ANN ARBOR—Staff, faculty and students at the University of Michigan will become even more involved in campus environmental and energy conservation efforts as part of a six-point initiative presented Thursday (April 19) to the Board of Regents. Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations Henry Baier shared the three-year plan and recent operational achievements.

“A tremendous amount of great work has been done, especially in recent years, to tune-up our buildings, improve the efficiency of our building systems and implement energy conservation measures,” Baier said. “And we’ve been recognized with several distinguished awards and honors. But we need to do more.”

The six-point plan includes the introduction of Wolverine Teams comprised of staff from operations and facilities management to engage building occupants in specific efforts to achieve energy and environmental conservation. The teams are anticipating activities in 30 campus buildings each of the next three years.

“We’ve done a lot of work behind the walls and above the ceilings,” Baier said. “Now we want to more fully engage the building occupants so we can better align building systems to meet their needs and building occupants can better contribute to conservation efforts.”

Other components of the plan include compilation and distribution of an annual report on consumption trends, research activities and operations efforts; increased efforts to purchase electricity produced from renewable sources; maintenance and expansion of alternative transportation options for students, staff and faculty; strengthening procurement offerings to ensure green products are prominently promoted; and revision of construction and renovation guidelines to improve energy efficiency.

Baier also recognized a wealth of academic programs and research efforts in several U-M schools, colleges and institutes. In addition he shared comments from Rosina Bierbaum, dean of the School of Natural Resources and the Environment and co-chair of the president’s environmental task force. “For four years, students, faculty and staff from Facilities and Operations have all been working together to establish a set of clear metrics that chart our use of energy, water and waste, as well as our production of greenhouse gases—all important predicators of the University’s role in a sustainable world,” Bierbaum said. “The six-point plan will now engage the entire University community in reducing our energy footprint.”