In 2020, Ann Arbor kicked
off a 10-year journey to a carbon
neutral
future.
The
ambition
was encapsulated in a 138-page
carbon
neutrality
plan
which
addressed
high-emission
sectors
ranging from electric grid changes
to
transportation
initiatives
to
residential constructions. Buildings
account for the largest output of
greenhouse gasses locally and in
2020, residential buildings alone
accounted for more than one-
fourth of the overall greenhouse gas
emissions in Ann Arbor.
In line with the plan’s third
strategy to achieve carbon neutrality,
the plan proposes that all new
constructions from 2022 to 2030
have net-zero carbon emissions,
meaning new properties should only
use electric energy and should be
able to generate their own renewable
energy on-site. More than two years
into the plan, where does Ann Arbor
currently stand with respect to its
transformative vision?
In an email to The Michigan
Daily,
Brett
Lenart,
planning
manager at the Ann Arbor Planning
Commission, wrote that only a
small fraction of the buildings that
have been planned or built since
2020 are conforming to the city’s
sustainability goals.
“I
know
of
one
net-zero
building proposed, two approved
developments
that
require/
have committed to some level of
electrification and a handful of
other projects that have identified
electrification as a goal, but it is not
required,” Lenart wrote.
The Daily spoke to developers
and
city
officials
about
the
progresses and obstacles underlying
Ann
Arbor’s
efficient
building
commitment.
Process
improvements
that
enable cost-saving sustainable
construction
In
small-
and
middle-scale
housing developments, some local
developers are leading the way for
sustainable initiatives.
In
particular,
two
proposed
projects have garnered attention
from Ann Arbor residents over
the past couple of months. One of
them is a quadplex, which has been
called the most sustainable building
in Ann Arbor and even the world.
The quadplex is a new apartment
building
which
is
slated
for
construction in the Ann Arbor Old
Fourth Ward neighborhood on North
Division Street, and is designed to
generate more energy on-site than
it consumes. The development’s
sustainability feats earned it the title
of a “passive house,” or a building
that is voluntarily energy efficient.
The other project is a 79-unit
apartment building which will be
built on North Maple Street and
relies solely on electric energy
and geothermal heating — with
15% of the units being priced at a
more affordable cost, the building
might just be the perfect recipe
for Ann Arbor’s sustainability and
affordability goals.
For
many
developers,
sustainability can be hard to achieve
because of the high price tag often
associated with environmentally-
friendly
features
like
built-in
renewable
energy
generation.
According to the Office of Energy
Efficiency & Renewable Energy,
55% of the energy U.S. households
consume is used to power heating
and cooling systems. While heat
pumps are more sustainable than
traditional heating and cooling
systems, it could also cost more to
install them.
Doug Selby, the long-time Ann
Arbor developer and co-founder
of Meadowlark Builders behind
the Old Fourth Ward quadplex,
told The Daily in an interview that
efficient building envelope design —
architectural models which prevent
heat-loss to the outside environment
and insulates the interior of the house
by balancing internal and external
environmental forces — could allow
sustainable heating systems to be
deployed in less costly ways. In
general, better insulation means that
less heat or air-conditioned air is lost
to the outside environment.
“What do we do to make all the
energy that we need to run this
building on site?” Selby said. “The
first thing I need to do is bring the
energy consumption of this building
way, way down. If you are building
a low-energy building envelope, it
offers the opportunity to redesign
an HVAC system that uses a lot less
ductwork and the equipment needs
to be a lot smaller in capacity.”
Jeff Wilkerson, a local developer
who leads the development of the
North Maple project, said he also
placed high value on constructing
buildings with the envelope design.
He said the reduced cost of energy
has allowed him to plan for more
affordable units in the building
while upholding his commitment to
full-electrification.
In a press release published
Monday on their website, the
Graduate Employees’ Organization
announced they have filed unfair
labor practice charges against the
University of Michigan. GEO is
claiming that the University has
failed to bargain in good faith
during
their
ongoing
contract
negotiations. GEO is also alleging
that the University has failed to
provide information on benefits
and
workplace
safety
during
negotiations,
which
employers
are legally obligated to do under
Michigan State Law.
According to the press release,
GEO and the University had agreed
they would have a tentative 2023-
2026 contract agreement by March
1, as outlined in Article XXVI of
their previous contract. According
to that contract, if a new contract is
not negotiated by the end of the day
on May 1, the 2020-2023 contract
will continue to be in effect.
March 1 passed over Spring
Break, with GEO claiming that
the University “made no serious
effort to honor” their agreed upon
deadline for a tentative contract. In
the press release, GEO also detailed
their distaste for other actions taken
by the University during contract
negotiations, including considering
the use of a state mediator, which
GEO claimed was highly unusual.
GEO expressed their disappointment
with other regulations related to the
negotiation process which restricted
the number of GEO members
allowed in the bargaining sessions
and availability of virtual options to
view the negotiations.
“(The
University)
spent
the
first two months of bargaining
attempting to shut grad workers out
of their own contract negotiations,
taking the highly unusual step of
calling in a state mediator before (the
University) had passed or responded
to a single substantive proposal,” the
release said.
In an email to The Michigan
Daily, University Spokesperson Kim
Broekhuizen claimed that GEO’s
allegations related to the unfair labor
practice charges are unfounded.
“It is disappointing that GEO
has chosen to take this step as the
University has and will continue to
negotiate in good faith to achieve a
fair contract,” Broekhuizen said.
In
the
press
release,
GEO
President Jared Eno claimed the
University was stalling negotiations
rather than working with the
union in good faith to improve the
conditions of graduate students.
“Instead
of
working
collaboratively to solve problems,
the University has undermined and
stalled negotiations for months,
going so far as to break the law,” Eno
wrote. “Meanwhile, grad workers
are selling their plasma, skipping
meals, waiting inordinate amounts
of time for gender-affirming care
and struggling to escape abusive
supervisors. Enough is enough. It’s
time for the University to take these
contract negotiations seriously and
provide grad workers with a fair
contract.”
Broekhuizen emphasized that
the University continues to be
committed to negotiating with GEO
and settling on an equitable contract.
“The University’s focus remains
at the bargaining table, where the
University is committed to working
through all issues pertaining to
wages, hours and working conditions
of GSIs’ and GSSAs’ employment,”
Broekhuizen said. “This includes
the University’s latest compensation
offer, which was presented to GEO
on Feb. 10, and to which GEO has not
yet responded.”
In
their
current
bargaining
platform, GEO is asking for an
increased wage of $38,537 per year,
the elimination of copay for mental
health care and the establishment
of an unarmed community response
team on campus.
GEO
has
been
negotiating
with
the
University
since
November, during which they have
demonstrated on campus multiple
times to garner support for their
cause. There is currently an open
letter with over 500 signatures
from campus organizations and
individuals, all voicing their support
of GEO’s platform.
2 — Wednesday, March 15, 2023
News
GEO files charges against the University
NEWS BRIEFS
Ann Arbor developers address city plans for
more sustainable buildings
The Graduate Employee’s Organization files charges against the University of
Michigan for unfair labor practices
Ann Arbor city officials and developers discuss the process and obstacles of
implementing the city’s sustainable building goals
ANN ARBOR
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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