Hello all,

 

See attached the notes from our meeting. Happy holidays and happy new year! Thank you,

Sarthak

Sending on behalf of iSEE Director Madhu Khanna:

 

Morgan,

 

The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) is exploring a dedicated building to raise the profile of iSEE on campus and provide space for the institute to grow and expand sustainability research, education and operational support. I would like you to be part of the committee we are assembling to give feedback during the building feasibility study.

 

This committee will help shape the way the physical space can facilitate building multi-disciplinary research teams, hosting classes for the sustainability minor, supporting sustainability student groups, and overall, being a hub for sustainability activity on campus.

 

The feasibility study was recently approved and a design firm has been selected. We anticipate meeting monthly through the Spring semester.

 

If you accept this invitation then you will receive a formal charge letter from VCRI Martinis. You may also delegate this to a colleague or staff member if appropriate. Please respond by December 22. Thank you for your consideration.

 

Elizabeth A. Murphy

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

Sure, no problem.

Morgan White

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1769 (ilga.gov)

This will be fun.

 

Confirming my intention to be retired by 12/31/2029

 

Thank you,

Pete

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

Sarthak, please read the link and provide a short summary for me and Stacey.

Thanks, Morgan

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

Hi Morgan and Stacey,

It just says that by Jan 1, 2030, all new passenger vehicles that a state agency purchases or leases has to be zero emission.

 

Sarthak

Steph and I have been sending ideas on this back and forth for a few days. Wanted to share it as a starting point for our discussion this afternoon.

 

 

Training software - $1000

Swag - $2000

Professional development travel: $4500

Student help: $20,000

Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Food, shirts, recognition: $5,000

Computer, telecom, supplies, PPE, transportation: $1,500

Web presence (link to iCAP portal): $15,000

Total ~$114,000-$124,000

 

Additional considerations

• If soft money, will need to fund fully burdened salary.
• Contingency, escalation and inflation.
• How will materials for initiatives be funded? Initial initiatives include shut the sash stickers, GRP branded equipment timers (swag item, departmental/lab purchase), and reduce/reuse/recycle equipment (shelves, etc.).
• What about new initiatives/pilot programs? Will GRC need to perform costs-benefit analysis and secure funding through other means (e.g., SSC) or include a budget line. For a 5 year pilot this may be irrelevant

 -----------------------

Dear Jeremy and Stephanie,

 

Attached please find a draft budget, per our conversation yesterday.  Please let me know if I need to edit anything and please share the draft with Morgan for her input. 

 

Thanks,

 

Sharee

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

 

Sharee,

Thanks for putting this together! I think it looks good to me.

Jeremy- do you want to share with Morgan?

Steph

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

 

I checked with IT on computer costs. We are no longer charged for phone access. That went away with Skype. Here’s what I received for hardware costs:

 

For the laptop it's a 2880 dollar buy in with 60 dollars a month fees after meaning in 48 months it will pay for the next one. For desktop the structure is the same and is a 1680 dollar buy in with 35 dollar monthly fees. The monitors and dock are included in this cost in both cases (although of course there's no dock on a desktop)

 

I know I missed adding computer(s) for the students. Students are usually provided desktops. I’m guessing we have some in the building that share but in general each student has their own because schedules usually overlap somewhere. If there’s no objections I can add the initial purchase of 2 desktops to FY24 and increase the other years by $70ish to account for the monthly fees.

 

I also think we can probably lower the web presence costs in years 2-5. Maybe $5k in 2-5 for maintenance and minor customizations?

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

 

Jeremy,

 

Thank you for checking into the technology costs.  Your edits work for me. 

 

Sharee

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

Morgan provided comments on the revised budget asking that professional development for FY24 be removed and the full $5,000 for events/recognition in FY24 be included. Those changes along with the charges for computers have been addressed in the attached.

 

Thanks

Jeremy

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

 

Jeremy and Stephanie,

 

I hope you had a great holiday and weekend.  Thank you for providing the revised draft budget.  I don’t have any additional recommendations. I am meeting with Susan Martinis on Wednesday and will confirm the next steps with her.  I’m copying Patty Jones so that she has an opportunity to review the draft budget as well.

 

I’ll follow up with you both after I meet with Susan.

 

Thanks again,

 

Sharee

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

 

Dear Jeremy, Stephanie and Patty,

 

I met with Susan this afternoon and she supports moving forward with the draft budget.  Perhaps the four of us can meet to discuss the next steps with regards to pursuing contributions for the pilot. I’m not familiar with the SSC process.  Susan indicated that these funds should be pursued and that perhaps other units would be willing to contribute to the Pilot.

