Carbon Neutrality

The Ann Arbor City Council votes tonight on four resolutions advancing the goal to make the nation’s first carbon neutral neighborhood in the Bryant community. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Early this morning, the Michigan Legislature approved a roughly $80 billion budget for the fiscal year. State Senator Jeff Irwin is chair of the Appropriations Committee for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The Ann Arbor Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak to provide a snapshot of the environmental implications of the budget.

2025 marks the 25th year of the Green Fair in Ann Arbor. The event was initially called "The Mayor's Green Fair." Now, it is called the A2Zero Green Fair to reflect the city's initiative aimed at reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2030. WEMU's David Fair and Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor discuss the impact of a quarter-century of Green Fairs and the path forward to a healthier and more sustainable community.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department’s newest fire station is moving on to the next phase of construction as workers begin laying down the foundation. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

The Michigan football season is underway, and excitement and expectations are on high for what the Wolverines can accomplish on the field of play. There are also big expectations for what happens in and around the rest of the "Big House". Work towards making Michigan gamedays a zero-waste event continue, and WEMU's David Fair discussed progress with U-M Senior Project Manager, Alison Richardson.

We’ve had plenty of hot days this summer, but what happens to the environment when concrete and asphalt surface temperatures heat well into the 100’s? Keenan Gibbons and his team at SmithGroup wanted to find out and used drones to study heat patterns along Huron Street in Ann Arbor. The research on heat islands has led to some determinations about how to mitigate impact and help move the city towards its carbon neutrality goals. Gibbons joined WEMU's David Fair to explain the research and its findings.

Ann Arbor’s Bryant neighborhood is moving forward in its goal to become the first in the nation to become fully carbon neutral. The city is also working with other neighborhoods to join them. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Ann Arbor is still working on getting its new Sustainability Commission up and running. Local officials say it will go far in helping the city reach its net-zero goals. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Rental properties in Ann Arbor will soon have to meet new energy efficiency standards. Ann Arbor City Council approved the Green Rental Housing Ordinance on July 16th. Some landlords and housing advocates raised concerns that it will drive rental prices even higher. Missy Stults is director of the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations. She says that’s not the case and explains why in her conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Ann Arbor City Council has made a significant step towards its A2Zero initiative as the Green Rental Housing Ordinance and the formation of the Sustainability Commission have been given the green light. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.