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  1. Arboretum Native Plantings Award Letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Native Plants at Arboretum
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The University of Illinois Arboretum has historically showcased formal displays of annual ornamental plants and selected trees. There is increased interest in developing plots and displays of native plants, especially those that are beneficial to pollinators. This project will introduce a variety of such native plants into several settings at the Arboretum. The Arboretum intends to use the plantings as an outdoor laboratory that will be used for formal and informal education about the role of native plants in provision of ecosystem services such as pollination adn improving soil quality. The experience gained will lay the ground work for future expansion of the concept including large plantings within selected locations and patches of clearly labeled plants that will allow visitors to learn their names and characteristics.
    The plantings will also provide physical examples of how small plantings can be used in personal and commercial landscapes. The use of perennial native plants will help the Arboretum assess the potential to save money and other resources by using more plants that do not have to be repurchased and replanted annually. The native plants along with improved habitat conditions will support a large number of local pollinators and other insect and bird species that are increasingly threatened by loss of habitat, and provide an instructional resource for university classes and local schools.

    Attached Files: 

  2. Award Letter - Biomass for Vermicomposting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Vermicompost
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The SSC awarded the Sustainable Student Farm a grant in 2013 to build a transplant greenhouse that also housed a vermicomposting pilot porject with Dining Services. This was meant to test the feasability of collecting pre-consumer food waste from the Dining hall facilities and converting it into worm compost for use on the student farm. In its first year of operation the greenhouse has been heated soley from propane, which is the most common and simplest heating system for these types of greenhouses. The nature of the worms used in this type of composting require an ideal temperature range of 40-80F. In order to attain this, the greenhouse needs to be heated during the winter months.

    In 2014 the greenhouse consumed approximately 1600 gallons of propane for heating. At an average price of $2 this equals $3200/year in heating costs. By comparison if the biomass furnace is used and can replace 80% of the heating requirements that would only cost $1664/year in heating costs. The main reaplacement fuel would be #2 Shell Corn @ 15% moisture. This is readily available in the midwest and costs on average about $3.5/bushel. It would take about 366 bushels of corn to replace the BTU’s provided by the propane. The nature of managing the biomass furnace would allow us to replace only 80% of the heating requirements for the greenhouse. Future development of these furnaces could one day replace the requirement completely. However, the propane system will be kept as a back up.

    Attached Files: 

  3. Award Letter - Demo Cargo Bike

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Departmental Bike Sharing

    The idea for the project came after noticing most trucks on campus are only hauling small loads compared to the capacity they were made for. We believe we could switch many transportation tasks over to human powered vehicles. We are hoping we can use a demonstration cargo bike to show different departments how they can use sustainable transportation rather than large fossil fuel powered trucks. We want the departments to see how useful cargo bikes can be and then buy their own. This would not only save money, reduce pollution and congestion, but open up opportunities for student workers who do not have driver’s licenses to do these tasks. This would open up more jobs for students on campus as well as let them participate in sustainable transportation which they could then take and implement after they graduate.

    Attached Files: 

  4. Award Letter - IFSI Filtration

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Fire Service Institute: LEED Silver
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This project is aimed at ensuring that water runoff from firefighter training at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute is not introducing carbonaceous material into a nearby stream. This project will improve sustainability in that the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute will ensure that water leaving the training ground is clean and non-turbid. Doing so will avoid violating the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, and will allow IFSI to continue to serve the over 60,000 students it reaches annual on the campus in Champaign and throughout Illinois. It will exceed campus standards because this project is a proactive solution, focusing on solving a problem that has not yet resulted in an EPA citation, local complaint, or significant environmental issue. This project addresses improvements necessary to ensure that only clean water is discharged. Other solutions have been investigated, and this solution has the broadest support and is the most complete solution.

    Attached Files: 

  5. Award Letter - Makers Bike Seat

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The Makers UIUC Bike Seat Project is a student-centered venture to design, produce, and distribute an environmentally-friendly and economical bike seat cover in order to promote biking on campus. By providing a way of protecting bicycle seats, we are addressing the problems of biking in adverse weather conditions. Our intention is not only to design a product made with environmentally friendly materials, but to encourage the use of eco-friendly transportation as a whole.

