Solar panel field
U.S. to Pay to Add Solar Panels to Hospitals & Schools After Disasters

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is aiming to make public buildings like hospitals and schools more resilient against future disasters by paying to install solar panels when they are rebuilt. The agency will reimburse 75% of rebuilding costs, including solar infrastructure, thanks to legislation from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. 

“If you’re installing solar panels, you are creating more energy independence,” Deanne Criswell, FEMA’s administrator, said in an interview.

Energy independence will become increasingly important as frequency of natural disasters increases as a result of climate change, especially as insurers are withdrawing from high risk areas. 

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All Sustainability News
UMN Winter Salt Use

Facilities Management’s Landcare team is the primary snow removal service provider for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, responsible for clearing nearly 100 miles of streets and walkways, and over 100 acres of parking surfaces. Learn more:

We're HIRING! Systemwide Student Sustainability Communications Assistant

We're hiring a systemwide student communications assistant! Learn more or Apply now!

12/1 Coffee Chat: Energy Efficiency 101

Join our speaker from the Great Plains Institute, Aaron Backs, to learn more about all things energy efficiency!

Register now!

Clean Energy's Powerful Momentum

The U.S. energy transition is arriving faster than you think. But the move toward solar is global: a recent study from Nature expects solar to be the cheapest source of electricity in almost all countries by 2027. Along with its arrival, clean energy prices are expected to become cheaper than fossil fuel options. 

Read more

Talking climate-ready forests with U of M

Trees are showing their spectacular fall colors across Minnesota. This year, the changing leaves have come early due to the stresses of ongoing drought. Drought, flooding and higher temperatures associated with climate change are all factors prompting University of Minnesota experts to think about the future of our forests.

Extension Educator Angela Gupta answers questions about the future of MN forests Read More

UMN Releases New Apple Variety

A new variety of apple has been released by the University of Minnesota apple breeding program. Named Kudos, this new apple will be available to the public in coming years. 

Read more about the new Kudos apple here. 

11/3 Coffee Chat: Electric Vehicles 101

Join our speakers from Drive Electric MN, Alejandro Nakpil and Moaz Uddin, to talk about the benefits of EVs, the current market, and climate impacts. Learn more and Register!

Living Lab Applications Now Open!

The Office of Sustainability's Living Laboratory program is BACK! Living Labs seek to transform otherwise unused space on campus into opportunities to learn, research, and innovate sustainability on campus. Applications are now open to students, staff, and faculty. Learn more and apply here.

UMN Graduate Student wins U-Spatial Grand Prize for Stop the Thud! Map

U-Spatial has awarded prizes in nine categories, including a Grand Prize of $1000 to Andrew Hallberg's StoryMap, "Stop the Thud!".

A graduate student in Conservation Sciences, Andrew has created an interactive map tracking bird-building collisions at the UMN Twin Cities campus through "Stop the Thud!", a citizen science based recording system.

Check out Andrew's story map for more information and data and look for Stop the Thud! signs around campus to help continue this project!

University Employees Now Eligible for the Employee Transit Pass (ETP)!

Employee U Cards are now Employee Transit Passes (ETPs)! All Twin Cities benefits-eligible faculty and staff will receive unlimited access to all transit systems in the Twin Cities metro area! 

Learn more