At the beginning of Fall 2013, the Center for a Sustainable Environment is hosting a series of Sustainability Meet and Greet coffees to facilitate campus-wide discussion and interest about sustainability efforts on campus and in the community.  These are spread over the entire work week, with coffee and snacks being offered Monday through Friday at the Illini Union from 10-11 each morning.  By offering the event multiple times during the week, it is hoped that more campus students, faculty, and staff will be able to participate.

The Office of Sustainability (OS) was charged with communicating and collaborating around
sustainability initiatives for the Urbana‐Champaign campus. The scope of the OS encompasses all facets
of the University’s mission: education, research, and engagement, as well as campus operations. As
such, the OS works closely with many diverse groups to further sustainability. Fortunately, the OS has
developed critical relationships with many to aide in completing its multi‐faceted charge.

Clemson University’s Construction Science and Management Department conducted a research survey that evaluates the social, economic, and environmental aspects of green construction. The research aims to identify the primary factors driving the ‘greening’ of University facilities. To accomplish the objective of this study they asked key personnel of the nation’s top Universities to provide feedback regarding their institution’s approach and philosophy.  At the University of Illinois, the survey was completed by Helen Coleman, the Director of Capital Programs at Urbana.

 

All campus dining halls have a trayless dining program, in which trays are not available in dining halls. Trayless dining saves 42,100 gallons of water in dining facilities each day, and 929,122 gallons a year.

The Illini Union's One Book, One Campus program centers around providing a shared experience for our community through reading the same book and engaging in dialogue to explore various themes. Lectures, book discussion groups, and many other activities will guide participants to learn about themselves and experience a unique sense of community.

The 2011-2013 book selection was Annie Leonard's 'The Story of Stuff,' which is about the harmful effects of excessive consumption in the United States. 

 In order to achieve the next potable water conservation goal of reducing use by 40 percent from 2008 to 2025 the University has begun to look at the 63 miles of water distribution lines which provide potable water to the campus. The Utilities division performed a survey of the water lines owned by the university in May 2012. This survey determined where there are undetected water main and water service leaks in the university system which will allow unaccounted for flow to be reduced and conserve water and money.

The trend away from outdoor play in children is having a significant impact on the health of today's youth, as well as their stewardship and interest in the environment. Take a Child Outside Week aims to combat this trend through a series of events to be held September 24-30, 2013.

The aim of this project is to reduce the water consumption of Campus Recreation patrons without interfering with the service they receive. In order to do this, standard flush valves were replaced with dual-flush valves, pint-flow urinals were installed, and motion-sensor water faucets replaced traditional faucets in ARC, CRCE, and the Ice Arena (which are the three largest Campus Recreation facilities.)  Campus Recreation used the upgrades as an opportunity to educate their patrons about water consumption and conservation.

College Sustainability Report Card - Suspended

March 30, 2012 - Sustainable Endowments Endowments Institute announces suspension

of College Sustainability Report Card program. Learn More

GreenReportCard.org is the first website to provide in-depth sustainability profiles for more than 300 colleges in all 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces. See the Results

Each semester, Facilities & Services works with the Learning in Community (LINC) program as a project partner for the UI Bikes course section. Working closely with the Campus Bicycle Coordinator, students learn about cycling issues on campus including planning, infrastructure, safety, education, and enforcement.