Projects

Many cities across the globe are facing difficult challenges managing their food, water and energy systems. The challenges stem from the fact that the issues of food, water and energy are often tightl...

A critical yet unexplored dimension of the food-energy-water nexus is the expansion of the "cold chain" into developing countries. The cold chain is defined as access to climate-controlled environm...

This study aims to develop life cycle based models to elucidate the environmental impacts of CAV fleets (e.g., energy demand, GHG emission, and criteria air emissions). This study will evaluate the...

The Sustainability and Development Initiative will focus on sustainable development, utilizing publications, training, and an annual cross-disciplinary Global Conference on Sustainability and Devel...

The area of forest killed by wildfires, insect infestations and drought within the interior west has dramatically increased recently. If left standing, these dead trees are quickly attacked by a fu...

This study explored whether vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOLs), or “flying cars” can shorten commute time and play a role in sustainable mobility. Primary energy and greenhouse gas emiss...

There are several European studies that indicate dishwashing machines are more energy and water efficient than manual dishwashing during their use phase. Energy Star suggests that annually, dishwas...

Develop a set of green energy storage principles for mobile applications to guide design, deployment, and responsible life cycle management of battery technologies. The Center for Sustainable Syste...

Graham Transformation Grant - Graham Sustainability Institute provides up to $200,000 over 2 years for collaborative research initiatives; 1 award per year. There is an urgent need to...

Goals and Objectives: A ten-year, 100% renewable energy plan for Leelanau County encompassing electricity and thermal (space and water heat) energy.  The plan will incorporate the planning...

To research the economics of energy efficiency, by characterizing profiles of households who fall into financing coverage gaps for energy efficiency programs:  Spatial characterization...

Goals & Objectives: This project will establish:     Scope 3 emissions Strategy including process mapping for Global Ford Operations by June 2018     Fol...

Graham Catalyst Grants Catalyst Grants are offered in the fall and winter to support a range of short-term, small-scale collaborative activities. These grants are intended to help better define...

Diet composition is a major determinant of the greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts associated with agriculture and food systems, and proper shifts in the diets of Americans pre...

Goals & Objectives: This project has two components. Students can focus on one or both to accommodate their interests. EnviroAction and sustainability culture - EnviroChart is our d...

Energy poverty, or the gap in energy affordability, is a burden on low-income households amounting to millions of dollars in utility arrears. This burden negatively impacts a household’s long-term ...

Overview This research developed an Excel-based tool to assess the environmental benefits of urine diversion and conversion to useful products (e.g., fertilizer) on a citywide basis to compare them...

This project will apply low cost solar technologies to provide drinking water to isolated communities in water scarce regions.  The project will also use the concepts of Industrial Symbiosis t...

The Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) Energy Table was launched in beta form as a public resource on AGCl's website in 2015. It seeks to become a valuable and unique resource of information abou...

We will study the value stream, distribution points, and social incentives for consumer participation to define a collection network for optimal recovery. We will solve a key AHP recycling road-block,...

Two key elements need to be considered when evaluating the sustainability performance of autonomous vehicles relative to non-autonomous vehicles: 1) the differences in vehicle production burden...

Graham Institute Transformation Grant There is an urgent imperative to reshape human diets to safeguard human health, mitigate climate change, and sustainably use the planet’s natural resources...

Project Goal: The ultimate goal of the proposed project is to advance knowledge on the environmental impact of plant-based protein alternatives by conducting a clear, comprehensive comparison via...

Thrust Area: Systems Assessment and Best Practices [CERC 2.0] The CERC Clean Vehicles Consortium seeks to contribute to dramatic improvements in technologies with the potential to reduce the de...