The Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition, a statewide group of campus environmentalists, is trying to get Michigan colleges to cut down on energy use and waste.

The University of Michigan's members are working to reduce the University's carbon emissions and other environmentally harmful practices, according to Andrew Munn, one of the group's leaders and a School of Music, Theatre and Dance senior.

According to the University's Guide to Energy Conservation published by Plant Operations, the University has reduced energy use in campus buildings by 20 percent since 1973 when conversation efforts began. The guide estimates that the campus has grown by 68 percent since 1973, but says energy use has only gone up by 34 percent.

There are about 50 coalition members at the University of Michigan and 225 members statewide.

This year, the coalition plans to work with the Michigan Student Assembly's Environmental Issues Commission to organize events to encourage the state to invest in renewable energy.

Chris Detjen, commission co-chair, said the two groups will be working together to push the state to adopt a policy that would require it to get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

In February, the commission sponsored an MSA resolution that urged the University to purchase a larger portion of its energy from renewable sources. The commission urged the University to increase this portion to a third by this fall, but administrators rejected the timeline as impractical.

In response, the University created a six-point plan supporting the purchase of renewable energy. The University Board of Regents passed the three-year plan in April. The plan includes issuing an annual report on energy consumption, researching purchasing more electricity from renewable sources and expanding alternative transportation services for students.

The University also has an Energy Conservation Measures Fund to sponsor initiatives to reduce energy use in University buildings.

The coalition will also support the newly formed Intergroup Environmental Council, a network of approximately 10 University of Michigan environmental groups.

The council was created at the beginning of this semester to increase collaboration between campus environmental groups on events and projects, Munn said.

"We're trying to build a fun community around the environmental work we do on campus," Munn said.

Last weekend, the coalition held a summit in East Lansing. Munn said the summit gave participants, who were mostly Michigan college students, an opportunity to lead and participate in discussions and workshops. They discussed environmental issues like recycling programs at their schools and getting involved in environmental justice campaigns.

"Students (came) away from the summit inspired and empowered to make changes toward sustainability on their campuses," Munn said. "They have a better idea of how to go out and engage with other students and with their administrators on these issues."

Munn said the coalition is also working to sponsor a bus from Ann Arbor to Washington, D.C for a national youth environmental summit in there next month.