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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  1. Update on Charging Stations

    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 report

    The 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
    217-352-1493

    Attached Files: 
  2. Update on Charging Stations

    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 report

    The 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 )
    ——————
    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
    217-493-8129

  3. Time-sensitive Petition to raise SSC fees by $3.94

    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)

  4. Weekly Update: Uni High Agora Days classes; Maintenance Class

    All, Last week we held our Uni High Agora Days classes from Tues – Fri. It went very well with all the students engaged in learning and tinkering on the bikes. One student even said they’d return to volunteer, which was great. All 3 of the bikes were mostly done by week’s end. We also received some quality donations from a local bike shop and started overhauling those bikes for sale. I’ve also hired a new Program Assistant to help me out off-hours.

    This week I’ll be meeting with the Urbana Parks District to discuss our Maintenance class we’re collaborating on next month and getting more bikes ready for the sales floor. We’ll see how busy we are today with the very warm weather.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 11
    Sales: $91
    Memberships: 2 for $60

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  5. 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education Application Approved by the Arbor Day Foundation

    Associated Project(s): 

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has once again been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA member. Specifically, the Tree Campus High Education program reviewed the Tree Care Plan, in addition to other requirements, to grant our campus the title of an offical Tree Campus. Below is a brief summary of what is needed to obtain this recoginition, each year. 

    "To obtain this distinction, your campus has met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus Higher Education, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for your campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and the sponsorship of student service learning projects. Your entire campus community should be proud of this sustained commitment to environmental stewardship."

     

  6. Weekly Update: Build-a-bike, Uni High Agora Days class

    All, Picked up 4 – 5 bikes from Urbana last week which were promptly claimed as B-a-Bs or tagged for shop builds. This week we have our Uni High Agora Days class coming in Tues – Fri. This will reduce our open hours on Wed/Fri to 4 – 6p.

    I’ll be picking up 5 bikes from Champaign Cycle on Tuesday afternoon, too. That should get us towards a good number of bikes on hand.

    The numbers:

    visitors: 10
    Sales: $324
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $180
    Memberships: 3 for $90

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  7. HVAC and Air Quality Assessment Project Meeting (2-11-2022)

    Dhuvaraj Gambhire and Ali Khan met with Morgan White on 2-11-2022 to discuss how they can acquire a Notice to Proceed and access to the Atmospheric Science Building for testing.

    They will get a quote from Sterling, which will allow them to get a Purchase Order (PO). After they get the PO, they can get a Notice to Proceed and access to the building.

  8. Campus Tree Advisory Committee Meeting - February 2022

    Associated Project(s): 

    On February 10, 2022, the 2022 Campus Tree Advisory Committee met to complete the following:

    • Review the charge letter
    • Discuss the success of the 2022 Tree Campus Plan
    • Plan Arbor Day 2022 events
    • Discuss policy revisions regarding tree damage replacements
    • Discuss the creation of a campus nursery

    See the attached file to read the meeting notes. 

  9. 2022 Tree Committee Formed

    Associated Project(s): 

    The 2022 Tree Committee is now formed.

    Serving on this committee are the following individuals: Kevin McSweeney (chair), Brent Lewis, Morgan White, Ryan Welch, Jay Hayek, Andrew Lamoreux, Eliana Brown, Sinead Soltis, Julia Marsaglia, and Jack Reicherts. In the 2022 Tree Committee Charge letter, Dr. Ehab Kamara defines the responsibilities and duties for the advisory body.

    See the charge letter in the attached files.

  10. Big Ten & Friends Network Event, Exploring University Sustainable Lab Certification Programs

    The following email describes an online session about various Green Lab Certification Programs.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Vandenbergh, Lydia Bodman
    Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2022 8:35 AM
    To: Vandenbergh, Lydia Bodman
    Subject:BTAF Sustainable Lab Programs Presentation and Discussion - Feb 24th

     

    As Higher Education Institutions develop their Climate Action Plans, one opportunity repeatedly arises: culture change in our approach to research. The US Department of Energy estimates that lab buildings consume anywhere from three to ten times the energy and water of administrative and classroom buildings and generate high amounts of single use plastics and hazardous wastes. One question is, how to change the culture without compromising the integrity of the science? 

     

    Members of the Big Ten and Friends Network are encouraged to join together on February 24th at 11am EST to learn how three universities are promoting change in their campus labs using three variations on a green lab certification program.  

