This project will involve the design, construction, and installation of a geothermal system to heat one greenhouse at the UIUC Woody Perennial Polyculture (WPP) Research Site, located near the southwest corner of Race Street and Windsor Avenue.
The goal of this student-led project is to create a zero-waste woodshop. A significant amount of material flows through the shop at the School of Architecture and most students waste more than they use. By acquiring a few tools to separate synthetic (plastics, EPS, polyurethane foam, etc.) from natural (wood & wood products) materials, the woodshop can drastically minimize waste to the university landfill and use the recaptured material for a multitude of other uses.
Before 2016, the area near the College of Veterinary Medicine was often a victim of flooding. Beginning in May of that year and reaching completion in August, construction of the rain garden reduced the concern of flooding. Prairie Restoration, Inc. provided planting and initial watering. Although not as many of the seeds established themselves as expected due to heavy rain, the garden has been successful in preventing flooding. A surface incline leads to the garden, whose soil allows for the infiltration of rainwater.
In April 2017 three faculty members received $14,522 from the University Research Board to conduct preliminary investigations surrounding crop residue as a building material at both small and large scale. The results of those initial investigations proved very positive. This project primarily strives to turn corn stalks into a building project. Students have assisted Associate Professor Mark Taylor, from the School of Architecture throughout the project, giving students research and professional development opportunities.
A student research team, under Dr. Yuanhui Zhang, will expand the Environment-Enhancing Energy (E2E) research program to campus application by augmenting wet food waste produced through the dining halls. They will first survey dining services food waste and make their findings available to campus affiliates. Next, they will take dining waste and convert it into biofuel and asphalt. This process will reduce UIUC’s food waste, advancing the Illinois Climate Action Plan efforts. Likewise, the project will bring awareness to food waste at a local level.
Illinois Enactus’s mission is to contribute to the UN sustainable development goals by developing collaborative business ventures that work towards social, economic, and environmental equality in all communities. Illinois Enactus is an official chapter of the worldwide non-profit organization, Enactus. Enactus exists in more than 39 countries and has more than 1,600 teams across the globe, and Illinois Enactus ranks in the Top 4 of US teams. Being a member of Enactus means that you are a part of the largest and most prestigious business network on the planet.
A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student run organization which designs and fabricates a highly fuel efficient car to compete annually in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas Competition.
This project represents the expansion of the original Illinois Sustainable Food System (ISFP) Tomato Processing Project to include additional produce and grains. Expanded products include baked products from grain grown as part of the Illinois Crop Science wheat breeding program, currants from the Multifunctional Woody Perennial Polyculture (MWP) to produce purees and juices, additional grains to produce puffed, seasoned snacks from an extruder, hot peppers to make hot and wing sauces, pumpkins to produce puree, cookies, and pies, and more.
This project funds the Illini EcoConcept team for their efforts to design and manufacture a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Urban-Concept Vehicle to compete in the Shell EcoMarathon Competition in 2017. While the competition has always been centered on energy efficiency, it also promotes and rewards innovation that leads to a more sustainable energy system to support communities around the globe.
Root to Roof is a program established to educate students about the sustainability and availability of urban wood for the design and fabrication of furniture, outdoor installations, homes and buildings. It does this through harvesting waste timber from campus and the City of Urbana and milling it to become usable lumber.