    Attached Files: 

  6. Award Letter - Solar Car

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This project is to build and test a scaled-down prototype of the electrical system of a solar car. The major parts of this prototype are the solar array, maximum power point trackers (MPPT), rechargeable batteries, and a load. The solar array will be made of flexible silicon crystalline solar cells encapsulated (to protect from debris and enhance performance) and mounted on a contoured composite panel that mimics the surface of our car body. The applicant will design and build our own MPPT which is a variable DC/DC boost converter that raises the voltage of their array. The MPPT has a feedback loop control to ensure maximum output from the array under different insolation and temperatures. The rechargeable batteries will be Li-ion batteries that will act as a buffer energy source when sunlight is not available or is insufficient to power the system. Although Li-ion batteries have a high energy density, they require a battery management system to ensure safe and optimal operation. Thus, they will purchase a battery management system that is suitable for our car. Lastly, the energy generated by the solar array will power a load, which will be a motor planned to be borrowed from another team.

    Attached Files: 

  7. Layout of Demonstration Plots

    Associated Project(s): 
    Native Plants at Arboretum

    Here is the layout of the 4 prairie plots just west of the pollinatarium building and wooded area.  They are designed to give decision makers and homeowners an idea of how prairie plantings of different heights can look.

    The plant mix is good for pollinators and will have something in bloom most of the growing season, it was however limited by what we could get late in the late spring. 

    ~John C. Marlin, PhD, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Attached Files: 

  8. bike warehouse cleanout

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Michelle,

    I have removed all bikes from the warehouse.

    James

    From: Wahl, Michelle
    Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 6:27 PM
    To: Roedl, James M
    Cc: Johnston, Morgan B; DeLorenzo, Stacey; Calloway, Jason Robard; Wise, Michael Anthony
    Subject: Re: Bike Pick Up!

    That is awesome thanks for the quick reply! I will let Kari know tomorrow! 

    Michelle 
    Sent from my iPhone


    On Apr 28, 2015, at 5:18 PM, Roedl, James M wrote:

    Michelle,

    I can work with Kari and should be able to get all of those bikes out by Friday the 1st.  If that works for you.

    Thanks,
    James

     

  9. Community Arbor Day Proclamation 2015

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Hello Campus Tree Advisory Committee,

    Tomorrow is the Arbor Day Celebration on the Main Quad at 11:30.  The signed proclamation is attached here.  Please also welcome our newest committee member, Maggie Thomas, a student volunteer. 

    We are working to spread the word about the event tomorrow, so please remind your friends and coworkers to attend.  Please join us if you are able! 

    Thanks,

    Morgan

    Link to benefits from Trees: http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/resources/benefits_trees.pdf

    Thank you Email and invitation:

    Mayors:

    Thank you for your staffs help in preparing for our first Arbor Day on campus.  Mike Brunk, in Urbana, has been very helpful with coordinating the joint proclamation with Urbana, Champaign, and UIUC.  We intend to hold a celebration on April 24 at 11:30 on the Main Quad by the Henry Administration Building.  Mike DeLorenzo will read the proclamation, our staff will share a short explanation about the benefits of trees, students from Uni High will be there supporting the event, and then our Grounds division will plant a new tree.  There will also be a trivia contest for the attendees, and we will hand out white pine saplings.   

    I know your schedules are very busy but I hope that you will be able to stop by during our celebration, and we would be happy to share information about your Arbor Day events as well.

    Thanks;

    Al Stratman

    Executive Director, Facilities & Services

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    1501 S. Oak Street, 135C PPSB, M/C 800

    Champaign, IL 61820-6905

    (217) 333-2500

    Attached Files: 

  11. Quad Day registration

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    From: quad-day@illinois.edu [quad-day@illinois.edu]
    Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 1:03 PM
    To: Roedl, James M
    Subject: Quad Day Registration Confirmation

    This is to confirm that we have received your 2015 Quad Day registration. However, this does not guarantee you a spot for Quad Day until a balance check has been done on your credit card or RSO account.
    If you have any questions, please email quad-day@illinois.edu.

    Organization Name: The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign
    Organization Type: Non-Profit, Community Organizations
    Primary Name: James Roedl
    Primary Phone: 217-244-1196
    Primary Email: jmroedl illinois.edu
    Second Contact Name:
    Second Contact Email:
    Payment Type: CreditCard
    Payment Amount: $28.00

  13. Arbor Day celebration information

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Arbor Day Celebration Plan

    MBJ 4/3/2015

    Arbor Day Celebration: In support of designating the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a Tree Campus USA through the Arbor Day Foundation, the Chancellor is proclaiming Friday April 24, 2015 as a day of celebration.  An Arbor Day Celebration will occur on the Main Quad at 11:30, with the planting of a new tree near the Henry Administration Building.  Please join Associate Chancellor Mike DeLorenzo to hear the proclamation, watch the tree planting process, and participate in a fun trivia game to earn a personal tree sapling.

