Building Standards at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality

This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Building Standards Internal Analysis Team. The Building Standards team focused its work on improvements to new building design and construction and on design approaches to major renovations that have the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly for the most affordable cost.

In the report, the Building Standards team evaluates current and emerging best practices regarding the adoption, implementation, and long-term efficacy of building code policies with the goal of improving sustainable building performance outcomes while achieving carbon emissions reductions. The team identifies specific guidelines that possess the potential for the largest impact on carbon emissions and explored potential adjustments to life cycle analysis to better incorporate considerations of embodied energy and emissions into building construction at the University of Michigan.

This publication is a result of work sponsored by the U-M President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality to inform the PCCN’s final recommendations to U-M President Mark Schlissel. This publication does not reflect Commission-level recommendations and should not be interpreted as being recommendations of the PCCN nor carrying its endorsement.