iSEE Newsletter 03/23/2022
Associated Project(s):
Attached is the 03/23/2022 iSEE newsletter.
Attached Files:
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CLMP Core Planning Committee Presentation - 11 Prototype Projects Review
Associated Project(s):Design Workshop (DW) presented the 11 Prototype projects to the CLMP Core Committee for their review on March 22, 2022. Please see attached the draft of their presentation.
The CLMP Core Committee will send their comments to Sarthak and Stacey about the prototype projects.
Weekly Update: Updated work hour M-F from next week; Extra-Curricular events; National Bike Summit
Associated Project(s):All, We were closed last week for Spring Break. This week will be our last M/W/F of the semester as we’re reopening to 5 days a week. Today will be busy if the weather is any indication. Extra-curricular events for the week are our Gender Aware Shop Hours and our Urbana Parks District event on Saturday. Next week I’ll be virtually attending the National Bike Summit.
The numbers:
Visitors: 24Sales: $358.55
Bikes (refurb): 3 for $530
Tire/tubes: 6 for $36Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center CoordinatorThe Current Status and Pillars of Direct Air Capture Technologies
Associated Project(s):The Current Status and Pillars of Direct Air Capture Technologies
Industry decarbonization & carbon capture were identified as high priority efforts to reduce climate change at the 2021 UN COP26. Renewable energy may help, but there are still sectors that remain hard to decarbonize such as distributed emissions from travel & flu gas emissions from steel and cement, & more. This talk will discuss direct air capture of CO2 from the atmosphere to curb emissions.
March 24, 12–1 pm
Elizabeth Meschewski • Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Weekly Update: Spring Break; M-F from 3/28
Associated Project(s):All, Visitor numbers ticking upward in line with the thermometer—Friday’s snowfall notwithstanding.
We’re closed this week for Spring Break and hitting the ground running when we return. We’ve got Gender Aware Shop Hours on Thursday and our Urbana Parks District event on Saturday. From there it’s back open M-F.
I’ll only be working today and tomorrow before taking a few days for myself. I’ll finish up a few more shop builds during my abbreviated week in advance of warmer weather post-spring break.
The numbers:
Visitors: 23
Sales: $358.55Bike (refurb): 2 for $280
Tire/tubes: 5 for $16Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center CoordinatorSSC Semester Report: InSPIRE Solar Charging Stations
Associated Project(s):SSC received semesterly report for Fall 2021 for InSPIRE Solar Charging Stations project on 12/26/2021. Please see attached.
The Red Oak Rain Garden Team Presents: Mulch Madness
Associated Project(s):Attached is information about the 2022 Mulch Madness competition.
Attached Files:Green Roof Map
Associated Project(s):This link features a map which includes both existing and proposed green roofs on campus.
Weekly Update: Retraining Staff; Spring is coming!
Associated Project(s):All, Warm weather last week brought in a good number of folks. On Friday we even had a wait for repair stands.
Of the seven shop build bikes I safety checked last week zero passed inspection. This’ll be a good opportunity to retrain staff up on what constitutes a safely functional bike.
Elsewhere, it was our first week being mask-optional but elective compliance was near 100% and we had zero conflicts with folks about the change in policy.
This week I’ll finish up the aforementioned seven bikes, interview some prospective employees, and game plan for post-spring break when things are really picking up. Spring is coming!
The numbers:
Visitors: 24
Sales: $567.50
Bikes (refurb): 1 for $170
Memberships: 7 for $210Tire/tubes: 7 for $26
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center CoordinatorBiodiversity Inquiry
Associated Project(s):Stacey Gloss reached out to the iCAP resilience team to ask if Illinois is at lower risk for biodiversity risk due to the fact that "most prairie was wiped out for corn and soy a long time ago".
Jennifer Fraterrigo replied with the following:
Hi all,
This topic falls within my area of interest, so I skimmed the peer-reviewed scientific article that was published in Ecological Applications upon which the NYT article is based. The authors of the paper model and map protection-weighted range-size rarity (PWRSR), a metric that partly reflects the range size of a species. More weight is given to species with smaller ranges, as these species are expected to be more imperiled. In Illinois, we have relatively few endemic species with small ranges; most species found here have relatively large ranges. Consequently, Illinois scores low on the PWRSR metric and does not appear to be a place where biodiversity is threatened.
That is not to say biodiversity is not at risk here. Rather, the approach used in the study puts less weight on the types of species that tend to inhabit (or could inhabit) the region.
If not already on your radar, an excellent resource for understanding biodiversity patterns and biodiversity threats in Illinois is the Critical Trends Assessment, a program supported by the IDNR and managed by the IL Natural History Survey (https://publish.illinois.edu/ctap-inhs/). The Urban Biotic Assessment Program may also be of interest (https://uofi.app.box.com/s/j1826i8uip6farrlxpckqzpa18b6d97e).
