The Illini Gadget Garage was a collaboration of the Sustainable Electronics Initiative (SEI) at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), the UI School of Art and Design, and the School of Information Science (The iSchool at Illinois). Staff from all these units provided support and guidance, while ISTC coordinated efforts and administers seed funding granted by the Student Sustainability Committee and external donations.
The Student Sustainability Committee funded an effort to decrease the use of single use plastic bags at the Illini Union Bookstore.
Parking Lot E37 (near the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and Natural History Survey) currently lacks sufficient lighting to meet minimum light requirements, but unfortunately is located in a low-priority area located away from current electrical access. The use of standalone solar-powered lights for parking is an innovative solution that allows the system to remain off-grid while improving illumination for the lots – which in turn improves campus safety.
Wassaja Hall was named after the University's first Native American graduate and a pioneer in advocating for Native American rights. A 30 kW solar PV array was installed on December 14, 2015 on the east side of the roof.
Retrocommissioning (RCx) was formed in August 2007, under F&S management. The program was formed to help alleviate existing utility deficits, anticipated increases in fuel costs for natural gas and coal, and major maintenance issues. F&S decided to create this special team called RCx to go through these buildings to do as much maintenance as possible within the resources available and improve the air quality as much as possible. This year, they used the motto "saving the planet one building at a time."
The primary deliverable of this proposed project is to provide a detailed waste characterization assessment for three facilities located throughout the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois. Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls (LAR), Business Instructional Facility (BIF), Roger Adams Laboratory(RAL) are facilities that will be characterized.
The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) is hosting a Community Conversation on Energy Conservation on October 20, 2015. The purpose of this event is to discuss the incentives and opportunities for energy conservation and the barriers that constrain participation by local businesses in energy efficiency projects.
In 2008, our campus signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, formally committing to become carbon neutral as soon as possible, and no later than 2050. The first Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) was developed in 2010 as a comprehensive roadmap towards a sustainable campus environment. The present 2015 iCAP was developed using the Procedure for Formulating and Evaluating Campus Sustainability Policies & Initiatives, with many 2010 iCAP targets restated or revised and new targets added.
The replacement of incandescent lighting in the audience chambers of each of the three major performance spaces in KCPA has a threefold purpose. Its primary purpose is to remove from service incandescent lighting that has been in place for nearly 50 years and is very energy inefficient. Beyond the energy efficiency issue is the efficiency of personnel who maintain the facility because of 1,500 light bulbs in question that have to be changed frequently, plus the safety issues involved in accessing many of the ceilings that are 35 to 56 feet above the floor.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign received an honorable mention in the 2015 Illinois Green Office Challenge, for efforts at the Physical Plant Service Building. F&S earned points by completing specific activities to reduce waste and save energy and water, which help make resources and cost reductions the norm in workplaces. Some of the activities completed at PPSB included tracking energy use, utilizing duplex printing, encouraging staff to commute by bike, and improving the building’s recycling program. A list of the completed activites is available below.
