50% BY 2030

Together, we will cut the built environment’s carbon footprint
in half and boost its productivity.

DISCOVERY TO DRIVE CHANGE 

The University of Michigan Center for Low Carbon Built Environment is an interdisciplinary effort to dramatically lower carbon emissions over the next decade. With partnerships across the value chain of building and infrastructure, we are creating a new circular economy around climate change adaptation and mitigation.

WHY THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT MATTERS

2040

The year carbon emissions are projected to push Earth’s temperature 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—considered the tipping point of runaway climate change

60%

Percentage of total global carbon emissions represented by the built environment, including materials, construction, and operations

40%

Estimated reduction in the carbon footprint of a bridge deck built with engineered cementitious concrete (ECC), when compared to traditional concrete

PIONEERING RESEARCH, REAL WORLD IMPACT

Harnessing expertise across advanced materials; design; construction, digital, and robotics technologies; architecture; public policy; finance; and more, we are applying green and high-performance materials to address the pain points of the built environment. Our partnerships across academia, government, professional societies, and industry will accelerate our progress, creating new intellectual property and startups along the way.