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Project Updates for collection: Campus Sustainability Tour

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  1. Renewable Energy Program award application

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award [ARCHIVED]
    Use Clean Power
    Solar Farm 1.0

    F&S submitted an application for the 2016 Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award, on behalf of the Renewable Energy Program on campus and the Solar Farm.  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is proud of its sustainability initiatives, and Facilities & Services (F&S) is honored to support the campuswide Illinois Climate Action Plan. One of the most important and challenging initiatives is a shift from conventional energy to a future of renewable energy.

    F&S is submitting this application to the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award for the Renewable Energy Program and specifically the new 20-acre Solar Farm. Five major Renewable Energy Program projects have been implemented since signing the Climate Commitment in 2008. The first Renewable Energy Program project was a 32.76 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof of the Business Instructional Facility. The 14 kW PV array at the Building Research Council is a research platform for the Illinois Center for Smarter Electricity Grid. Solar thermal panels on the Activities and Recreation Center roof heat the swimming pools. The fourth project was the purchase of 20,000 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from Midwest Independent Systems Operators (MISO) wind power in April 2014. The most significant project went into commercial operation in December 2015, with the completion of the 5.87 megawatt (direct current) Solar Farm. The Solar Farm will produce an estimated 7,860 megawatt-hours annually and is expected to generate up to 91% of its original output even in Year 20 of the project. F&S is monitoring the efficiency of the Solar Farm, compared to the design specifications, and in February 2016 the Solar Farm produced 100.2% of the anticipated electricity for that month.

    Attached Files: 

  2. Circular Economy Fall 2015 Agreement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Student Farm
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The Sustainable Student Farm (SSF), has been growing sustainably produced vegetables for the U of I campus community since 2009. Since 2012, Fresh Press (FP) has been producing paper from agricultural waste like soybean stalks and prairie grass, including much of the waste from SSF.

    This project deepens the connection between SSF and Fresh Press while expanding their offerings to the community. In addition to expanding the current paper production, this project will also allow for the creation of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at the Sustainable Student Farm, increasing the farm’s ability to sustain itself financially. Through employing students while selling their products to the campus and the community, this proposal ultimately truly creates a circular and sustainable economy on campus while furthering campus sustainability goals.

    Attached Files: 

  3. Arboretum Site Clearing and Native Plantings (2016) Agreement

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

    The former forest research area south of the main Arboretum grounds (near Lincoln Avenue and Windsor Road) has been neglected for over 20 years and has largely been overtaken by invasive plantings that have forced out the native flowering forbs and bushes that normally occur in healthy woodlands – leaving instead honeysuckle, which is unpalatable to almost all native insects and mammals.

    This project clears out the invasive species and begins the replanting efforts to restore native species to the area. Not only does this improve biodiversity around campus, but it also serves as an important educational opportunity for current students to witness the restoration process firsthand.

    Attached Files: 

  4. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Hello all, last week was great...I was on vacation for most of it.  We were only open the one day but we did well.  We sold 2 bikes for $130, and grossed $318.  Nothing of note happened.

    This week I will be receiving the 2016 LTN lights, storing them somewhere, coordinating with Lily and what I need to get done for the event.  We will be preforming tasks, dividing tasks, and discussing roles roles covering topics as advertising and volunteer coordination since Lily has not work on LTN before.  I will also be getting ready for the students coming back, by assembling new student hand outs and talking to Lily and Officer Hawk about possible what to do after a crash materials. 

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  5. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Hello all, this past week was interesting.  We have busy mornings and slow, easy open hours.  This was great because it allowed us to get more back end work done during open hours.  We were able to sort hundreds of parts that had recently been donated, clean the shop, and make about 300 new student bike packets during open hours.  We sold 3 bikes for $400, 3 memberships for $90, and grossed $1391.50.  The shop was able to successfully switch over to the new membership cost, membership cards, and pricing structure.  I was able to complete the ordering of the LTN lights and the lights are on their way here.  I was finally able to order the filters for the sandblaster.  I have not been able to get an exact date for shipping, but we should be ready for more intensive use by fall.  We have held 2 basic classes on Thursdays and they have had 2 students apiece.  The topics were ABC Quick Check, and Everything You Wanted to Know About Cables and Housing. 

    This coming week we will be closed Tuesday through Friday so little will be done.  I am arranging for the Thursday class to take place in my absence. 

    Best,
    James Roedl
     

  6. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Hello all, last week was good.  We had a lot of people come in.  We got quite a few donations as well.  We sold 5 bikes for $680, 1 build-a-bike for $40, 3 memberships for $90, and grossed $994.80.  Working Bikes picked up 65-75 bikes that we did not need or have room for.  Baker donated about 400 pounds of various aluminum parts.  We started sorting them Friday.  I started making the packets for ISSS, but ran out of paper clips.  I started the ordering process for LTN.