    • Ken Keeler, from the University of Michigan, will kick off the meeting describing the University’s decade-long successful program that combines a lab self-assessment and staff visit. Over 200 labs have worked through this program, but it requires substantial staff time. Ken will describe their exploration to tap efficiencies.  
    • Next is Tim Lindstrom, who leads the University of Wisconsin at Madison Green Lab Program, which is similar to the Michigan’s assessment model, but integrates a student internship component to support the labs’ efforts. 
    • University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Nick Ciancio will showcase his four-year effort collaborating with MyGreenLab’s certification program, a unique pilot that UAB is eager to expand. 


    The session will conclude with time for discussion with the panelists. Please register to join in this inspirational presentation and exploration of culture change.  

    Register here  

     

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join meeting. We are purposefully limiting the invitation to BTAF’s members to encourage a fruitful discussion, but we will record the session and make it available to share with other colleges and universities.  

     

    Lydia

     

    Lydia Vandenbergh (she/her)
    Associate Director of Employee Engagement and Education
    Sustainability Institute

    Penn State University

    The Pennsylvania State University campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations.  As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.

    Check out our programs:
    sustainability.psu.edu/greenteams
    sustainability.psu.edu/greenpaws

     

  11. Weekly Update: Restocking bikes and parts for sale

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, With the snowstorm last week, we were closed on Wednesday but were able to reopen on Friday. Visitor numbers took a hit with a foot of snow and whiteout conditions (no surprise there). This week I’ll get some bikes from Urbana (snow derailed that plan last week). We’re down to the dregs of steel-rimmed 3 speed schwinns—bikes I’m not exactly comfortable selling in the dead of winter considering their compromised braking/stopping. Our donations of late have all been Walmart-level, unfortunately. We’ve got about 8 bikes on the sales floor as of now.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 16
    Sales: $180
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tire/tubes: 4 for $30

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  12. Energy Model for Children's Research Center

    Associated Project(s): 

    The following email chain describes Professor Yi requesting energy data and building layout.

    Professor Yi also notes a student's report on the Children's Research Center Building (which is attached below).

     

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Yi, Yun Kyu

    Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2022 10:34 AM

    To: White, Morgan

    Cc: Keller, Thomas Jeffery; Villanti, Joe

    Subject: Re: energy data request

     

    Hi All,

     

    Hope you had a nice break. I like to update you on building modeling.

    We have four Energyplus (DesignBuilder) models that I can share with you.

     

    I had to review the model made by students to make sure they are close to the actual building.

    Currently, I am adding detailed HVAC systems to the model that can be more realistic.

     

    Would you like to get access to the file? I can share the folder with you all. Also, would you like to discuss the next step?

    Here is one of a report done by a student. 

     

     

    Best

    Yun

     

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On Oct 19, 2021, at 9:06 PM, Yi, Yun Kyu wrote:

     

    Hi Morgan,

     

    Thanks to your help, today my class was able to site visit the new Campus Instructional Facility building and new Mech. building.

    Here is a photo of today's visit. Students learned a lot today and I got great feedback today.

     

    Also, I like to discuss some findings from initial energy modeling.

    The BNAACC building is one of the buildings that we are analyzing the energy consumption data. While we compare meter data to energy consumption from simulation results. We observed that the electricity meter is projecting energy consumption exponentially higher than what an average building of such size should be consuming.

     

    I am not sure this building is still in calibration on meter data or something but I will advise having the meter checked. If you need I can send you some of our findings or talk further on this.

     

     

    Best

    Yun

     

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On Aug 12, 2021, at 11:53 AM, Yi, Yun Kyu wrote:

     

    Hi Morgan,

     

    It will be good to get basic drawings like floor plans, elevations, and more specific drawings like HVAC schedule, zoning, section detail, etc.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

     

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: White, Morgan

    Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2021 10:19 PM

    To: Yi, Yun Kyu

    Cc: Keller, Thomas Jeffery; Villanti, Joe

    Subject: RE: energy data request

     

    Hi Yun,

     

    I need to know what building documents you are seeking.  What specifically do you want to see?

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     

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

    MORGAN B. WHITE

    Associate Director of F&S for Sustainability

     Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

     

     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    From: Yi, Yun Kyu

    Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2021 12:48 PM

    To: White, Morgan

    Cc: Keller, Thomas Jeffery; Villanti, Joe

    Subject: Re: energy data request

     

    Hi Marge

     

    I am wondering if we can get these buildings' documents before the semester starts.

    I can ask TA to go over the documents and select documents that need for the class.

    So that we can reduce the number of documents to get approval.

     

    Also, I send an email related to meter data. 

