphite production, and US sourcing of graphite could mitigate geopolitical supply-chain risk. We explore t...

Winter ice conditions in the Great Lakes play a crucial role in shaping ecological processes, shoreline dynamics, and regional weather patterns. Although atmospheric factors are widely acknowledged as...

Cobalt is a critical mineral for the global shift to decarbonized energy systems. Cobalt supply chains, however, raise urgent questions about their stability and environmental impact, and are embroile...

We assess the cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of current (2025) light-duty vehicles (LDV) across powertrains, vehicle classes, and locations. We create driver archetypes (commuters, occ...

Climate change poses significant challenges to the economic and social sustainability of urban dwellers, particularly in the real estate market, where rising temperatures are affecting property values...