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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  1. Weekly Update: Getting busier, fixing bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, We’re definitely getting busier as we creep closer to “Everyone Rides” weather.
    Highlight of the week was a dad and daughter coming in with the daughter’s bike. Bad freewheel so we took it apart and cleaned/re-greased it. That kid was into it! She was eager as all get-out, loved every step of the process, refused dad’s help on multiple occasions, and wanted to know all the names of all the bike parts. A model visitor. Dad loved our education/recycling mission and shared a disheartening story about government-mandated lawnmower obsolescence.

    Elsewhere, I got some IT things sorted out that will help the bike center run more smoothly, picked up some bikes from the warehouse, and hired a new employee to help in advance of the warm/busy times.
    This week I’ll have the aforementioned employee start, host a staff meeting on Wednesday evening, and sit in on the SSC Coffee Hour for Transportation & Infrastructure on Thursday.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 16
    Sales: $511
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $180
    Misc: $88

     

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  2. large sign frame arrived

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA

    The large sign frame for the Bee Campus signage was delivered to campus today.

    CUSTOM DOUBLE CANTILEVER DISPLAY (45 DEG)

    Vendor: @03979410 DRM INDUSTRIES CORPORATION

    Workorder: 10845244-001

  3. New compost tumbler at NSRC!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Compost at National Soybean Research Center (NSRC)
    Food Waste Reduction

    Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In an effort to be more “green” today and every day, we now have a compost tumbler on the west side of the National Soybean Research Center, thanks to SSC funding. This is the first publicly-accessible compost drop-off on campus!

    Please feel free to take advantage of this opportunity to sustainably dispose of your fruit/vegetable scraps (without stickers), tea bags, coffee grounds/filters, eggshells, shredded paper etc. While this 60-gallon compost tumbler is housed at the NSRC building, this drop-off opportunity is available to all. Simply unscrew either end of the tumbler and drop your items inside. Attached are several photos of the location and setup, as well as a list of the acceptable/unacceptable items. 

    The end-product will ultimately be used to fertilize a pollinator garden at NSRC. More details to come. 

    Attached Files: 

  4. Weekly Update: Busy week!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Monday of last week we were as busy as we’ve been since March 2020—if not longer. Warm and sunny tends to do that. I’m sure our new signage isn’t hurting things! Friday picked up as well. We even had someone waiting in the lobby for an open repair stand. It’ll be nice when we can space the stands a little closer and fit a few more in the workshop.
    Last week I interviewed for a potential new hire and a different new hire started last week. He hit the ground running, which was really great, and needed.
    We got TBP some keys to help handle the scrap parts, so that will keep things cleaner around here. On Friday maintenance guys installed garage hook racks from which to hang wheels. I’ve already hung a bunch of wheels up which both makes the wheels more accessible and keeps the space looking cleaner/safer (no one can trip on wheels if they’re not on the ground)!

    This week we’ve got a couple drop-off repairs to handle, some bikes to grab from the warehouse, and some training to do with staff to prep them for busier times.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 29
    Sales: $311
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $200
    Membership: 1 for $30
    Misc: $46

     

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  5. The Red Oak Rain Garden Team announces Mulch Madness plant competition

    Associated Project(s): 
    Red Oak Rain Garden

    The Red Oak Rain Garden Team announces Mulch Madness plant competition

    Mulch Madness is a fun way to learn more about native plants found at the Red Oak Rain Garden. To enter, send completed brackets to redoakraingarden@gmail.com by 11 am Tue, Mar 16. Games begin that same day at noon on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Brackets, rules, and more details are at the link above. The winning bracket receives a $20 gift certificate to the local business of their choice.

    Eliana Brown • University of Illinois Extension/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

    baseline_wifi_black_18dp.png This opportunity is available online

  6. Red Oak Rain Garden Monthly Newsletter: March 2021

    Associated Project(s): 
    ICECF Grants
    Red Oak Rain Garden

    Each month, the Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) Team produces an e-newsletter to keep supporters updated on everything that is happening in the garden. In the March 2021 e-newsletter, the team highlighted RORG's participation in podcasts, partnerships for grants, volunteer opportunities, and more!

    To read their March 2021 newsletter, please see the attached file below.

    Attached Files: 

  7. F&S March 2021 Insider: Solar Farm 2.0 & Geothermal Energy

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Geothermal at the Campus Instructional Facility (CIF)
    Illinois Geothermal Coalition

    In its March 2021 edition, the F&S Insider addressed two of UIUC's innovative sources of energy: Solar Farm 2.0 and Geothermal Energy. The story highlights the origin, installation, and wide array of benefits stemming from the projects.

