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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  1. Phase Two Rates - UC Solar

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Urbana-Champaign
    Participate in Regional Green Teams

    The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has accepted the Solar Urbana-Champaign Advisory Committee’s recommendation and contracted with New Prairie Construction to install solar arrays for the second round of our group buy program.  MREA and New Prairie Construction have agreed to an amended fee schedule whereby New Prairie will be providing a rebate which will be paid to program participants who sign a contract for services by August 31, 2017 according to the following schedule: $.03/watt if the program reaches 50-150 kW of total capacity; $.06/watt for 150-250 kW; $.09/watt for installed capacity in excess of 250 kW. 

    Please keep an eye on solarurbanachampaign.com for more info.

  2. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    C-U Bike to Work Day

    All, last week we totaled 99 visitors to the Campus Bike Center (I blame the rain). Our sales were at $1,104. We sold one Build-a-Bike; three refurbished bikes for $570; five memberships for $150; $102  in tires/tubes; and $93 in locks.

    Beyond the numbers, last week was a doozy! We had Bike To Work Day on Tuesday and it was a great success. While I haven’t heard any official numbers, I estimated about 50 or so people at our station. There were 400 official registrants online as of 6am the morning of BTWD. And of course, the chilly and windy weather probably kept a few people home. Lorenzo, a CBC staffer, was interviewed for a Fox Illinois news piece during the event.

    On Wednesday we had a CBC staff meeting/pizza party. 7/8ths of the CBC student staffers were able to make it and we had a  good discussion and reflection on the experiences of working at the Campus Bike Center and how we can improve looking towards the future of the Center.


    On a sad note, Friday I got news that staffer extraordinaire Logan will not be able to work at the CBC this summer, as he’s taking a job up in Minnesota. I will have to scramble a bit to find his replacement (an impossible task, given his skills and familiarity with the Center).

    This week I will be interviewing for summer help, building bikes, checking on our Housing donation racks, and juggling all the weird finals scheduling mess that throws off everyone’s normal shifts for working here.

    Sincerely,

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  3. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, last week was oddly slow at times. We had 110 visitors.  We grossed $956.60. We sold eight memberships for $275; one refurbished bike for $70; one build-a-bike for $96;  and $144 in tires/tubes.

    Last week I prepped for Bike To Work Day, attended a Bike Project Meeting, built bikes and helped organize an end-of-semester lunch get-together for CBC staffers and the TDM team. I spoke with a Parking employee and he expressed a great interest and appreciation for the Housing bike rack program and as of last week we’ve got one donated bike, but again, it’s still well before graduation.  

    I have been getting a lot of questions about summer hours at the Campus Bike Center, which is a little disconcerting for our publicity and visibility on campus. But then again, can’t fault people for being on the academic calendar at a University.

    On this week’s agenda is Bike To Work Day, which promises to be a great day for sustainability and healthfulness! This week will also be the last official BikeFace-operated Friday Ride. While hopefully they will continue in some fashion, they will no longer be organized and put on by BikeFace UIUC.

    Sincerely,

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  9. Real-time meter funding

    Associated Project(s): 
    BIF Greywater Pipe System

    The Business Instructional Facility (BIF) was designed for future use of greywater, which is either recaptured water or raw (untreated) water. Although the building is fed from the potable water supply, there is separate piping for the restroom facilities and similar greywater-viable systems in the building. Data from about potential use of greywater can be very valuable for campus and others to know how much water can a building use for flushing toilets, comparing to the potable water we actually need, such as drinking water. In spring 2017, members of the Water SWATeam submitted a proposal about implementing a real-time water meter to the Student Sustainability Committee, and it got approved. They are working with Facilities & Services (F&S) to purchase the real-time meter and install it. Then this data will be made available publicly, so the students can use them for research or different sustainability questions. 

  12. eGen007 recommendation for second solar farm

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam

    Attached is a recommendation submitted by the EGEN SWATeam for consideration. We believe this recommendation will advance sustainability goals set forth by the 2015 iCAP.

    The EGEN SWATeam appreciates any feedback resulting from consideration of this recommendation.

    Attached Files: 

  13. ECBS SWATeam meeting minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Eco-Olympics
    Illini Lights Out
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    LEED Certification

    On the agenda at the ECBS SWATeam meeting:

    1) Follow up from April 14 Illini Lights Out;

    2) Reports from success of Eco-Olympics;

    3) Continued discussions on Karl’s work with ACES and other buildings;

    4) Energy efficiency standard for UIUC;

    5) Dr. Ximing Cai, new Associate Director for Campus Sustainability came to meet the team;

    6) SWATeam next meeting time and date:  May 11th, from 3:30 to 5 pm. 

     

    Attached Files: 

  15. Morgan Johnston speaks to Parkland Board of Trustees

    Associated Project(s): 
    Guest Speakers for Sustainability Topics
    Solar Farm 1.0
    Participate in Regional Green Teams

    In support of installing solar PVs at Parkland College, Morgan Johnston spoke to the Parkland College Board of Trustees, as requested by their VP of Institutional Advancement and Sustainability Coordinator.  Ms. Johnston shared the benefits and lessons learned from the university's solar farm installation.

  17. Water & Stormwater Meeting Minutes 4/13/2017

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam
    BIF Greywater Pipe System
    Green Roofs on Campus

    Discussion of upcoming joint meeting with Agriculture, Land Use, Food and Sequestration (ALUF) SWAT. Development of ideas for student projects, including georeferenced inventory for F&S, analysis of green roofs and solar panels, and phoshorus monitoring of stormwater. 

    Attached Files: 

  18. 14 hours left!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Eco-Olympics

    Hey teams,

    We have just 14 hours left in the competition. Have an impromptu study hour, post some pictures on FB, get more people to sign up for next year! It's never too late to make an impact.

    As the competition winds down, I want to send out a couple of important reminders.

    1. The goal of Eco-Olympics is behavioral change. Remember to carry the things you've learned with you!
    2. If you still haven't gotten your shirt, its not too late. Just reach out to me.
    3. Tomorrow is the deadline to RSVP for a leadership certificate.
    4. If you had events, SEND ME YOUR ATTENDANCE SHEETS. I can't give you participation points if I don't know you had an event or I don't know how many showed up.

    Thanks for all you've done teams!

    Best,

    Jessica Mondello
    Eco-Olympics | Director

    Think Globally. Act Locally.

     

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