 

Thanks,

 

Sharee

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

 

I think we should include Morgan White in the discussion. Assuming funding is secured the program will fall under her and she is familiar with the SSC process and other potential funding sources.

 

Thanks

Jeremy

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

 

Thank you, Jeremy,

 

I am copying Jamie Willard to request her assistance in scheduling a 30-minute zoom call with the three of us and Morgan White to discuss the Green Research proposal.

 

Sharee

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

Good morning, All,

 

I have taken a look at calendars to schedule this 30-minute zoom meeting to discuss the next steps with regards to pursuing contributions for the pilot and the SSC process. There is not a clear time that everyone can get together so I am asking for you to fill out the doodle below and see if there is any flexibility to be able to schedule this before winter break.

 

Attendees:

Sharee Robinson

Patty Jones

Jeremy Neighbors

Stephanie Hess

Morgan White

 

 

Thank you for your time in this matter.

 

Best,

Jamie

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

Good afternoon,

 

My apologies on the delay of scheduling this meeting. I have talked to Sharee Robinson and she has confirmed that with the challenging calendars, this meeting can wait until after the winter break. I would like to schedule this zoom meeting for Monday, January 8th 10:30-11:00am.

 

Please let me know if this will not work for you at your earliest convenience. I will be sending an electronic invite with zoom link shortly.

 

Best,

Jamie

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

That works for me. Thanks for coordinating everything Jamie.

Jeremy Neighbors

Hi Andy and Fernando,

 

One of our key research partners for the Illinois Geothermal Coalition is Andy Stumpf (copied here).  He has asked if there are soil borings info for the Chicago campus.  Can you connect him with the right person?

 

“Hi Morgan, Do you have a contact at UIC who would have access to their geotech and soil boring records.. person similar to Beth. I have been asked to help out with the Solar Decathlon project because they are interested in adding geothermal to the design. They plan to design an educational design and innovation center that is on the UIC campus and would occupy the two parking lots at 1198 W Vernon Park PI Parking, Chicago, IL 60607. Soil boring/geotech information for nearby buildings could help the design. I am also mapping Cook County, so this information would also be useful for that project. Would also be interested to know if there are any major water lines in along Harrison Street or I-290. Maybe an opportunity to include wastewater heat recovery.”

 

Thanks!

Morgan

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

Hi Morgan,

 

Thanks for the introduction. Nice to meet you Fernando. I am going to find out from the students who they are working with at UIC.

 

Best,

Andy

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

 

Thanks, it may be Fernando (He is out of the office).

I can pull files related to the 2009 Geothermal wells, but it might help to have a specific question to circulate. IS this accurate: Does UIC have any records of Soil boring/geotech information from past geothermal well drilling?

Regarding water lines – best to assume every where on campus has some utilities under it.  There is likely water on Harrison and Racine,

 

Andy Mitchell 

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

Hi Andy,

 

Thanks for getting back to me. Actually, it would be possible to get access to or copies of the soil borings for all projects on UIC campus, not just the geothermal projects. The Illinois State Geological Survey maintains a database of geological, engineering geology, and geophysical information for the entire state. Here is snapshot for part of the UIC campus with engineering test hole delineated by the red dots and labeled by the total depth of the drilling. The data can be accessed through the ISGS’ ILWATER map service https://go.illinois.edu/ilwater. Currently, only the owner, location, and soil boring logs are available for most of the engineering borings, but we plan in the near future to provide access to the engineering geology data entered from the reports and if allowed by the owner/client a pdf of the scanned documents. The boring locations were digitized from the maps included in the reports or coordinates surveyed and provided with the logs. As Morgan knows, I am working with Facilities & Services here to digitize all the soil borings on our campus and provide them through the ILWATER map service. This effort is being funded as a student project that received a grant from the UIUC Student Sustainability Committee. If you are interested in having the UIC data served in a similar manner, let’s talk some more about how this is being done at UIUC. For much of the data the ISGS on the UIC campus came from research survey geologists or UIUC CEE faculty were involved with on the campus and from consultants involved in the project. Beyond the Illinois Solar Decathlon design project, this data is being compiled for the ISGS project to map the surface and subsurface geology of Cook and DuPage counties. This mapping is being done to update work that was done in the 1940s or early. The data is used to develop the maps and models of the geology which we make available to the public. Below is one of the cross sections we made this year for west to east cross section along Roosevelt Road. We plan by 2028 to have a 3D model of the geology available for Cook County. The mapping project is being funded by the U.S. Geological Survey.

 

Best.

Andy

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

 

Andy – this is exciting stuff and I’m confident we can share the records, once we locate them.

I’m out of the office most of next week, and Fernando is just back and will playing catch up.

When do you need this info by?

