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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  3. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    A full week of warm weather is forthcoming, so we should be busy. We’ll be closed next week for Spring Break and right after that our full Mon – Fri schedule will resume. This Thursday we have another Instructional Class—hopefully it’s as well-attended as the last one!

     

    This week, we’ll also grab the last of the worth-our-trouble abandoned bikes from storage.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 36
    Sales: 767.38
    Bikes (Refurb): 2 for $395
    Memberships: 7 for $210
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $32

  4. Land and Water Team March Monthly Meeting Minutes and Notes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Increase Pollinator-Friendly Areas
    Campus Rec Water Conservation Incentives
    Benefits of a Large-Scale Prairie Experiment

    The Land and Water team met on March 7th, 2025, at 9 am on Teams this month. In this week's meeting, the team discussed prairie strips, sustainable water usage on campus, milkweed plantings for pollinators, and activities to participate in this coming Arbor Day. The agenda and notes from the meeting are linked below. 

    Attached Files: 

  6. iCAP Energy Meeting March 2025

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    Rooftop Solar Potential
    Solar Power on Campus

    The Energy Team had their March meeting on Thursday, March 6th, from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. We welcomed a new member and had a hybrid meeting. The focus was on the Building Occupancy Engagement Pilot Program. We discussed the way forward and different ways to engage occupants.  Strategies like involving student groups, sending out surveys, and scheduling one-on-one meetings with building managers were discussed. Updates on the solar rooftop project and involving the athletics department in the pilot program were shared as well. The meeting minutes are attached!

    Attached Files: 

  8. Weekly digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Still slow but have had a few people in looking for bikes or B-a-Bs but no sales on either. With the warmer weather this week, we’ll likely be busier. I’ve got a half dozen bikes to safety check while the weather is cooperating.

    Last week and today we made some more headway on the abandoned bike pile. Still coordinating with some other groups to take some of the junky bikes off our hands.

    Tonight is the Bike Project Monthly Meeting.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 23
    Sales: $82
    Membership: 1 for $30
    Tire/tube: 1 for $6

  9. 02.20 Engagement Team Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Advance Student Sustainability Outreach Efforts
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Certified Green Chapter Program

    The meeting covered several key updates and discussions on sustainability initiatives. The Chair provided updates on the Green Training Program survey, seeking feedback on student engagement strategies. The Vice Chair discussed efforts for a greener campus, including outreach to Greek Life. The Clerk emphasized the importance of in-person meetings and marketing materials. Guest speakers highlighted upcoming events like Sustainapalooza and Illinifest, stressing the logistical challenges and opportunities for student involvement. Discussions included promotional outreach, sustainability projects such as Greener Chapters yard signs and low-maintenance greenery at ISR, and the importance of connecting sustainability efforts across campus. Additionally, engagement team members offered support for these initiatives, and an approved course for next semester was announced. Adam encouraged members to consider speaking at the sustainability film festival.

    Attached Files: 

  11. Weekly digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Uneventful over here. Slow and cold. Plodding away at bikes and wheels to have a good supply of both come the busy times. This week I’ll meet some TBP volunteers to clean out the barn more, as it’ll be March soon.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 19
    Sales: $281.50
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $100
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 1 for $4

  13. iCAP Energy Meeting February 2025

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    EEPs – Energy Efficiency Grants
    Rooftop Solar Potential
    Solar Power on Campus

    The Energy Team had their February meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6th, from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. We discussed updates on the solar rooftop project, focusing on the Krannert Art Museum as a potential installation site. The team also explored funding opportunities, including the Illinois Climate Bank’s new loan program for energy efficiency projects. Additional topics included occupant engagement initiatives, lab energy optimization, and potential participation in the Engineering Open House. The meeting minutes are attached!

    Our next meeting is March 13th, 2:00 - 3:00 PM.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    We have been surprisingly busy here at CBC so far this year. We’ve sold a few bikes thus far and seen a couple Build-a-Bikes head out the door—all good things!

    Over the weekend, TBP volunteers and I tackled the abandoned bikes in the barn. Made some good progress and had almost a dozen folks on hand helping to sort/strip/move bikes out. Will have to take a few more cracks at it before we completely empty the space but got a good start. Great to see so many volunteers come out—many hands make light work!
     

    The numbers (1/22 – 1/31):

    Visitors: 73
    Sales: 1,371
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $610
    Bikes (B-a-B): 3 for $180
    Memberships: 15 for $450
    Tires/tubes: 4 for $19.50

  16. Fall 2024 Semester Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Models for Campus Facilities

    Professor Yun Yi provided an update on the building energy modeling project:

    With the help of students, I created initial energy models for three campus buildings: Newmark Civil Engineering, Bevier Hall, and Allen Hall. The students were able to build detailed models of the HVAC systems for each building. The next step is to calibrate these models using actual meter data. While the students made good progress, the calibration still requires some advanced fine-tuning.

    I’m planning to hire a student to focus on this calibration work. As we discussed, your help in hiring an assistant for the semester would be greatly appreciated. This would be a 25% appointment for a master’s student, with compensation similar to last semester.

  18. iCAP Energy Meeting December 2024

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    Agrivoltaic Research Solar Array at Energy Farm
    Agrivoltaics: Crop Production and Solar Panels on the Same Land

    The Energy Team met on Tuesday, Dec. 10th, from 3:30 - 4:30 PM. We reviewed the occupant engagement program’s progress, discussed final steps for solar rooftop project proposals, and provided updates on energy efficiency recommendations. A potential pilot for risk-based lab optimization was introduced, and updates on funded energy projects and agrivoltaic solar construction were shared. The meeting minutes are attached!

    Our next meeting is January 2025 (date TBD).

    Attached Files: 

  19. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    As expected, we were slow last week. We held an instructional course but did not get any attendees as it was cold and snowy—no surprise there! We will schedule more classes next semester.

    We’re still low on kids’ bike donations and hovering around 50 or so. Have a meeting with IMC folks this week to discuss logistics.

    As a late decision, the Bike Center will be the starting point for a community bike ride this coming Sunday, December 15th at 2p, which will hopefully get some folks aware of our space that may not have been otherwise.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 25
    Sales: $209
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $39

  20. iCAP Engagement Team November Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Certified Greener Campus Programs
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)

    On Friday, November 22nd, the iCAP Engagement Team held its monthly meeting. The team discussed ways to engage the campus community more, specifically students, and shared updates on OneIllinois, Greener Campus, and Earth Month. We discussed the possibility of using social media to increase engagement or physical fliers and posters. We also welcomed a guest speaker from the Zero Waste Team who discussed Sustain Illinois, a magazine that outlines what is currently happening around campus as well as how the average person can become involved in sustainability in the community. We also discussed having in-person meetings and events next semester for the team and small ways we can all be more sustainable. One call to action was for staff and faculty to consider making their office spaces green-certified and brainstorming ways to reach the Greek life population. Our next meeting will be December 20th. 

    Attached Files: 

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