Thanks,
Jennifer
Illinois Solar Renewables Resources
Associated Project(s):For Homeowners:
Citizens Utility Board (Community Solar) - https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/solar-in-the-community/
EnergySage - https://www.energysage.com/
Google Sunroof - https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/
IL Solar Energy Association (IL Solar Ambassadors and vendor lists) - https://www.illinoissolar.org/
For specialized organizations:
Midwest Renewable Energy Association - https://www.midwestrenew.org/
Clean Energy Buyers Association - https://cebuyers.org/
Elevate - https://www.elevatenp.org/
Government:
City of Chicago - https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/progs/env/solar_in_chicago.html
Cook County - https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/solar-energy
Illinois Solar for All (Community Solar) - https://www.illinoissfa.com/
Illinois Shines - https://illinoisshines.com/
EPA (Solar Resources) - https://www.epa.gov/statelocalenergy/local-renewable-energy-solar
iSEE Newsletter 03/01/2022
Associated Project(s):
March 1, 2022 
Magazine Features U of I Basalt Project
A University of Illinois team researching the use of basalt rock for "enhanced weathering" of farm fields was recently featured in Anthropocene magazine. Spreading rock dust could boost crop yields and lock up vast amounts of carbon. Researchers Carl Bernacchi, USDA Agricultural Research Service Plant Physiologist; Evan DeLucia, Arends Professor Emeritus of Plant Biology; Ilsa Kantola, soil ecologist and iSEE Visiting Research Scientist; and Stephen Long, Professor of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology, discussed their work with the magazine's Dan Ferber. The Illinois work is part of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation (LC3M) and was funded in 2021 for five more years of studies in the now nearly $3 million project.
ELP Updates: Projects and Visitors
iSEE's Spring 2022 Environmental Leadership Program is rapidly nearing its conclusion. The students and instructors have been meeting since January to hear from governmental and advocacy representatives as well as academic experts — and pursuing their own projects as they prepare to make presentations to local and state government officials. For the latest on the ELP, please check out the blog by iSEE Communications Intern Kratika Tandon, a member of the 2022 cohort!
Plant Model Expert to Highlight Crops in silico Symposium
Registration is open for the 6th Crops in silico (Cis) Symposium and Hackathon on May 11-13, to be held virtually through the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). The keynote will be delivered by Leah Band of the School of Biosciences and School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham, who creates models to gain understanding of plant growth and development. Trained as a mathemetician, Band has collaborated closely with experimental biologists in her work. Stay tuned for more details about the keynote and other presentations by visiting this website, and register here! >>>
Upcoming Events & Opportunities Engineering a Greener Future Mural. Calling all student artists! Help create a mural showcasing sustainability initiatives and green technology research on campus. “Engineering a Greener Future” will be featured in the main gallery of the Siebel Center for Design (SCD) during the Fall 2022 semester. Sponsored by the Student Sustainability Committee and hosted by SCD, the project is designed to put a spotlight on sustainability initiatives like Solar Farm 2.0 and inspire students to participate in sustainable actions! Applications are due Friday March 4! >>>
Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC). Registration is open for ECEC22, co-hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant! Keynote speakers are Scott Coffin, a Research Scientist with the California State Water Resources Control Board; and Abby Hendershott of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Out of an abundance of caution, the conference has moved from a hybrid format to fully virtual. Undergraduate scholarships covering registration fees are available.
Saturday-Sunday | April 27-28, 2022 | RegisterNomination Deadline March 4 for Social Justice Awards. The Diversity and Social Justice Education Program’s Annual Social Justice Awards honor unsung members of the U of I campus and community who have sought to address marginalization, oppression, and/or privilege in their communities. Nominations for outstanding undergraduates, graduate students, staff/faculty members, alumni, and registered student organizations will remain open through Friday, March 4. You can nominate yourself or someone else by visiting this website >>>
Breaking the Plastic Wave: Solving the Plastic Pollution Problem. Plastic has become ubiquitous in our lives, from disposable bottles to microbeads in body washes, and plastic waste is piling up in our terrestrial and aquatic systems. Jim Palardy, Project Director of the Conservation Science Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts, will give an overview of the current trajectory for plastic pollution and highlight a better solution for the environment, the economy, and communities. This Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) webinar is an iSEE-certified green event!
Noon-1 p.m. | Thursday, March 10 | RegisterWatch the Sustainability Training Video! Help our campus reach "herd sustainability" by watching our video and filling out a short survey. You'll learn about everyday actions you can take to get your semester off to a sustainable start and build an environmentally responsible campus! Visit our website to watch now>>>
Green Your Lab With Our New Toolkit! Facilities & Services and iSEE have developed a Greener Labs Inventory Toolkit to help facility liaisons and principal investigators track energy usage in their labs and identify more sustainable practices, such as leaving items unplugged or upgrading equipment. For questions, email mbwhite@illinois.edu.
C4 Social Media Internship Available! The Champaign County Climate Coalition (C4) is looking for several social media/marketing interns to share information, resources, and opportunities with the county-wide community. Applicants must have enthusiasm for climate action and experience with marketing and social media; graphic design experience appreciated. This is an unpaid internship. To apply, email your resume and/or a letter of interest describing your qualifications to Savannah Donovan at sydonovan@urbanaparks.org.
Check out iSEE’s Illinois Sustainability Calendar for a full list of events!
Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment
Suite 350 National Soybean Research Center MC 635
1101 W. Peabody | Urbana, IL 61801
Contact: sustainability@illinois.edu
Weekly Update: New hires
Associated Project(s):All, We’ve got a backlog of bikes in need of test rides/final tune-ups that I’ll happily attend to with the warmer weather this week. We’ve got a new batch of hires starting as well.
This week I’ve got trainings with staff and I’ll start game-planning with my team for our ramped-up programming for March/April. Warm weather = more bikes.
The numbers:
Visitors: 17
Sales: $356.50Bike (refurb): 1 for $160
Build-a-Bike: 1 for $30
Memberships: 2 for $60Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center CoordinatorRed Oak Rain Garden e-newsletter
Associated Project(s):Attached is the Red Oak Rain Garden e-newsletter for January-February 2022:
Attached Files:Terry Guen, TGDA, presentation at TBH
Associated Project(s):Terry Guen’s practice has brought ecology back to communities through high-profile technical projects in landscape and urban design. TGDA is a nationally recognized designer of urban public spaces and ecological landscapes. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, TGDA designed landscapes for Ikenberry Commons and the recently completed Siebel Center for Design.
March 3, 5:30–6:45 pm • 134 Temple Buell Hall (Plym Auditorium), 611 E. Lorado Taft Drive, Champaign, IL.
Conor O'Shea • Department of Landscape Architecture
This opportunity is available online.Stanley H. White Lecture: Terry Guen, Principal and Founder, TGDA
Mason Bee House Workshop
Associated Project(s):Join Piatt County Master Gardener Kent McFarland as he explains the importance of having a Mason Bee House in your garden, and walks you through the steps of building one using recycled and natural materials. Registration is required; $15/person, includes all materials.
March 26, 10–11 am • Registration Deadline: 3/18/22 • Greenhouse Auditorium at Allerton Park & Retreat Center
Olivia Warren • Allerton Park & Retreat Center
Update on Charging Stations
Associated Project(s):From: Robert O'Daniell <rodaniell@att.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2022 5:05 PM
To: White, Morgan; Slezak, Paul
Cc: DeLorenzo, Stacey; Prasad, Sarthak
Subject: I guess I spoke too soon Re: I’m happy to reportThe ChargePoint locations at B4, D22 and E14 are all down. Disappeared from the ChargePoint app and will not charge. (Discovered Sunday noonish at E14 when I failed to begin charge. Standing beside the charger the App said no chargers nearby) Checked the other locations. All three locations have same message on the screen.
Robert K. O'Daniell
Photographer Emeritus-News-Gazette
PO Box 2085
Champaign, IL 61825
217-352-1493Attached Files:Update on Charging Stations
Associated Project(s):From: Robert O'Daniell <rodaniell@att.net>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2022 1:43 PM
To: White, Morgan; Slezak, Paul
Cc: DeLorenzo, Stacey; Prasad, Sarthak
Subject: I’m happy to reportThe chargers at B4 are back - showing up on the Where to Charge apps again. (Began Feb 24th)
The damaged screen still not replaced at D22 ( supply chain issue ? )
On an odd note in the last week or so – I failed in an attempt to charge at E14. Possibly a weather issue and there are indications that others have indeed charged. I have not yet tried again. Possibly a one time issue.
During that attempt I became aware of some kind of issue with 3G on all three of those charging stations. ATT shut down Feb 22 and Verizon and T-mobile will both shut down 3G by the end of the year. All 3 ChargePoint locations indicate “Illini charging / Off network 1” and a warning message. I did drive by and cars are indeed charging at B4 and at D22 in spite of that message.
( images below )
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As a retired person I’ve taken on the project of making it easier for people buy and transition to EVs. And to do what I can to improve the infrastructure needed for the EVs.Robert K. O'Daniell
PO Box 2085
Champaign, IL 61825
217-493-8129Attached Files:Time-sensitive Petition to raise SSC fees by $3.94
Associated Project(s):Note: Deadline was extended to March 1
"Hey guys! The SSC needs your help! We are currently circulating a time-sensitive petition to raise SSC fees by $3.94. We need over 2,000 signatures by February 22! https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/529864641?referrer=https://shibboleth.illinois.edu/
Right now, the SSC collects $14 from each student via the Cleaner Energy Technologies Fee and the Sustainable Campus Environment Fee, which together is called the Illinois Green Fund. This money goes into a pot, and the SSC allocates that pot of money toward student- and faculty-led sustainability projects. This fee hasn't increased in years, despite increases in tuition and national inflation. To continue to adequately support sustainability projects, we need more funding!
If we don't hit our mark, the SSC won't be considered for more funding :( Please please please sign this, promote it on your social media, and send it to your general members." Maria Maring (2-16-2022)
Resilience iCAP Team February Meeting
Associated Project(s):On Friday, February 4th, the Resilience iCAP Team had their first meeting of the semester. The team discussed updates on projects such as the Biodiversity Plan, Local Carbon Offsets and a potential Environmental Justice Reading group. Meeting minutes are attached.
Attached Files:
