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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  3. Weekly Update: Bike Maintenance 101, Volunteer request, Cold and snow

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Mechanics Classes at the Campus Bike Center

    All, Last Wednesday we had our first  class of the semester: Bike Maintenance 101. We had one attendee, despite the bitter cold and snow, which was great. He seemed genuinely appreciative of the BC and our mission. We were able to use his bike as a tutorial of sorts for some of the basic repairs.
    We had a new-to-the-university student come in on Thursday who has a strong bike interest and background. He expressed interest in volunteering and becoming more involved—always a welcomed response!
    On Friday I grabbed 4 bikes from the warehouse and we will work those up this week. The cold and snow will keep things nice and quiet here, I’m sure.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 5
    Sales: $262
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $200
    Membership: 1 for $30
    Misc: $31

    Thanks!

     

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  6. Energy005 Modeling for Energy Code Compliance - Submitted

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    Energy iCAP Team
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Energy Models for Campus Facilities

    The Energy iCAP team made the following recommendation on 2/11/21. The Energy005 Modeling for Energy Code Compliance recommendation is attached. 

    The aim of this recommendation is to ensure compliance of current and recent projects with State of Illinois Energy Codes and Facilities Standards

    1. F&S will identify a contractor—which may be a student group or include a student group—capable of creating 25 models of building whole energy use in campus buildings. F&S will contract to provide electronic files so they can be run on a common platform such as Trane700, Energyplus, eQuest, DOE-2 or BLAST. Preference will be given to contractors who make maximum use of student effort.
    2. F&S will identify five buildings completed recently but prior to 2019 for which breakdown meter energy use data is available, and five campus buildings currently under construction. F&S may identify buildings for which the required requested model energy files are available, at a cost saving on the project.
    3. The contractor – in collaboration with a student group -- will complete for each of the ten buildings
      1. a model file of the building which follows the Energy Code prescriptive requirements (baseline energy model) in use at the time of construction in order to determine an Energy Cost Budget, (10 files)
      2. a model file of the building as constructed (10 files), and
      3. a determination of the level of compliance with Energy Codes and Facilities Standards in terms of design and construction.
    4. For the five already-completed buildings, the contractor will calibrate the as-constructed model to fit the measured energy consumption data, using historical weather data. The calibrated model (5 files) should replicate actual energy use for a minimum of one year within 5% on a monthly basis and within 20% on a daily basis.
    5. If energy modeling files are available in project files on a common platform listed above, and may be distributed, then this may be considered one of the deliverables, and the work need not be redone, at a cost saving for the project.
    6. The contractor will provide a final report that describes the level of compliance in the ten buildings with the State of Illinois Energy Code (in use at the time of design and construction, as applicable) and Facilities Standards. The energy model files will be made available publicly, and primarily to students and faculty in engineering and architecture for their study.
    Attached Files: 

  8. Energy iCAP Team Meeting Minutes from 2-10-21

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    Building Envelope Pilot Project
    Clean Energy Plan
    Implement Energy Standards
    Improve Space Utilization
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    The Energy iCAP Team had a meeting on Feb. 10th where student member, Brinn McDowell, shared a presentation on calculated energy savings from green lab protocols that could greatly contribute towards energy conservation efforts. Updates were give on the Building Envelope Pilot Project, which is anticipated to start in March with several Energy iCAP Team students participating. Among other topics of discussion were ways to enforce compliance with state energy standards, to cooperate with student leaders across the Engineering, Architecture, and Design disciplines, and to condition vacated spaces in a time of distance-learning and -working. The agenda, meeting minutes, and chat log are attached below!

    Attached Files: 

  9. Meet and Greet Event 2-8-21

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC)

    A re-launch event ("Meet and Greet") of SSLC was held on 2-8-21. See the recording here.

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

    Hello! 

    We are writing to invite you, on behalf of your environmental group, to attend a virtual “Meet and Greet” event on Monday, February 8, from 4-5 p.m. The purpose is to come together to discuss the function, structure, and purpose of the Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC) and relaunch the group. This organization is designed to provide an opportunity for sharing, collaboration, and centralized communication to streamline campus sustainability outreach and programs between student environmental groups and iSEE (Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment). SSLC can also function as a way for RSOs to receive help and support for projects and outreach.

    Key topics that will be discussed: 

    • What is the purpose of the SSLC? 
    • How can the SSLC benefit student groups and what is the benefit of participation?
    • Who should be a member of the SSLC?
    • How should the SSLC be structured and led?