    Location of the Event:  The tree location is circled in orange on the aerial image below.  The area for the celebration is designated in orange as #8 on the map image below, in front of the Henry Administration Building.

    Schedule of the Celebration:  There will be a hole pre-dug for the tree on Friday morning.  The hole will be fenced off to prevent the danger of falling.  Everything for placing the tree (equipment, tree, soil) will be placed near the tree location by 11:15.  A podium, sound system, and table for the trivia game will be in place and arranged by 11:15.  The official event agenda will occur from 11:30-12:30.  Take down of the event items will occur early afternoon.

    Agenda for the Celebration:  The agenda includes a welcome, proclamation, speech, tree planting, and trivia game.

    • Welcome by Carl Wegel 5-10 minutes
    • Proclamation by Mike DeLorenzo 5-10 minutes
    • Speech about trees by Brent Lewis/Ryan Welch 10 minutes
    • Placing of the tree into the hole by Grounds crew 15-30 minutes
    • trivia game facilitated by volunteers with prizes (hopefully seedlings) during the tree placement and through remainder of the hour

    Publicity for the Celebration: The event will be listed on the Earth Week calendar of events from SECS and iSEE.  F&S will send out a press release and an e-week.  Invitations will be sent to sustainability groups and appropriate academic departments.  Al Stratman will invite people to the event, during the Earth Day master plan presentation.

    Attached Files: 

  14. iCAP Working Group Agenda for 4/2/2015

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Reduce Emissions from Transportation
    Develop Scenarios for Converting the UI Fleet to Renewable Fuels
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Appropriately Staff Sustainable Transportation Efforts
    Appropriately Staff Zero Waste Efforts
    Waste Stream Characterization Study Phase 1

    Dear iCAP Working Group Members,

    As a reminder, we will be meeting this Thursday at 1:30 (and also next Thursday, 4/9, at 1:30).

    This week we will discuss the timeline for completing our work on the iCAP, and then turn our attention to the 7 attached formal recommendations we've received from the Transportation and Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeams.  Please review these in advance of the meeting, so that we can discuss them most efficiently.  If you will not be able to join us due to a schedule conflict, please email me in advance if you have any particular concerns.

    Next week (4/9), we'll be joined by Kent Reifsteck and Mike Larson from F&S, and also Scott Willenbrock from the Energy Generation SWATeam, so that we can discuss what the iCAP should say about charting a pathway for clean energy for our campus.

    Thanks,

    Ben

    Professor Benjamin J. McCall

    Associate Director for Campus Sustainability Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus-sustainability@illinois.edu

    Attached Files: 

  17. Vermicompost update from Matt Turino

    Associated Project(s): 
    Vermicompost
    Sustainable Student Farm

    Yes it is implemented and we are currently getting 3-6 40 gallon bins of food waste a week from Busy Evans and harvesting vermicompost out of the bottom.  We are still perfecting our technique for sure, for a while we were letting it get a little too hot for the worms which made them eat less than they would otherwise because they couldn't be in the zone where the food waste was due to the micro-organismal composting causing high temperatures.  Then we were making it too dry and now it's too wet, so we are still perfecting our vermicomposting skills but it is getting better for sure!

  19. Status of F&S truck availability

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI)

    F&S Garage and Car Pool had provided IBI with a truck that could be used for moving waste vegetable oil as well as biodiesel.

    Unfortunately the truck that was used has been transferred to another department. At this time I am not aware of any other suitable truck becoming available. The University's fiscal situation is such that it is highly unlikely that another truck will be available in the near term.

    Collection and transportation of the biodiesel requires tanks and pumps. The size can vary depending on scale, but the equipment is needed regardless for efficiency. 

  20. Notes from discussion with Mike Brunk, City of Urbana Arborist

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Morgan Johnston spoke with Mike Brunk with the City of Urbana about the Arbor Day Celebrations held by the City of Urbana in previous years. 

    • The tree planted on the west side of Follenger Hall was for the tenth anniversary of Urbana’s Tree City designation in 1986.
    • Urbana does a proclamation that the Mayor reads, usually signed by the Mayor of Urbana and the Mayor of Champaign. Urbana facilitates it,and they could add UI.
    • They work with the park district, and build trees in the parks, invite a particular school with one or two grades.  They pre-plant the trees and have mulch piles, so the kids get to mulch the tree. Talk about the eco benefits of trees with a barrel of water and a five gallon bucket and a milk jug. 
    • It is actually bird and tree day.  Entertain the kids, proclamation from mayors, newspaper, and event for kids.  Tree planting of some sort and an acknowledgement.
    Attached Files: 

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