    This coming week I will finish sorting the new donations, collect more donations from Baker, and finish making the ISSS bike packets.  I will also work on getting us some bikes built.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  9. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Hello all, last week was good.  We had a lot of people in and we had some good times.  We sold 7 bikes for $940, 2 build-a-bikes for $110, 5 student memberships, 4 community memberships, and grossed $2119.50.  We have intergrated the new database to the point that we are giving out cards with memberships, and have made some extra cash finding people who didn't realize their membership expired.  I worked on some advocacy items.  The Center was flooded with donations from Baker's Bikes.  We got 2 truck loads of good stuff.  Some was taken to the Urbana shop some to Campus.

    This coming week is extra short since I am taking off Friday.  I will just be trying to keep my head above water.  There will be LTN work, sorting and preparing bikes for shipment as well as organizing the pickup.  I will also be working on getting classes going and advertised as well as building bikes to replenish our stock.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  11. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Hello all, this past week was busy.  We lots of people coming in and lots of projects.  We sold 2 bikes for $230, 1 build-a-bike for $70, 7 memberships for $175, and grossed $1090.50.  We got a bunch of bikes from the warehouse helping to clear out mid semester bikes before they get spring abandon bikes.  I also got some bikes from the City of Champaign.  I contacted Working Bikes and am coordinating a pickup with them to get rid of unwanted bikes.  I built some bikes and worked on some LTN items.  CCNet visited the shop.  It was a good tour/visit.  The wheel building class finished well with many folks having built fine wheels. 

    This week I will be building bikes and working on a pickup for the unwanted bikes.  I will be building bikes, and looking to remove another 30-40 from the warehouse that are from the mid semester pickup.  I will also be working on doing some classes again on Thursdays before we open.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James

  12. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Hello all, last week was incredibly busy.  We had lots of events and things going on, but we made it happen.  A lot of people came in wanting bikes thanks to Lily's submission of apparently great ad copy to the E-Week e-mail.  Armand from the Soy Bean Innovation Lab bought 5 bikes, but I wont be counting them until I get a check.  We sold 19 bikes for $2430, 1 build-a-bike for $60, 1 community membership for $30, 2 student memberships for $50, and grossed $3199.  Again once I get the check from the soy bean lab it will go up $610 and 5 bikes.  We supported the cool Bike-From-Work-Day station that Lily put on, held a class on wheel building, and a class on machining bike frames.  Lily and I worked on the cargo bike program, meeting with the University Architect.  It sounds like an uphill battle, but we may get them a cargo bike of some kind.   Between Morgan and Lily there has been created an demand for workers at F&S to use bikes rather than trucks and vans.  I explained to Lily how depts. can purchase bikes from us, but not pay for service or order things since she will be helping them to start these programs.

    This coming week we will be cleaning the shop for the visit from CCNet, building bikes to replace the 24 that have been sold, and working on bike assisting Lily in getting bikes for F&S.  I will also be working with Lily and the Library on getting them a cargo bike.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  13. Weekly Update

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

    Hello all, this past week was steady which is normal for this time of year.  Between the weather and finals it's a mixed bag for people coming in, and bike sales.  We sold 3 bikes for $430, 1 membership for $25, and grossed $1128.  We hosted one bike to work station, and supported another.  It was a pleasant affair, but not effective as no new cyclist were encouraged to commute to work.  We built some bikes, organized and held the first of a three part wheel building series. 

    This week we will be working on summer scheduling, wheel building classes, bike building, and supporting advocacy events.  I will also be pushing to plan and setup LTN for success this year.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  14. e-Week message

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Bicycles for sale

    The Campus Bike Center has a large and varied inventory of refurbished bicycles for sale. Bikes are available for test rides and purchase during normal business hours, Monday-Thursday from 2-6 p.m. and Friday from 2-5:30 p.m.

    Lily Wilcock . Facilities and Services

  15. An update from the South Arboretum Woods about the planting projects

    Associated Project(s): 
    Native Plants at Arboretum
    Prairie Restoration at Florida & Orchard
    Small Prairie at Natural Resources Building

    John Marlin (from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center) reported that the planting projects using SSC and ISEE grants are progressing well.

    The majority of the large honeysuckle was removed from the South Arboretum Woods, mostly by the fecon machine at a cost of $20,000. Student workers (mainly NRES and ESE) are taking out the remainder with hand tools and chainsaws and finishing the resprouts and seedlings with limited applications of herbicide. The woods was actually a former research plot where many species of trees were planted in blocks very close together. A number of trees will have to be removed in order to allow for the others to grow well and to let light penetrate to the ground.

    They also spent some time planting and weeding at plots at the Natural Resources Building, Burrill Hall, the Florida Orchard prairie and Lincoln Ave Residence (LAR) Hall. LAR contributed some funds toward planting.

    A Boy Scout Eagle Project was conducted at the woods.  They worked on three occasions removing garlic mustard and honeysuckle.   The Master Naturalists have also put in quite a few hours.

  16. Archived - previous project description

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    Construction of a 5.87 megawatt (MW) Solar Farm on campus is under construction, after university and state officials approved power purchase and land lease agreements with Phoenix Solar South Farms, LLC.

    Once installed, the Solar Farm will be one of the largest on-site university arrays in the country, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics, producing 7.86 million kilowatt-hours per year, or approximately two percent of the electrical demand for the Urbana campus in fiscal year 2015.