    Your input and participation are essential to the success of this group and anyone is welcome to attend. We hope to see you at this discussion on February 8. Let us know if you have any questions, comments, or feedback in the meantime. See you soon!

  10. Weekly Update: Bike Maintenance 101

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Slow week, of course. Housekeeping abounded: student staff meeting, an interview, safety checks.

     

    This week we have our Basic Maintenance 101 class on Wednesday evening. Other than that, it’s business as usual. The extreme cold will likely keep people away but this week also marks a relaxing of COVID restrictions, so we’ll see how those two balance each other out.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 10
    Sales: $105
    Misc: $60

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  11. Meeting with project leader and F&S

    Associated Project(s): 
    Meadow at Orchard Downs

    Izabelle Jaquet met with Morgan White and Brent Lewis at F&S to talk about the steps forward for the meadow at Orchard Downs project.  Izabelle is the project leader, in the RSO, From the Ground Up, which meets weekly on Sundays.  She had previously talked with Jamie Ellis (from INHS) and Eric Green (the RSO's advisor), after taking over the project when Nicole Gamble left campus.

    We shared related files, including the attached file Brent had from a discussion with Housing back in 2019. We also discussed possible opportunities for collaboration, with groups like Red Bison and the Master Naturalists. There is also a possiblity that From the Ground Up may request a scope change to focus on a smaller section of the low-mow zone and a schedule extension due to the difficulty with coordianting events during the pandemic.

    Izabelle is going to work with her group to finalize their list of proposed plants, reach out to potential collaborative partners, and identify who should be included in a follow up call with F&S and INHS in late February. 

    Attached Files: 

  13. Res002 Biodiversity Plan - Submitted

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    Resilience iCAP Team
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Urban Biodiversity Master Plan

    The Resilience team made the following recommendation on 2/3/2021: 

    Lisa Merrifield at U of I Extension should coordinate the development of an urban biodiversity master plan for the local urbanized area of Urbana, Champaign, and Savoy, with broad stakeholder input and direct faculty/researcher involvement.

    Attached is the Res002 Biodiversity Plan recommendation. 

    Attached Files: 

  14. Local Solar projects shared at CCNet brownbag

    Associated Project(s): 
    Champaign County Sustainability Network (CCNet)
    Solar Power on Campus
    Solar Farm 1.0
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Solar Urbana-Champaign

    CCNet hosted several local solar panelists in January 2021. This Zoom meeting was also shared via Facebook Live:

    https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=429039901765435&ref=watch_permalink

    Join the CCNet mailing list to gain access to the Zoom and stay connected. http://eepurl.com/g8IM

    (video link corrected on 2-2-2021)

  15. Campus Tree Advisory Committee: February 2021 meeting notes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Attached are the notes from the February general meeting of the Campus Tree Advisory Committee. 

    Topics discussed included a suscessful submission of our 2020 tree care plan, the trees on campus that are potental award winners for their size, and planning for this year's Arbor Day celebrations. 

    Attached Files: 

  16. Weekly Update: Prospective student employees

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Things were uncharacteristically busy at the tail end of last week, highlighted by two prospective student employees coming in. They were both really excited by what we do here at the Bike Center. Always good to see enthusiasm and it was a nice glimpse of hopefully where we’ll be post-pandemic: fostering enjoyment, excitement and knowledge about bikes!

    Got a student staff meeting, interview, and bikes to build this week.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 14
    Sales: $371.50

    Memberships: 1 for $30
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $200
    Misc: $18

    Thanks!

     

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  17. Scope Change for Pollinator Awareness Sign

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Bee Campus USA

    The following scope change was submitted to SSC for the Pollinator Awareness Sign:

    Originally, there were no signs at all on campus showing how pollinator friendly the campus is. Now there are four; and the University is now considered part of Bee Campus USA. Now we want to add a bigger sign outlining the bee campus student organization, progress the campus has made, and changes the university implemented to be more pollinator friendly. This sign will include an acknowledgment of the SSC funding for the signs and for several of the pollinator friendly plantings around campus.

    The funding does not need to be increased, but we are requesting a schedule extension of one year.  The design of the sign is anticipated to take at least one month, so that students can assist with the content development, then the sign will be ordered, and since it may be winter –time when the sign is ready for installation, we may not be able to install it until the spring thaw. Please approve an extension to May 2021.

     

    Read the Scope Change in its entirety in the attached files below.

    Attached Files: 

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