Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University is enhancing its sustainability efforts with initiatives designed to lessen environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and improve energy efficiency. The university, which received a bronze STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education in 2022, is expanding upon this by forming strategic partnerships, increasing curriculum offerings, and promoting eco-friendly campus activities.

Ronald Rich, chair of the EMU President's Sustainability Commission, emphasized the university's commitment: “With the strong support of President Smith, EMU is dedicated to sustainability efforts that ensure the long-term financial, environmental, and social well-being of the university and the broader Ypsilanti community.”

EMU has formed a partnership with CenTrio Energy, a district power provider offering clean energy solutions, and appointed its first sustainability manager, Meaghan Gavagan. Gavagan stated that the partnership will focus on projects like updating campus infrastructure with minimal risk, using CenTrio’s greenhouse gas accounting tools, and creating an energy dashboard to display campus energy consumption and greenhouse gas levels. She remarked, “In this role, I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, and administration to advance sustainability education and optimize campus resources. The sustainability office has the potential to create a lasting impact, and I’m excited to see how our efforts shape EMU’s future.”

EMU’s dining services, called E|Dining, are also working towards the university's environmental goals by composting food waste in five campus kitchens, donating surplus food to local partners, reducing single-use plastics by offering reusable to-go containers, and minimizing the use of high-carbon ingredients.

The university provides a range of courses centered on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Further details on EMU’s sustainability efforts are available on their website.

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is Michigan's second oldest public university, serving nearly 13,000 students. It offers over 300 majors, minors, and concentrations across various colleges and is recognized nationally for excellence and diversity. To learn more about Eastern Michigan University, visit their website. For updates on university activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.