New school year, new tips! We’ve refreshed the information below for the 2024-2025 school year. Welcome Wolverines! Over the next month or two, thousands of new students, both undergraduate and graduate, will be preparing to start their first semester at the University of Michigan. Picking classes, completing required orientation materials, figuring out financial aid and housing, moving, meeting new classmates … Read More
The Michigan League has been a part of my life since before I was born. Back in the 1980s, when my dad came to visit his grandparents in Ann Arbor, they would sometimes eat lunch at the League buffet— this was before the dawn of Maizie’s Cafe. My Nana would always order the prime rib and mashed potatoes, her favorite … Read More
I recently had the opportunity to tag along with Nicole Berg, a program manager with the Office of Campus Sustainability (OCS), on one of her routine compost site contamination checks. During this check, we were able to visit the WeCare compost site where all of the compost from the university (and the city of Ann Arbor!) is disposed. To be … Read More
What is the Buyerarchy of Needs? Coined by Sarah Lazarovic, the Buyerarchy of Needs is a fun way to represent sustainable consumption. This helpful graphic presents consumers with several different alternatives to buying new clothes, providing a guide for those who don’t know where to start. To be the most sustainable, users should start at the base of the pyramid … Read More
Living in the dorms for the last 4 semesters has taught me many things, both from the unique perspective I have as a resident advisor and as a regular student. Dorm living has been a great way for me to practice sustainability in my daily life; I have been more thoughtful about how often I do laundry, how much I … Read More
“Sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” “green,” “better for the planet,” “biodegradable”—these are all words I know we have heard companies use. With this new era of consumers wanting to buy more eco-friendly products (people like us), many companies are shifting their focus to sustainability. However, in many cases, this can lead to stretched truths and even blatant lies in advertising. I know us … Read More
The rise of social media and access to the internet has sparked new waves of environmentalism among younger generations, particularly college students. Many among Generation Z and Millennials have become increasingly aware of their own environmental impact and are seeking avenues to curb their carbon footprint. Of the multitude of options—from changing your diet, minimizing plastic use, to consumer choice—finding … Read More
Are you looking for more environmentally friendly actions to incorporate into your routines? These sustainable actions may take a bit more effort than those listed in Part One, based on our personal experiences, but they won’t be as much of an investment as buying an electric car or switching out your water heater, for example! Here is a list of … Read More
The time to start thinking about what to pack for college is here! Whether you are a new student or returning, knowing the absolute essentials of what to bring can be a godsend. It can be easy to buy items “just in case” for the school year, trying to imagine something you will presumably need in every situation. However, I’ve … Read More
Summer is here, which means many of us are looking to revamp our wardrobes! However, the societal norm when it comes to buying clothes has significant negative environmental implications. Each year, the average American throws out 81 pounds of clothes. Also, the clothing industry itself accounts for 10% of annual global GHG emissions, making its overall environmental impact very high. … Read More
