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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  2. Weekly Update: High demand for refurbished bikes, Dangerous driving behaviour

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, We’re down to two oddball bikes for sale here at the Bike Center. Demand remains high; donations remain low. We’re still helping plenty of folks, though. Visitor numbers support that.

    Had a staff meeting last Thursday and then Friday was quite busy, but we were adequately staffed, which was a welcomed change. Unfortunately, the rest of the days are still in-progress in that department.

    Neil St and Stadium Dr remains an ever-dangerous section of campus as I was victim this morning to a dangerous driver barreling past me—on the right, no less—at the underpass.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 157

    Sales: $2,140
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $595
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Memberships: 28 for $840
    Tires/tubes: 28 for $219

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  3. iCAP Team Kickoff 2022

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Climate Leadership Commitments
    Energy iCAP Team
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Education iCAP Team

    The iCAP Teams and iCAP Working Group gathered for the annual kickoff event on 8-24-22. Current members attended to learn about the iCAP 2020, the role of the teams and members, and meet sustainability staff and fellow team members. The presentation is attached and the recording can be found here. 

    Attached Files: 

  4. News Gazette: Kathy's Mailbag- Younger trees on the UI Quad

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Tree Inventory
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Below is a snippet from Kathy's #Mailbag, from August 19th, 2022, published in the News-Gazette regarding the foliage on the University's main quad. Brent Lewis and Ryan Welch of UI Facilities and Services were featured and shared information on the history and approach to plantings on campus. 

    The article can also be found at: https://www.news-gazette.com/toms-mailbag/kathys-mailbag-aug-19-2022/article_ae9f4d54-6f93-5a24-8551-e533204bf577.html

     

    Younger trees on the UI Quad

    "As I walked through the University of Illinois’ Main Quad recently, I noticed that most of the trees did not seem as old as I would expect. What is the history of the trees on the quad? Have there always been trees there? When were the current batch of trees planted?"

    A short history, courtesy of grounds superintendent Ryan Welch and landscape architect Brent Lewis, both with UI Facilities & Services:

    In 1929, the Board of Trustees took the advice of renowned landscape architect Ferruccio Vitale, who warned that planting a wide variety of trees on the Quad “would tend to minimize the impressiveness and the serenity of the planting design.”

    Elm trees were a traditional choice that did well in local conditions. “No tree is more majestic nor better adapted in form and in scale to form the setting of the University's new buildings,” Vitale said. So the walkways on the Quad were lined with elms sometime around 1930. Over the years, they were lost to Dutch elm disease and phloem necrosis (elm yellows). The last elm trees were removed in 1956. 

     

    The elms were replaced with thornless honey locusts. This tree was selected for its large mature size; light, dappled shade produced by the lacy foliage; tolerance to a wide range of soil conditions and drought; and yellow fall color. Only six honey locusts remain on the main quad from the 1956 planting.

    A variety of native oak trees replaced trees that were removed. Most of the recent plantings include chinquapin, swamp white and bur oak.

    The university’s current strategy is to diversify the tree plantings with native species and avoid overplanting any one type of tree. Welch and Lewis note that the current diversity of plantings on campus is “very high and is on par with most arboretums.”

    Diversifying the campus’ tree inventory turned out to be a wise decision. Between 2015 and 2020, more than 500 of the UI’s ash trees – about 3% of the campus’ tree inventory – were removed due to the damage caused and risk posed by the emerald ash borer. The wide variety of trees on campus meant that the loss of even 500 ash trees did not leave large swaths of the campus looking barren.

    Plant geeks may view the campus’ tree plan and get to the tree inventory database at http://go.fs.illinois.edu/tree.

  5. Student Sustainability Leadership Council First Meeting!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC)

    Hello sustainability minds of UIUC,

    It was great to interface with many of your organizations this Sunday at Quad Day! I'm writing to inform you of our first meeting of the semester! We'll be meeting next Monday, August 29th from 6 - 7 pm. The meeting will be held in the Foellinger Collaboration Pod in the newly renovated Student Org Complex on the 2nd floor of the Illini Union. If you've never been in this space, it's easy to get mixed up. You can access it via the SW stairwell of the Union. Once you've reached the second floor, you just need to turn right to find the Student Org Complex. 

    This meeting will be a fantastic opportunity to learn a little more about our member organizations as well as share a bit about yourself! We'll also give you a sense of the Student Sustainability Leadership Council's role in campus sustainability efforts (you'll definitely want to hear about the resources we've historically provided organizations like yours!). I'm looking forward to seeing many of you again and meeting others for the first time. If you can't send a representative, reach out and let me know, so I can keep you in the loop!