    Facilities & Services Executive Director Al Stratman said, “We are very pleased to see this long awaited agreement completed and signed, so the installation can begin. This unique and challenging project was only made possible through the dedication of many people working together and focused on achieving our renewable energy goals.”

    In 2008, the chancellor signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050. As a part of this commitment, specific goals for energy conservation and renewable energy were outlined in the 2010 Illinois Climate Action Plan. The Solar Farm will contribute toward the renewable energy used on campus for at least twenty years.

    "The Solar Farm represents the success of numerous efforts, including those made by the many hard-working students committed to advancing renewable energy and environmental sustainability,” said Amy Liu, chair of the Student Sustainability Committee. “Its construction will be a historic project and a source of great pride for campus."

    --

    The 20.8 acre solar farm, to be located along the south side of Windsor Road between First Street and the railroad tracks, was first approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees in November 2012.

  17. Weekly Update

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

    Hello all, this past week was slow, but that was good because it allowed for us to get ready for Bike to Work Day.  We sold 1 bike for $110, 1 build-a-bike for $50, 2 memberships for $50, and grossed $690.50.  We built a lot of bikes and got a lot of work done.

    This coming week we will participate in Bike to Work Day, host a special wheel building class and continue to build bikes.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  18. Weekly Update

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

    Hello all, this past week was very busy.  We had a good number come in, but events were the big thing.  We sold 2 bikes for $280, 1 build-a-bike for $50, 11 student memberships for $275, 2 community membership for $80, and grossed $978.  I participated in the Bike Census.  It was very well organized by Lily, and went well.  The BikeFace organized Ride with the Chancellor was a success.  I hosted an open house at the center before the ride.  The Chancellor seemed to enjoy the ride.  She mentioned not knowing the Bike Center existed until I explained what this strange garage filled with bicycles was.  I'm thinking about sending her a post card inviting her back.  I did a deep clean of the shop in anticipation of the visit and it keeps getting cleaner and better.  I made a informational document about cargo bikes for FAA.  Lily helped with some great improvements to the document that made it more friendly to non-cycling readers.

    This week I am going to work on classes, building bikes, and find out our commitment to Bike To Work Day.  It's been hard getting everything out of the warehouse, but I'm hoping to get this done this week. 

    From the Campus Bike Center,
    James Roedl

  19. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Departmental Bike Sharing

    Hello all, This past week was good.  We saw better weather and as a result a huge bump in attendance.  The newly reorganized space has gotten lots of compliments.  We'll see if it works in the long run.  We sold 6 bikes for $740, 1 build-a-bike for $30, 5 memberships for $140, and grossed $1490.80.  Lots of cool things going on.  I took a bunch more bikes out of the warehouse, and am building them to sell/make space.  I setup the wheel building class for May.  Lily and I presented the cargo bike to FAA, and agreed to work on sustainable transportation solutions with them.  I got a lot of work done on the annual reports in anticipation of the end of the fiscal year.

    This week I will be making a short report of sustainable transportation options for FAA, cleaning up the shop, helping with the Bike Census, participating in Ride with the Chancellor, and continuing to work on the annual reports.

    From the Campus Outpost,
    James Roedl

  20. Weekly Update

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

    Hello all, this past week we ramped up visitors slightly.  The weather really hurt attendance, which would have been much higher.  We still had people coming in and good attitudes abounded.  We sold 2 bikes for $300, 1 build-a-bike for $30, 2 memberships for $50, and grossed $1353.50.  We have been storing a lot of things we dont' need, and have lost a lot of space to idle items.  This week I realized how limiting this has been and how we need to change our work flow.  Also at the member meeting we discussed a front desk area with a host  and how many workspaces benefit from this.  Since we have a membership database promised to be coming soon I built a front desk area to capitalize on this. I reorganized the back and threw out a lot of useless junk.  The space is much more open now and we have more room to work and store useful items like tools and bikes.  We held a 3 speed hub class which was requested by at least 10 separate individuals, but no one attended.  I will be looking into a remedy.  I was able to update a good portion of the shops reports thanks to all the time freed up by Lily's hard work.  Lily and I continued our work on getting a sponsored donation site for the residents halls so normally abandoned bikes can be directly donated saving us all a lot of work and headaches.  We got a few bikes built, but were slow because of large donations and other projects. 

    This week I plan on continuing to update the shop's reports.  I will be working with Lily on presenting the cargo bike to FAA.  They had a change in leadership and some other set backs so we are restarting the relationship with a cool bike demo and presentation.  Lily's heading this up so I will be supporting her.  I will be trying to get some more bikes out of the warehouse and processed in anticipation of the spring cutting.  Lily is working with the residence halls on the donation event, and doing most of the planning work, but I may go to some of the meetings since I will be in charge of the implementation of the event.  I'm going to seek the assistance of Lily in ways to promote the Thursday afternoon classes.  I will also be sending out information on the wheel building class this week.

    From the Campus Bike Center,
    James Roedl

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