    To read this story in-depth, please see the attached file below.

    Attached Files: 

  8. Meeting with Joyce, Nynika, and Morgan

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Net-Zero Energy Building

    We met today to discuss the plans for the ECE Net-Zero Energy certification.

    • Joyce and Nynika found that we had lost access to the certification site, so Joyce is going to work with the certification agency to get us back into their system.
    • Joyce and Morgan agreed that based on the feedback from the certification agency, we will need to wait for the official designation until the Solar Farm 2.0 has been live for a year.
    • Nynika is going to review the guidebook (attached here) and their website FAQs (at https://support.living-future.org/collection/59-help-desk) to help us clarify the expected answers to the certification questions.
    • Morgan checked the building records and found a site plan and the 3d renderings.
    • Joyce will look for some building photos to include and send them to this group.
    Attached Files: 

  9. Progress meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Meadow at Orchard Downs

    Izabelle, Morgan, and Brent met to discuss progress on the Meadow at Orchard Downs. Izabelle is going to select the preferred tools to purchase, and meet with Morgan on site on Sunday, 3/14/21, to put stakes around the outline of the first section to work on. Brent is going to get a work order set up to be able to place orders.

  10. Weekly Update: Things picking up, second staffer

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Things picked up a little on Thursday/Friday last week as the weather began to turn. We also had two drop-off repairs come in, a Kids Bike Giveaway donation, a bike sale, and a membership sale. Todd from TBP picked up some scrap, which was super helpful. I’m working on getting him a key so he can stay on top of our scrap pile.

    This week is projecting to be warmer and accordingly, I’ll bring on a second staffer for hours for Mon, Tues, Wed. I’ll make arrangements to grab some bikes from the warehouse, as well, since we’ve worked through our current bikes. Now we just need to sell them so we’ll have space for more.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 17
    Sales: $311
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $200
    Memberships: 1 for $30
    U-lock: 1 for $21
    Tire/tube: 4 for $15
    Misc: $45

     

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  11. Resilience iCAP Team Meeting Minutes from 3-02-21

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Vision Zero
    Education iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    Environmental Justice Plan
    Local Sustainability Issues

    The Resilience iCAP Team met on March 2nd, 2021 with Vision Zero representative Stacey DeLorenzo to discuss how can the team can help accomplish zero fatalities from transportation in our communities. Updates were given on the Environmental Justice and Urban Biodiversity Plans, as well our ongoing collaboration with the Education Team to develop a sustainable communities paid internship program. The team also brainstormed ideas for how to move forward with identifying major local sustainability issues.

    Meeting minutes, agenda, and chat log are attached!

     

    Attached Files: 

  12. First Team Meeting for Building Envelope Pilot Project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Building Envelope Pilot Project
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) with Second Nature

    The Building Envelope Pilot Project team held the first of three large meetings planned for the Building Envelope Pilot Project, which is funded in Spring 2021 with the SSC and Carbon Credit Sales funding. F&S, ICRT, and a student representative met to confirm the scope for the thermal imaging and blower door testing. We started with introductions of the team members and a general voerview of the pilot project.  Then ICRT leadership provided background information about ICRT, envelope commissioning benefits and processes, and initial expectations for the requirements to complete this project at the Transportation Building. At the end of the call, we defined next steps for getting the thermoimaging vendor on contract, specifying the equipment needs for the blower door testing, and scheduling the actual testing day. A tentative date to consider is April 13th, which is a non-instructional day this spring.

  13. Net-Zero Energy meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Net-Zero Energy Building

    During the first meeting, Morgan gave Nynika (undergraduate volunteer) an overview on details relating to the certification including RECS and how the certification program works. Her next steps include:

    • Writing up a small spiel for the International Living Future Institute as to why we would like to use the "use data" from the calendar year of 2020 with the production data from 2021 towards the certification.
    • Looking through the Living Institute's certification requirements and understanding what information is needed and where to find it.

    The next meeting will be on March 10th.

  18. Weekly Update - Fix-a-flat

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Fairly slow week even with the “warmer” weather. Had our first fix-a-flat class for the semester but no takers, unfortunately.

    This week I’ll finish up the Bike Center history piece for marketing and have a training scheduled with a new staffer on Thursday evening. I’ll pick up some more bikes as well since we’ve worked through all the bikes in the shop, already. We’ve exceeded designated capacity for bikes already but the more we build, the more we can sell when it gets warm—hopefully.

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 12
    Sales: $208
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Misc: $52.50
    Tire/tubes: 3 for $22

     

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

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