In FY12, the Student Sustainability Committee approved $225,000 to upgrade a number of bike parking locations on campus. Facilities & Services is completing the work to upgrade these locations by the end of Summer 2013.

After the success of the first SSC funded bike parking upgrade, F&S requested additional funding for more bike parking, two air pumps, and partial funding for a bicycle path at Hazelwood from Orchard Downs to the UI Research Park.

The goal of this project is to provide standard bicycle parking at three locations on campus: Freer Hall, the Undergraduate Library, and the Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building.  This will encourage bicycle riding and support the Campus Area Transportation Study (CATS) mission “to better accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle movements in a more user-friendly environment.”  This is also one of the amenities recommended by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Multi-Modal Transportation Study recommendation to “provide other amenities to accommodate existing bi

The existing bicycle parking on campus has some areas that are in top-notch condition, some areas that are so worn-down that they are no longer functional, and some areas that are underserved.  Bicyclists often park on railings, trees, parking meters, or light poles.  In order to provide appropriate bicycle parking and eliminate the use of unapproved or illegal bike parking locations, the University needs to bring existing bike parking areas up to current standards and identify locations where additional bike parking is needed. 

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has completed and approved the 2014 Campus Bike Plan, a master plan to direct our efforts for future bicycle infrastructure improvements and program development. The 2014 Campus Bike Plan outlines the various ways in which the University should improve for bicycles in the coming years.

"Two years ago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign enthusiastically signed on to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. We agreed to create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of strategies that fulfill the commitment. Our Office of Sustainability and Sustainability Council led the effort and completed their task thoroughly and expeditiously. For example, our greenhouse gas inventory was completed in just twelve months.

In 2007, the University hired a consultant to review the campus multi-modal transportation and make recommendations for improved campus safety.  The study included recommendations for improved campus transportation for all modes, many of which have been implemented.  The results of the study helped inform the transportation section of the 2010 iCAP.

Fast. Convenient. Affordable. Environmentally friendly.

With Zipcar on campus, it just got easier to live without a car.

Need a car? Borrow a Zipcar!  Since 2010, MTD, Urbana, Champaign, and the U of I have partnered with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to the area. To use Zipcars, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, use your Zipcard to enter the car, and drive away. Return the car to the same location where you picked it up.

Lighting is responsible for less than 10% of the campus energy demand, yet it is the most visible and actionable energy conservation effort available to everyone.  Like you turn off your lights when you leave a room at home, the University is seeking to turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied, and reduce energy consumption from lamps throughout campus.  These efforts include replacing incandescent lamps with LEDs or flourescent lamps, installing occupancy and daylight sensors, and encouraging sustainable behaviors.

The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) was established in 2011 as a financing source for utility conservation projects requested by departments with a less than 10-year payback period. The savings from steam, electricity, and chilled or potable water costs are paid back annually, based on initially calculated savings. The RLF can grow through a direct allocation from the Chancellor, President, or Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) or through grant funding (e.g. Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation).