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Greg Keoleian

Peter M. Wege Endowed Professor of Sustainable Systems; Director, Center for Sustainable Systems
Sustainable Systems
Climate + Energy
Food Systems
Cities + Mobility + Built Environment
gregak@umich.edu
(734)-764-3194
Websites
CSS Profile

About

Dr. Keoleian co-founded and serves as director of the Center for Sustainable Systems. His research focuses on the development and application of life cycle models and metrics to enhance the sustainability of products and technology. He has pioneered new methods in life cycle design, life cycle optimization of product replacement, life cycle cost analysis and life cycle based sustainability assessments ranging from energy analysis and carbon footprints to social indicators. Systems studied include alternative vehicle technology, renewable energy systems such as wind farms, photovoltaics and willow biomass electricity, buildings and infrastructure, information technology, food and agricultural systems, household appliances, and packaging alternatives.

Professor Keoleian currently teaches interdisciplinary graduate courses on Sustainable Energy Systems and Industrial Ecology and co-directs the Engineering Sustainable Systems Dual Degree Program and the Rackham Graduate Certificate Program in Industry Ecology.

Publications

  • Kemp, Nicholas J., Gregory A. Keoleian, Xiaoyi He, and Akshat Kasliwal. (2020) “Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Impacts of a Connected and Automated SUV and Van.” Transportation Research Part D 83(102375): 1-11.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102375
  • Porras, Gabriela Y., G.A. Keoleian, G.M. Lewis, Seeba, N. (2020) “A guide to household manual and machine dishwashing through a life cycle perspective.” Environmental Research Communications 2(2)024002: 1-13.   https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ab716b
  • Heller, Martin, Gregory Keoleian, and Diego Rose. (2020) “Implications of Future US Diet Scenarios on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” CSS Report, University of Michigan: Ann Arbor 1-24.   http://css.umich.edu/publication/implications-future-us-diet-scenarios-greenhouse-gas-emissions
  • Arbabzadeh, Maryam, Ramteen Sioshansi, Jeremiah Johnson, and Gregory Keoleian. (2019) “The role of energy storage in deep decarbonization of electricity production.” Nature Communications 10(3413): 1-11.   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11161-5

Read more publications here.

Research
  • Circular Economy Framework, Metrics, and Application, Sponsor: CERC-CVC (Clean Energy Research Center, Clean Vehicles Consortium) and Argonne National Lab
  • Sustainability Assessment of Automated Urban Delivery Systems, Sponsor: Ford Motor Company
  • The Global Co2 Initiative: Transforming a Liability into an Opportunity, Sponsor: Michigan Engineering Blue Sky Initiative
  • Strategies to Limit Degradation and Maximize Battery Service, Sponsor: Responsible Battery Coalition
  • Plastics Waste Reduction Research and Fellowship, Sponsor: Morgan Stanley Services Group, Inc.
  • Long Haul Trucking Energy Systems Analysis, Sponsor: Amazon.com, Inc.
  • Thermal Modification of Blue Stained, Fire Salvaged Timber, Sponsor: USDA Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC)
  • Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Urine Derived Fertilizer, Sponsor: Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF)
  • Linking Health and Environmental Outcomes to Dietary Behaviours in the United States, Sponsor:  Wellcome Trust, Tulane University
  • Carbon accounting framework and GHG emissions modeling, Sponsor: University of Michigan President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality
Accolades
  • Environmental Research Letters Best Articles of 2018 (Heller, Martin C., Amelia Willits-Smith, Robert Meyer, Gregory A. Keoleian and Donald Rose. (2018) “Greenhouse gas emissions and energy use associated with production of individual self-selected US diets.” Environmental Research Letters 13(4):1-11)
  • Environmental Science and Technology Runner up Best Paper Environmental Policy in 2018 (James H. Gawron, Gregory A. Keoleian, Robert D. De Kleine, Timothy J. Wallington, and Hyung Chul Kim. Life Cycle Assessment of Connected and Automated Vehicles: Sensing and Computing Subsystem and Vehicle Level Effects) .
  • Energy and Buildings Best Research Paper Award for 1998-2007 (Schuer, C., G.A.Keoleian, P. Reppe “Life cycle energy and environmental performance of a new university building: modeling challenges and design implications")
  • Journal of Industrial Ecology Best Paper Prize (Heller, M.C., and G.A. Keoleian, “Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of U.S. Dietary Choices and Food Loss.” Journal of Industrial Ecology (2015) 19(3): 391–401) announced in 2017.
  • Rackham Master’s Mentoring Award, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan, 2015
Education