 

Andy Mitchell 

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

Hi Andy and Fernando,

 

Getting back to you about the geotech soil borings. I have shared with you the Box folder with the logs found so far. The logs in the files starting with “x” have been plotted and the information is available through the ISGS borings database https://go.illinois.edu/ilwater. The logs in the files starting with “g” have not been entered yet.

 

Best,

Andy

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

 

Thanks for the nudge Andy.

I’ll connect with our manager Dave Taeyaerts about the best way to go about getting this.

When do you need the info by?

 

Andy Mitchell 

Notes from our Campus Sustainability team meeting are attached.

Actions:

Miriam reaching back out to Ball State for more info on their program

Jen reaching out to DIA for a mtg-some direct requests for signage, staff support for recycling collection, getting volunteers

Morgan asked F&S to do an analysis of what could be accomplished with current $$ from carbon credit sales

Ask Daphne to look into options for SFC bins

Morgan would like for Madhu to speak to Paul Ellinger for his perspective on the carbon credit sales

Jen to reach out to Lowa and Alma about water quality testing

Miriam working to set up time with SSLC in Jan for a touch base meeting

-Elizabeth

The Land & Water iCAP team met on Teams from 1-2 PM on Friday, December 1st. The team discussed the meadow at Orchard Downs, revising the iCAP Land & Water objectives, and the development of an IPM plan for non-F&S areas. Meeting minutes are attached.

Hi All,

 

The iSEE advisory committee and Sustainability Subcouncil will meet on November 27. I would like to get a first draft of the slides done by Friday, November 17 so Madhu has time to review it before the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

The Advisory slides on Box: https://uofi.box.com/s/m380tqilie5s4503svndmoot1hbxnftx

 

I have put update assignments in the notes section of the slides, but will also list them here:

Heidi-slides 6,7 (if there is something exciting), 9,11 (Proposal metrics, new proposals submitted, Sust Trans update) Should we add Kyushu in here?

Luis-slides 13, 14 (Critical Conv and Sloan Workshop)

Eric-slides 15-20 (ELP and Gen Ed. Add a slide about the ESG certificate)

Jen/Miriam-slides 22-30 (Waste reduction efforts/DIA engagement and Carbon Credit accounting)

 

Subcouncil slides: https://uofi.box.com/s/241ttyx8bfceor6hzvoqp0c577lykpzx

Jen and Miriam—pull the slides about waste reduction and carbon credits over to this talk also. Make a slide on the Green research (there is a placeholder)

Eric-pull the Gen Ed slides over to this talk and replace the previous version.

 

Thanks,

Elizabeth

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

Hi Elizabeth,

 

I have compiled all the draft subcouncil slides into this version: https://uofi.app.box.com/file/1361429522139

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or changes.

 

Best,

Miriam

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

 

Hi all,

 

Please use the version:

 

Sustainability SubCouncil Nov 2023_11.17.2023_new.pptx

 

https://uofi.box.com/s/cbg4t8nr73ib38sr23i7n8k32uo82lwf

 

Thanks,

Jen

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

 

Hi All

Thanks for putting these slides together in a timely manner. I have a few comments and suggestions below

 

Miriam/Tony

A few formatting edits are needed to improve the look and readability of the slides

1. Remove the top header which says education or campus sustainability on each slide since it is redundant to have it on each slide
2. Instead make the content oriented header which is on the next line the top header and in larger font.
3. Please change font to be at least 20 or more everywhere
4. Add a section break for each change in topic – is this current section header following our latest template? If not would be good to have that.
5. Miriam - Send me the numbers underlying the graphs for carbon credits that you have created
6. Miriam – any idea on how our decision to sell or not would affect our AASHE gold star rating?

 

All- take a look at the two slides I have added at the end and see if you agree.

We have three choices for our recommendation on carbon credits –

stop sales completely

or follow the Ball state example and say that we will stop sales after we reach carbon neutrality, sell our credits in the meantime and not claim any environmental benefit from these reductions in the meantime,

or only sell to entities that are willing to retire these credits and not claim it to achieve their own carbon reduction goals.

 

Thoughts? We can keep it open for now and solicit ideas from the council.

 

If I could have these back by Wednesday then I can go over again and have a final version ready for Elizabeth to send to the Council by Saturday. 

 

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Madhu

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

 

Hi Madhu,

 

Regarding the last slide: Second Nature confirmed at the end of October that we have 10,264 remaining unsold carbon credits. These credits are vintage year 2018, and we haven’t verified any credits beyond 2018. I’m not sure if we can estimate total potential credits if we achieve carbon neutrality as I’ve been told the calculation used is quite complicated, but I’ve reached out to Second Nature to ask if there is any guidance to come up with a rough estimate. Another consideration is how we plan to reach carbon neutrality, and the feasibility of achieving carbon neutrality through emissions reductions alone. It looks like most schools plan to achieve carbon neutrality by buying some offsets.

