Eastern Michigan University – Steam Heat, Solar Panels, and a Recent Bronze STARS Rating

Eastern Michigan University approaches sustainability through a systemized framework and a community-derived mindset that together drive several sustainability initiatives and sustainable infrastructure endeavors on campus. For its sustainability framework, EMU uses the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) system and has developed a President’s […]
Energy Savings Plus Workforce Development Aids Companies, Students

The Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at Michigan State University, in collaboration with Michigan Technological University and Henry Ford College, offers the 6,200+ small and medium manufacturers (SMEs) in Michigan free technical assessments to help save energy, improve productivity, reduce waste, and reduce carbon emissions. As a result, the institutions are helping to build and expand […]
Working at the intersection of Business, Education, and Research for a More Sustainable World

The Erb Institute at the University of Michigan has a mission to create a sustainable world through the power of business. The institute is a partnership between the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability, where students and business partners work together to fulfill this mission. What does this translate to, […]
Michigan Green Communities is Moving Community Sustainability Initiatives Forward

Established in 2009, Michigan Green Communities (MGC) is a statewide sustainability assistance program that works to embed sustainability into municipal and county operations. MGC is a collaboration and partnership of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC); the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS); […]
With 110,000 Jobs and $5 Billion in Wages, Michigan’s Outdoor Rec Industry Continues to Grow

With 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20.3 million acres of forests, 1,300 miles of designated mountain bike and bicycle trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, and more than 600 campgrounds, Michigan has a lot to offer in the way of outdoor recreation. These resources provide connections with nature and opportunities for a healthier lifestyle, […]
Reconnecting Communities and Bringing Sustainable Infrastructure Opportunities to the Future

The conversion of I-375 into an urban boulevard is a profoundly meaningful project that will replace the divide that leveled the Black Bottom neighborhood and Paradise Valley entertainment district more than 60 years ago. Now, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is funneling $104,657,051 from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed last year to […]
A New Boulevard for Social Justice, Connectivity, and Economic Impact

The development of I-375, the extension of I-75 that runs into downtown Detroit, leveled the Black Bottom residential neighborhood and the Paradise Valley entertainment district when it was constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s with economic impact displacing 130,000 people, hundreds of small businesses, churches, and more. The city has been divided by […]
Through Staffing, Cleaning, and Advocating for the Community, Business Owner is Working to Motivate Detroiters Toward Sustainable Growth

From social justice to getting Detroiters back to work, and even an emerging green dumpster business, Mario Kelly is following his passion for connecting those in the community to sustainable opportunities and inspiring others to follow their business dreams. To that end, Kelly started B3L1EV3 – a motivational-apparel company – several years ago to inspire […]
MSU – Driving Future Sustainability Leaders into the Workforce and the World

With the tagline ‘A Better Tomorrow is Up to Us,’ Michigan State University is working to minimize its footprint while driving new generations of leaders and influencers in sustainability. As a pioneer land-grant university and Michigan’s first agricultural college, MSU works to be a change agent for communities to accelerate cross-sector climate response; serve […]
Rockford Construction – Focusing on the Full Life Cycle of Spaces

From real estate development to construction and property management, Rockford Construction has been serving the commercial, multiunit, educational, industrial, healthcare, and retail markets throughout the Midwest for more than 30 years. How do they approach sustainability? Mike VanGessel, founder and CEO of Rockford Construction, shares that and more with SBN Detroit. Q: Please tell us about the […]