The Campus Bike Center is offering a series of bike low-cost mechanics classes throughout the fall semester. All classes are open to students, staff, faculty and the general public. Unless otherwise noted, classes are at 7pm on the date indicated, at the Campus Bike Center, 608 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Champaign.

The Office of Sustainability has been working to further Illinois’ research mission, particularly in sustainability research.  Recent work by partners in the Office of Corporate Relations includes an inventory of sustainability research conducted by faculty on the Urbana-Champaign campus. This inventory revealed more than 120 faculty conducting research in the arena of sustainability.  Eventually, this inventory will be posted online to enable both the public to identify experts and for faculty to locate partners on potential research projects.

In FY2011, cooling towers constituted 30 percent of the total water use on campus. Due to the large water use of these towers, a ‘True Cost of Water Study’ was performed on with goals of benchmarking water use in cooling towers and generating ideas for improving water use efficiency. The study was conducted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center in collaboration with Facilities and Services and was funded by the Student Sustainability Committee.

Unlike traditional pavement, porous asphalt allows some of the stormwater to flow through the pavement and into the soil below which offers benefits in flood control, water quality treatment, and extends pavement life since the base is well drained. Traditional pavements cause increased volumes of stormwater runoff. Effective porous asphalt removes the pollutants from stormwater. Although porous asphalt is more expensive, the total project cost is similar to traditional asphalt pavement since stormwater infrastructure (i.e. curbs, gutters, and storm drains) is not required.

To improve the biodiversity and aesthetics at the front of the Natural Resources Building, volunteers planted sections of native woodland flowers. Four plots of trillium, geranium, native columbine, solomon's seal, jack-in-the-pulpit, and other plants fill in the spaces between dogwood trees.

The University of Illinois Arboretum contains gardens, collections, and habitats that transform 160 acres of the south campus. Not only does the Arboretum serve as a beautiful area for the public to enjoy, but as a “living laboratory” for University students studying plants sciences and fine and applied arts.

A tall grass prarie garden that mimics the natural Illinois prairie landscape of Illinois was planted on the Vet Med Campus. The garden consists of 40 to 50 different plants and around 7,000 seedlings. The Student Sustainability funded the project for $20,000 to cover all costs excluding labor, which will be done by volunteers.

A pilot green roof plot was proposed to be installed at the Krannert Center for the Performing Artis. This would be a 960 square foot installation that would be of much lower cost and have much lower maintenance requirements as compared to the University's first installation at the Business Instructional Facility.The project levered significant external funding and helped Krannert effectively fundraise for the installation.

Utilizing green roof technology helped NCEL to achieve LEED® Silver, the standard in effect when the project was initiated.   The materials used include various types of grasses, plants, and other vegetation. When properly built and maintained, green roofs can last as long as 75 years as opposed to a conventional roof life of 15 years.  Green roofs lower roof surface temperature, reducing the “urban heat island” effect and creating a cooler microclimate around the building.