PhD, University of Michigan (chemical engineering)

MSE, University of Michigan (chemical engineering)

BSE, University of Michigan (chemical engineering)

BS, University of Michigan (chemistry)

Affiliations
  • Committee Member, Planning Committee Workshop on Exploring the True Costs of Food, Institute of Medicine (2011-12).
  • International Society for Industrial Ecology, Member and President (two year term: 2011-2012).
     - President Elect (2009-2010); Immediate Past President (2013-2014).
In the News
Adrienne Watts
April 22, 2022

Meet the Future of Sustainable Systems: Adrienne Watts (MS ’22)

Why SEAS? Adrienne Watts (MS ’22) had a few years of work experience under her belt when she came to realize that the way we produce and consume products is antiquated...

New study finds greater greenhouse gas reductions for pickup truck electrification than for other light-duty vehicles
March 4, 2022

New study finds greater greenhouse gas reductions for pickup truck electrification than for other light-duty vehicles

ANN ARBOR—Major automotive manufacturers are ramping up production of electric trucks as a key strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their vehicles. Light...

CSS 30 Years of Impact
December 20, 2021

Center for Sustainable Systems celebrates 30th Anniversary

Accelerating energy transitions and climate solutions SEAS is proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) and honors the Center’s...

Electric car charging station in the Netherlands

Driving the Future of Sustainable Mobility

In the sustainable mobility space, there is no shortage of innovation. And as the old barriers begin to fall, we must navigate the choices—with a clear eye on the road...

Package delivery robots’ environmental impacts: Automation matters less than vehicle type
August 25, 2021

Package delivery robots’ environmental impacts: Automation matters less than vehicle type

Whether a robot or a person delivers your package, the carbon footprint would essentially be the same, according to a University of Michigan study that could help inform...

Climate benefits vs. burdens: Which products are best suited for emerging carbon capture technologies?
August 24, 2021

Climate benefits vs. burdens: Which products are best suited for emerging carbon capture technologies?

ANN ARBOR—Pulling heat-trapping carbon dioxide out of the air and turning it into useful products, a concept called carbon capture and utilization, has the potential to...

Electric delivery vehicles: When, where, how they’re charged has big impact on greenhouse gas emissions
July 12, 2021

Electric delivery vehicles: When, where, how they’re charged has big impact on greenhouse gas emissions

The transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and a lot of attention has been devoted to electric passenger...

SEAS Professor Greg Keoleian Offers Congressional Testimony on Plastic Waste Reduction
June 28, 2021

SEAS Professor Greg Keoleian Offers Congressional Testimony on Plastic Waste Reduction

School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Professor Gregory Keoleian was called to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Research and...

In the Media
05/13/2022
Greg Keoleian
How much CO2 do EVs cut? Size matters (E&E News)
05/02/2022
Greg Keoleian
Which Plant-Based Milk Is Best for the Planet (And You)? (Discover Magazine)
04/22/2022
Greg Keoleian
On this 52nd Earth Day, the US reveals it’s lagging behind on critical climate pledges (The Hill)
04/10/2022
Greg Keoleian
States' registration plans could accelerate electric vehicle adoption (ABC News)
04/09/2022
Greg Keoleian
How Ford’s Electric F-150 Pickup Truck Will Cut Carbon Pollution (BNN Bloomberg)
03/23/2022
Greg Keoleian
Issues of the Environment: The ecological impacts of reading and how best to make a difference for the environment (WEMU-FM)
03/15/2022
Greg Keoleian
Greenhouse gas emissions drop nearly two-thirds when motorists switch to EV pickups or SUVs (MLive)
03/14/2022
Greg Keoleian
Study: Concern Over EVs Emitting More Carbon than Combustion Engine Vehicles Unfounded (dBusiness)
03/10/2022
Greg Keoleian
University of Michigan, Ford study examines potential greenhouse gas savings tied to EVs (WDET)
03/09/2022
Greg Keoleian
To cut emissions, focus on electrifying pickup trucks? (Futurity)
03/08/2022
Greg Keoleian
New Study finds greater greenhouse gas reductions for electric pickup trucks (Transportation Today)
03/08/2022
Greg Keoleian
Study compares greenhouse gas reductions for light-duty vehicles (University Record)
03/08/2022
Greg Keoleian
Stateside: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 (Michigan Radio)
03/08/2022
Greg Keoleian
Electric Cars and Light Trucks Have 64% Lower Life Cycle Carbon Emissions (Treehugger)
03/07/2022
Greg Keoleian
Electric Vehicles Are Reshaping The Auto Industry (CleanTechnica)
03/07/2022
Greg Keoleian
UM report: Light electric trucks have lower life-cycle emissions than similar gas-powered vehicles (Michigan Radio)
03/05/2022
Greg Keoleian
Ford, U Mich study finds greater greenhouse gas reductions for pickup truck electrification than for other light-duty vehicles (Green Car Congress)
03/04/2022
Greg Keoleian
Greater greenhouse gas reductions for pickup truck electrification than for other light-duty vehicles (Science Daily)
03/04/2022
Greg Keoleian
Study: Greater Greenhouse Gas Reductions for Pickup Truck Electrification Than for Other Light-Duty Vehicles (Environmental News Network)
02/17/2022
Greg Keoleian
You may need to read dozens of books each year to offset that new e-reader (Popular Science)
12/29/2021
Greg Keoleian
What kind of container should be used for milk? (Michigan Radio)
12/22/2021
Greg Keoleian
A car made from recycled plastic? This could be the future (ABC News)
12/14/2021
Greg Keoleian
Glass, Plastic, Or PLA? Dairies Struggle to Replace Single-Use Bottles (Civil Eats)
11/19/2021
Greg Keoleian
Autonomous Package Deliveries May Not Reduce Emissions (Inside Science)
10/21/2021
Greg Keoleian
In the transition to renewables, energy storage is a hot topic (Marketplace)
10/17/2021
Greg Keoleian
Here’s What a Climate Scientist Really Thinks of Your Everyday Home Habits (Apartment Therapy)
10/07/2021
Greg Keoleian
Ford Gives Michigan a ‘Wake-Up Call’ With Out-of-State EV Expansion (Bloomberg News)
09/28/2021
Greg Keoleian
Michigan lost out on Ford's $11.4B EV investment. Here's why (The Detroit News)
08/12/2021
Greg Keoleian
Kristen Bell says she doesn't shower often for environmental reasons. Experts weigh in. (Yahoo Life)
07/13/2021
Greg Keoleian
Electric delivery vehicle emissions depend on charging (Futurity)
07/13/2021
Greg Keoleian
How Electric Vehicles are Charged Relates to Decrease in Greenhouse Gas Emissions (AZO Cleantech)
06/26/2021
Greg Keoleian
Here are 8 easy ways to save money by going green (CNBC)
06/25/2021
Greg Keoleian
Recycling is only one part of solution to plastic waste, experts say (Chemical and Engineering News)
06/24/2021
Greg Keoleian
Will charging my EV to 100% really damage the battery? (The Globe and Mail)
06/01/2021
Greg Keoleian
Consumers Energy electricity rate increases 50% during peak hours (The Detroit News)
04/30/2021
Greg Keoleian
Martin Heller
The real story behind the Biden burger-ban rumor (Popular Science)
04/30/2021
Greg Keoleian
How to start tackling your home’s water — and climate — footprint (The Washington Post)
04/26/2021
Greg Keoleian
Martin Heller
Fox News’s latest straw man is made of red meat (The Washington Post)
04/26/2021
Greg Keoleian
Martin Heller
Beer, Brussels Sprouts, Bernie Madoff and Today’s G.O.P. (The New York Times)
04/26/2021
Greg Keoleian
Martin Heller
Biden’s fake burger ban and the rising culture war over meat (Vox)
04/26/2021
Martin Heller
Greg Keoleian
Biden climate plans don’t include red meat restrictions (Associated Press)
03/18/2021
Jonathan T. Overpeck, Ph.D.
Greg Keoleian
University of Michigan’s carbon neutrality commission releases 'bold, visionary plan' (WDIV Click on Detroit)
03/15/2021
Greg Keoleian
Ann Arbor exploring reduced trash pickup to reduce carbon emissions, limit climate change effects (WXYZ Detroit)
12/22/2020
Greg Keoleian
Researchers have hit on a widely available solution for decarbonizing fertilizer production (Anthropocene)
12/09/2020
Greg Keoleian
Issues Of The Environment: U-M Team Outlines The First Circular Economy For Vehicles (WEMU)
09/30/2020
Greg Keoleian
University of Michigan Study Informs on Plastic Waste, Barriers and Opportunities (Waste 360)
08/04/2020
Greg Keoleian
Why Biden's car plan might not be a 'clunker' (E&E News)
12/01/2018
Greg Keoleian
Despite the Paris Agreement, CO2 emissions are rising again
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