    Best,

    Jack Reicherts (and my crew Danika, Owen, and Maiah)

    SSLC Co-president

  9. General Inquiry about Participation and Plans

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team

    From: Merrifield, Lisa C <lmorrisn at illinois.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2022 9:18 AM
    To: White, Morgan <mbwhite at illinois.edu>
    Cc: Gloss, Stacy L <sgloss at illinois.edu>; Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078 at illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Resilience iCAP Team

     

    Hi Morgan,

     

    Yes. I plan to continue.

     

    We will have a draft Biodiversity Plan to share with the resilience team when it is convenient. I need to review the recommendations that Gabe has pulled together. There is more introductory text and maps to written and made. Gabe wants to keep working on the plan as part of his grad school work so we will probably wait to call it done this time next year. But I do want to get feedback from the committee at some point.

     

    Lisa

     

    From: White, Morgan <mbwhite at illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 9:34 PM
    To: Merrifield, Lisa C <lmorrisn at illinois.edu>
    Cc: Gloss, Stacy L <sgloss at illinois.edu>; Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078 at illinois.edu>
    Subject: Resilience iCAP Team

     

    Hi Lisa,

     

    I am writing to ask you to continue to serve on the Resilience iCAP Team this coming year.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you will not be able to continue this fall.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     

    ======================================

    MORGAN B. WHITE
    Associate Director of F&S for Sustainability and

    Interim Director of Capital Programs at UIUC

     

    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    1501 S Oak Street (MC-800) | Champaign, IL 61820
    217.333.2668 | mbwhite at illinois.edu
    fs.illinois.edu/services/sustainability

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  12. Weekly Update: Student rush, Very high demand for sale bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, The student rush looms this week. We won’t nearly be able to meet demand for sale bikes, nor for helping with DIY repairs with our current staffing levels but we’ll soldier on. I’ve got a couple interviews lined up this week to help on that front and at least one bike donated over the weekend to help with our sales.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 28

    Sales: $1,742.50
    Bikes (refurb): 5 for $1,080
    Memberships: 9 for $270
    Tires/tubes: 17 for $91

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  14. Weekly Update: Refurbished bicycles, Abandoned bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, We’re quickly approaching zero stock for refurbished bikes. One particularly eager patron bought two of our more expensive road bikes back-to-back last week. Thankfully, we received 3 bikes in very-good-to-great condition that should—fingers crossed—be on the sales floor for Wednesday.

    We’re in the beginning stages of clearing out abandoned bikes. Approximately 200 will go to CBC/TBP so that’ll help our inventory. The abandoned bikes at the rack in front of the bike center were cut this morning, cleaning up and clearing space for folks to lock there. We’ll be better able to see if any donations have been left, as well.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 21
    Sales: $1,646.75
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $1,025
    B-a-B: 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 15 for $113

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  15. Solar Urbana-Champaign

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Power on Campus
    Energy for Sustainability

    From: Marta Monti <marta@midwestrenew.org>
    Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2022 4:34 PM
    To: White, Morgan <mbwhite at illinois.edu>
    Subject: Solar Urbana-Champaign is back!

     

    Alternate text

     

     

     

    Solar Urbana Champaign is back for 2022

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    2022 marks the seventh year for the Solar Urbana Champaign program. Since 2016, this non-profit-led program has educated 1,292 people about their solar opportunities with our Solar Power Hours presentations, and of those folks, 242 properties decided to go solar.

     

    In partnership with our competitively-selected installer, GRNE Solar, and with support from the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), the City of Urbana, and our growing partners, we're excited to help central Illinois residents go solar and save on their energy costs!   

     

     

    Find us online:

     

     

     

     

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    First Benchmark Reached!

     

    Our group buy program uses the power of bulk purchasing to create an economy of scale: the more people who participate, the larger the savings become! This year's program has already passed the first 50 kilowatt benchmark, meaning that participants can look forward to additional savings. Join today and share with friends so we can achieve lower costs for everyone!

     

    Please help spread the word:

     

    Please share the program website or this email with your friends and neighbors or post it on your social media pages.

     

    Remember: the more people that go solar through the Solar Urbana Champaign program, the lower the cost for all!

     

     

    160dd54c09e26cbe021c4fe2_213xauto.png

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    Pull out your yard sign, it's Grow Solar season!

     

    Not sure where it went? No worries, it's been a while. Let us know where to drop it off and we will get you a new one. 

     

     

    - UPCOMING SOLAR POWER HOURS -

    Share this schedule with a friend and invite them to start their solar journey with you!

