SUSTAINABILITY

Tree Town was recognized for its energy efficiency, clean mobility, materials management and climate resilience and adaptation, a City of Ann Arbor release said.

Running between June 5-11, the week-long event will have education activities, movies, farm tours, dance parties and demonstrations courtesy of the CIty of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations.

A new software invented at the University of Michigan that speeds up 3D printing has hit the market.

Learn more about the grassroots effort to bring a community-owned utility to Ann Arbor at an event this weekend.

Learn how you can live a greener life at Ann Arbor's annual Green Fair.

Coordinated by the Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival Planning Committee, the annual event includes displays, hands-on activities and performances by Lori Fithian, Drummunity and Joe Reilly.

Started in 1972, the Ann Arbor-based nonprofit is planning several events during 2022 as a “thank you” to its supporters and community, the organization said in a release.

Monthly compost pick-up will take place during the weeks of Jan. 3, Feb. 7 and March 7 with weekly curbside service returning in April.

Recycle Ann Arbor put together a guide to help you have a zero waste holiday.

Tree Town joins a list of cities around the world recognized for their ambitious climate leadership and transparency with environmental action.

Jenn Cornell Queen (D-Ward 5) has announced her run for Ann Arbor City Council.

The University of Michigan said it plans to expand environmental justice efforts after a $11.1 million gift.

The vehicular scavenger hunt will take teams all around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

Protests were held across the world on Friday (Sept. 24) to demand political leaders take action against climate change.

The Tree Town mall is among eight properties owned by commercial real estate company Simon Property Group to receive the distinction for its green efforts.

Three winners have been named in the City of Ann Arbor sustainability-focused “Saving Energy” sticker design contest.

Safely get rid of household items and waste at Saturday's event.

The public can vote on winning designs in three categories; K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

WCC’s enrollment in the program will begin in 2023 and increase annually until 2029 when all of its electric power needs will be sourced through clean energy.

Washtenaw County residents could win $100 Visa gift cards after telling WCCD about their natural resource or environmental concerns.

If you see people rummaging through your recycling cart this summer, don’t be alarmed.

Until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, young artists can enter the “Save Energy” sticker design contest promoting carbon footprint reduction and saving energy.

The pilot program will be taking place throughout the month of June.

More than 20 family-friendly in-person and virtual events are scheduled from June 1-6 to commemorate the event, highlight sustainability and educate the community.

During the first week of June, community members can try locally sourced and plant-based dishes while learning about sustainable business practices during the inaugural Ann Arbor Green Fare.

There’s often no place like home, although that sentiment can sometimes fade when a house starts to rack up energy bills and breaks down in places over the course of time.

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Statewide CSA Network will be hosting an upcoming virtual CSA fair featuring Michigan farms on Feb. 26. A Community Supported Agriculture share is a subscription program to a local farm in which you pay a farmer upfront for a regular delivery or pickup of their harvest. The CSA fair will consist of two drop-in Zoom sessions: one at “lunch hour” from noon to 1 p.m. and a “happy hour” session from 5-6 p.m. Regional breakout rooms will be available so you can learn more about which farms offer shares in your area. Here are the Ann Arbor area farms offering CSAs this year:Interested in participating in the fair?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The City of Ann Arbor’s annual Sustainability Forums returns on Thursday with the first of five community discussions on sustainability-related topics. Organized by the Office of Sustainability and Innovations, the monthly forums will be open to the public and held virtually through Zoom. The five discussions will focus on food, green infrastructure, circular economy, waste reduction, energy production and a special topic that has yet to be announced. Each forum directly relates to the city’s A2ZERO sustainability framework to get to carbon neutrality by 2030. Here is the Sustainability Forums schedule and topics:Jan. 25: food and food accessFeb. 24: forestry and green InfrastructureMarch 24: waste reduction and circular economy (tentative)TBD: energy production and useThe last topic and date have not yet been announced.

Furniture made from urban lumber promotes sustainability, job growth in cities Fine wood furniture is a fixture of homes throughout the world, but getting the raw material to make it doesn't have to mean raiding Earth's forests. For some manufacturers, it is now coming from urban areas, where downed trees and old buildings might otherwise end up in landfills. Errol Barnett reports on how this environmentally-friendly business model is also creating jobs in neighborhoods that need them.

ANN ARBOR – Are you a University of Michigan student and passionate about farming? The University of Michigan Campus Farm is currently hiring two part time student manager positions to start in January 2021. The Campus Farm was founded in 2013 as a spinoff of a a sustainable food student group at U-M. The Campus Farm is at 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. To learn more about the Campus Farm, visit its website.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) has named Ann Arbor small business owner Breanne Stuart as an 2020 Energy Waste Reduction Champion. She was honored with the award at SBAM’s recent Leadership Council event after demonstrating a commitment to reducing energy waste. Stuart, who opened her business in 2008, worked with SBAM’s Energy Solutions program to have an energy assessment completed on her business. Given her swift action and clear commitment to reducing energy waste, Breanne is an exemplary recipient for our 2020 Energy Waste Reduction Champion award.”The Small Business Association of Michigan is an organization with over 28,000 small business owner members. The SBAM Energy Solutions program is offered in partnership with DTE Energy to help Michigan’s small businesses with enhanced energy management services.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The City of Ann Arbor has announced that Sustaining Ann Arbor Together (SA2T) grants have been awarded to 11 community-based organizations over the course of the past summer and fall. The organizations have been given grants based on their efforts to advance community sustainability, including food distribution and community lunch programs, sheltering services, literacy programs, therapeutic art programs, community play spaces and the creation of community gardens. Organizations awarded the SA2T grants are:Shelter Association of Washtenaw CountyPeace Neighborhood CenterChildren’s Literacy NetworkMichigan Ability PartnersNorthside Community CenterArrowwood Hills Community CenterBryant Community CenterCreekside Court Community CenterMiller ManorBaker CommonsAvalon Housing✉ Like what you’re reading? “The Sustaining Ann Arbor Together Grant program is an important vehicle for supporting our community’s innovation and creativity as it relates to advancing local sustainability and climate action,” said City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations manager Missy Stults in a release. The grant program has $100,000 that is divided into grants of $10,000 or less and awarded to local projects.

ANN ARBOR – The City of Ann Arbor is expanding its electric bike discount program, which it originally launched in July. Part of the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations, the partnership program with Human Electric Hybrids in Kerrytown has expanded to include Arbor Vacuum. As part of the city’s sustainability goals, Arbor Vacuum is offering $100 off all e-bikes. Customers can also enjoy discounts on two e-bike models at Human Electric Hybrids. To secure the discount, customers only need to mention the discount program at check out.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – One Ann Arbor nonprofit is reaching out to the community to help to keep it afloat during the global health crisis. SCRAP Creative Reuse is a nonprofit organization located in Ann Arbor dedicated to education on sustainability and recycling used materials. The drop in business inspired SCRAP Creative Reuse to open up the Save our SCRAP project, a Gofundme with a goal of $20,000. Saturday Aug. 29, SCRAP Creative Reuse will also be having a back-to-school sale with buy one get one free fill-a-bags, special deals for teachers, and discounts on school and office supplies. To donate visit the Save our SCRAP Gofundme, or visit the SCRAP Creative Reuse website for more information.