    The Excel file doesn’t have units, could you help me what units were used for the meters.

     

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

     

     

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On Jul 28, 2021, at 1:42 PM, White, Morgan wrote:

     

    Hi Yun,

    Please see attached files. 

    Thanks!

    Morgan 

    -----------

    F&S Sustainability

    iCAP Working Group co-chair

    iSEE Liaison and SSC advisor

     

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Begin forwarded message:

    From: "Ewing, Anthony James"

    Date: July 27, 2021 at 9:13:46 AM CDT

    To: "White, Morgan"

    Cc: "Spurlock, Anthony T"

    Subject: RE: energy data request

    

    Hi Morgan –

     

    Attached is the data you’ve requested.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Anthony

     

     

    ANTHONY EWING

    Utilities and Energy Services 

    Facilities and Services

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

     

     

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    From: Spurlock, Anthony T

    Sent: Monday, July 26, 2021 3:48 PM

    To: Ewing, Anthony James

    Subject: FW: energy data request

     

    Could you handle this data request?  Thanks

     

    Regards,

     

    Anthony Spurlock

    Associate Director of Budget Resources Planning

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

    Facilities and Services - Utilities & Energy Services Division

     

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    From: Spurlock, Anthony T 

    Sent: Tuesday, July 6, 2021 4:27 PM

    To: White, Morgan

    Cc: Yi, Yun Kyu; Roman, Robert Raymond; Keller, Thomas Jeffery; Villanti, Joe; Anthony James Ewing

    Subject: RE: energy data request

     

    Morgan,

     

    End of July should not be a problem.

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

     

    ANTHONY SPURLOCK, CPA

    Associate Director of UES, Budget Resources Planning 

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

    Facilities and Services 

    Utilities & Energy Services Division (UES)

     

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    From: White, Morgan 

    Sent: Tuesday, July 6, 2021 1:41 PM

    To: Spurlock, Anthony T

    Cc: Yi, Yun Kyu; Roman, Robert Raymond; Keller, Thomas Jeffery; Villanti, Joe

    Subject: energy data request

     

    Hi Tony,

     

    We need to provide historical energy data to Professor Yi for his work with us this fall to create building energy models for selected buildings on campus, in his Architecture class.

     

    Can you please have someone on your team provide monthly energy data for the following buildings for the last five years, FY20 to FY16?  Also, if hourly data is available, please provide hourly data for these same buildings for the one year of FY19.

     

    ·       Personnel Services Building

    ·       Speech and Hearing Building

    ·       Children’s Research Center

    ·       Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.

     

    I have created a folder for the related files in Box, which you can access at https://uofi.box.com/s/uc18bm30ysb6fxk7q0e0iwy3hnav99lq.  We would appreciate receiving this information by the end of July, if possible.

     

    Thank you,

    Morgan

     

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

    MORGAN B. WHITE

    Associate Director of F&S for Sustainability

    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

     

     

  13. Request for Historical Energy Data

    Associated Project(s): 

    Morgan White is requesting historical energy data for Professor Yi in order to create building energy models for selected buildings on campus. Specifically monthly energy data is needed for the last five years, FY20 to FY16. Hourly data for these same buildings are needed for the one year of FY19. The buildings are: 

    - Personnel Services Building 

    - Speech and Hearing Building

    - Children's Research Center

    - Brute Nesbitt African American Cultural Center 

    Additionally, requests for basic drawings like floor plans, elevations, as well as more specific drawings like HVAC schedule, zoning section detail etc. were made.

    The link where this data can be accessed is: https://uofi.box.com/s/uc18bm30ysb6fxk7q0e0iwy3hnav99lq

    Professor Yun observed that the Brute Nesbitt African American Cultural Center's electricity meter is projecting energy consumptions exponentially higher than what an average building should be consuming (potentially due to the building being in calibration on meter data).

  14. Weekly Update: more Build-a-Bike available, Uni High Class

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, Surprisingly busy here last week! Sold a bike and if we had more Build-a-Bike frames available, we’d have a quarter dozen or so in-progress. Towards that end I’ll be grabbing some bikes from Urbana this week.

    Our Uni High class is in a couple weeks so we’ll do some internal planning for that event.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 27
    Sales: $357.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $80
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Tires/tubes: 3 for $22

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  15. SSC Semesterly Report: Identifying the Campus Benefits of a Large-Scale Prairie Experiment

    SSC received semester report for Fall 2021 for Identifying the Campus Benefits of a Large-Scale Prairie Experiment project on 1/23/2022. Please see attached. 

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