 

Please see my responses to your other questions below in blue:

 

 

1. Miriam - Send me the numbers underlying the graphs for carbon credits that you have created

The graphs were generated on SIMAP. The attached spreadsheet includes the underlying data. I’ve also included a screen grab below that lays out the numbers clearly.

1. Miriam – any idea on how our decision to sell or not would affect our AASHE gold star rating?

Institutions can earn up to 8 possible points for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the AASHE scoring system. UIUC received 3.15 out of 8 possible points in this category. Carbon credits sold or transferred are accounted for in our total score, so selling carbon credits could reduce the points we earn here. I looked at the report for Ball State, and found they achieved a Gold rating in 2023. Their score for Greenhouse Gas Emissions is also higher than ours at 4.5/8.0. This suggests there are ways to maintain a high score in this area while selling carbon credits.
Our most recent AASHE score is 73.25, and the range for Gold is 65-85, so I do not expect that selling carbon credits would have a strong enough impact on our score to alter our overall Gold rating.

Thanks and please let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Best,

Miriam

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

Hi Morgan,

 

The data from the carbon emissions charts in the subcouncil slides is attached here.

 

-Miriam

Dear Friend of the Reimagine our Future sustainability competition,

 

Thank you for your fantastic support for the 2023 Reimagine our Future competition as a participant, specialist advisor, judge, sponsor, media representative, or interested person. This year we had a record number of 243 participants and 44 submissions from 10 higher education institutions.

The roughly 100 initial judges have reviewed the submissions, provided comments which will be sent to the teams, and selected 12 finalists. (The list of finalists is available below this message.) These teams or individuals will briefly present their projects during an award ceremony on Saturday Dec. 2, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (US Central Time). The winners of nine awards totaling US$7,000 will be announced after the presentations.  

Professor Kelvin Droegemeier will be the guest speaker at this event. UIUC’s Student Sustainability Committee will conduct the ceremonies.

You are cordially invited to join us in-person if you are in the vicinity of the UIUC. The ceremony will take place in Room 4031 of UIUC’s Campus Instructional Facility. We will serve refreshments from 10:45 a.m. and a light lunch after the ceremony.

If you cannot join us in-person, you are invited to join the award ceremony via Zoom:

Please be so kind to respond to this invitation by completing the following poll before Thursday Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. (US Central Time).

Thank you again for your support. We look forward to thanking you on Dec. 2 and are confident that you will be impressed by the students’ outstanding projects.

 

Yours sincerely,

Leon Liebenberg (Teaching Professor, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, UIUC) 

Warren Lavey (Adjunct Professor, College of Law, School of Earth, Society & Environment, and College of Medicine, UIUC) 

Robert McKim (Emeritus Professor, Department of Religion, UIUC) 
Codie Sterner (Coordinator, Student Sustainability Committee, UIUC) 

 

(Reimagine Our Future co-founders and coordinating committee)

 

FINALISTS IN THE 2023 REIMAGINE OUR FUTURE COMPETITION

(In alphabetical order of the team leaders’ last names)

Arshia Ajmera, Keerthana Nallamotu (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Accessible screening for preeclampsia

Muskaan Alimchandani (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Vrddhi Sthan – A brighter future for Dharavi

Brandon Baron, Whitney Fowler, Shito Ito, Ada Moy, Gwynne McGrady (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Parking lot permaculture

Karmyn Flesch, Nadia Wilson, Emily Rhodes, Gabriella Sanchez (University of Illinois, Springfield) – Zero food waste

Amy Jurkowski, Matthew Nowlan, Liesl Schrag, Aiden Sup (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Renewable energy-supported housing and opportunities for immigrants

Iryna Maistrenko (International Humanitarian University, Ukraine) – Organization of organic farming during the war in Ukraine

Margot O'Malley, Tom George, Jasper Nord (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Grounds for nutrition

Manan Sanghavi (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Optimizing resource efficiency by digitizing receipt processes

Jamie Scimeca, Xiang Fei Heah (University of Birmingham) – Light-water small modular reactor

Advay Sudarshan, Patrick Harsono, Jesse Wei, Hugo Ji (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) – Polyester upcycling and fiber composite furniture

Hlib Vakumenko (Vienna University of Economics and Business) – Transform food waste into improved dietary nutrition

Charles Wheeler, Lucas Baronello, Saharra Murphy, Caila Riggs, Michelle Check (University of Illinois, Springfield) – Farm to School: a shared investment for a healthier future