     

    8/11, Thursday: Solar Power Hour, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Papa Del’s Pizza Factory, 1201 S Neil St, Champaign, IL

    8/17, Wednesday: Solar Power Hour, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Danville Public Library, 319 N Vermilion St, Danville, IL

    8/26, Friday: Solar Power Hour, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Big Thorn Farm & Brewery, 14274 600 North Rd, Georgetown, IL – co-hosted by Big Thorn Farm & Brewery

    8/31, Wednesday: Solar Power Hour, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Zoom (click to register)

     

    — BROUGHT TO YOU BY —

     

    69327d52d70af4fe0b80e645_635xauto.png

     

    Questions?

    Throughout the program, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know. I can be reached at marta@midwestrenew.org.

    Sincerely,

    Marta Monti

    MREA Solar Program Manager

    Midwest Renewable Energy Assn (MREA) 

    8b2bf50446f9f69d971f35a9_213xauto.png

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    The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more about our work, visit midwestrenew.org. 

     

    uy60wam

  16. Weekly Update: Social Ride, Build-a-Bike

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Two weeks back we received three nicer bikes as donations which have proven to be quick fixes. Visit numbers were surprisingly low on Wednesday but that gave us some time to catch up on the piles of wheels and bikes we needed to strip down for parts. Sunday was the Bike Project social ride. On Monday we had a Build-a-Bike completed—a decent hybrid is a great improvement over a too-small roadmaster!—and on Friday we had another member start a Build-a-Bike.

    Got an interview for a new hire this week, the Bike Project Members’ Meeting tonight, and one more of the nicer bikes to fix up.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 19

    Sales: $800.50

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $170

    Build-a-Bike: 1 for $50
    Memberships: 8 for $240

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  17. Herbicide Application @ Orchard Downs Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Meadow at Orchard Downs

    From: Jaquet, Izabelle Sarah
    Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 9:53 AM
    To: Lewis, Brent C; White, Morgan
    Cc: Ward, Michael Patrick; Brunk, Lauren
    Subject: FTGU Herbicide Update

    Hello All,


    I sent an email regarding From The Ground Up's Orchard Down Plot restoration in May and don't believe I received explicit approval for the plan, so I did not initiate further action. Now that the fall semester is upon us, I would like to ask if it's still possible to apply herbicide to the whole plot?


    Thank you so much,
    Izabelle
    --
    Izabelle Jaquet (she/her)
    Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science & Agriculture and Consumer Economics
    University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign| December 2022

  18. Res003 Collecting Info about Environmental Justice Needs - Successful

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Resilience iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Environmental Justice Plan

    Following the transmittal of Res003 Collecting Info about Environmental Justice Needs, Bob Flider, Morgan White, Jennifer Fraterrigo, Stacy Gloss, and Meredith Moore met to discuss how we can move forward with environmental justice planning and how we can collaborate on these efforts. The meeting minutes are attached. 

    See the Res003 Collecting Info about Environmental Justice Needs recommendation here.

    For future updates, please refer to the Environmental Justice Plan project.

    Attached Files: 

  19. Insider article about the Envelope Pilot Project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Building Envelope Pilot Project

    https://fs.web.illinois.edu/Insider/2022/06/16/consider-the-envelope/ 

    "Indoor air quality is important for the health and comfort of occupants. Indoor airtightness can help provide good indoor air quality by making it easier to control the indoor environment with ventilation. Additionally, airtightness is key for energy efficiency. It is not uncommon for discrepancies between expected energy usage and actual energy usage to be explained by air leakage, and so making buildings tight is vital to meet energy and climate goals."

  20. Weekly Update: Build-a-Bike, New Hire, Community Bike Ride on Thursday

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, I was out Mon - Thurs last week sick. My staff covered admirably but, invariably, there are things they were uncomfortable taking on. Just an opportunity for further training! We had one Build-a-Bike be completed and another almost made it out the door at the last minute on Friday.

    On Friday we had a visitor from Danville who is working on an Eagle Scout program rehabbing old bikes and donating them to local charities. We were able to donate 3 bikes and a handful of parts.

    We also had a new hire start on Friday, received a handful of nice bike donations earlier in the week, and will process those donations this week. We’ll also work on getting a few more bikes on the sales floor as we approach August. Or maybe more accurately: AUGUST. It’ll be a doozy of a month.

    On Sunday, July 31st, The Bike Project is hosting a community bike ride, so we’ll let folks know about that.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 18*
    Sales: $499
    Bikes: 1 for $200
    Build-a-Bike: 1 for $50
    Memberships: 1 for $30

    *Likely higher actual #; technical difficulties in my absence.

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

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