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Project Updates for collection: 2010 iCAP Projects

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  2. Updated LEED requirements

    Associated Project(s): 
    LEED Certification

    The previous project description began with this statement: "The University has adopted LEED Gold certification as a part of their design standards on all new construction."  However, the Facility Standards and the Campus Master Plan were not aligned with each other.  During the update to the Facility Standards and update to the Campus Master Plan in 2017, the campus leadership determined that the appropriate requirement for new construction buildings is LEED Silver, to comply with minimum state legal requirements.

  3. Archived info - 2010 iCAP LEED goals

    Associated Project(s): 
    LEED Certification

    The 2010 iCAP included a focused effort on the use of LEED Certification to incorporate sustainable design in new capital construction on campus.  In the 2015 iCAP, campus sustainability advocates recognized that "While the utilization of current building certification programs such as LEED has helped raise awareness of sustainable building standards, the campus could accelerate progress in reducing building energy use by shifting to performance based building standards for new buildings and major renovations."  The 2010 iCAP LEED goals are documented here, for the archive.

    2010 iCAP LEED Goals:

    Require all new construction to be LEED Platinum certified by FY15:

    The LEED certification requirements were increased in fiscal year 2011 to require Gold level certification for all new projects.  This has increased the visibility and sustainability of all new campus buildings.  There is a proposal from the 2010 iCAP to increase the certification requirement to Platinum level in fiscal year 2015.  This increase would require additional funding for new building projects, and in some cases there may be conflicts with building codes or campus Standards.  

    Completed LEED Goals:

    Incorporate LEED principles into Facility Standards:

    The Facility Standards for campus have been updated to incorporate many LEED principles.  As of 2012, a building that meets all the Facility Standards, will qualify for a LEED Silver designation.  Additionally, new buildings, additions, or major renovations are required to meet LEED Gold certification.  The additional points to acheive LEED Gold are selected by the individual project teams, rather than prescribed specifically in the Facility Standards.

    The 2010 U of I Facilities Standards have been published and are currently based on LEED Gold certification.  The U of I Facilities Standards require compliance with all 8 Required Prerequisites and several additional Credits listed in the LEED Rating System.  The Standards list some minimum technical requirements and make recommendations pertaining to energy conservation strategies, but allow the AE the flexibility to determine how the LEED Gold certification is obtained.

    Require all new construction to be LEED Silver certified by FY10:

    LEED Silver certification has been required for all new campus buidings since 2008, when the iCAP was signed. Thee are four levels of LEED certification: certified, silver, gold, and platinum.  Silver certification requires a mimum of 50 LEED points.  The Ikenberry Commons Student Dining and Residential Programs (SDRP) building and the phase A of the new residence halls in Ikenberry Commons is also LEED Silver certified.  This designation is required for all buildings that were planned or begun before 2010.  While many of the buildings planned at that time are completed or in construction, there are some future buildings planned before 2010, which will only be required to meet LEED Silver status.

    Require all new construction to be LEED Gold certified by FY11:

    With the successful attainment of LEED Silver certification for some campus buildings, the Campus advanced the LEED certification requirements to a minimum of Gold certification at the beginning of fiscal year 2011.  All projects which began the planning process after May 2010 are required to be LEED Gold certified.  To acheive LEED Gold, the construction or renovation project must qualify for a minimum of 60 LEED points.

  4. Carbon Credit funding declined for Virtual Storeroom offsets purchase

    Associated Project(s): 
    Virtual Storeroom for Carbon Offsets
    Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) with Second Nature

    Helen Coleman declined the purchase of 10,000 $7.14 offsets for the virtual storeroom.

    "I do not understand why we should buy $7.14 offsets instead of more $0.40 offsets, especially when we sold our original carbon credits for $6.75." -Helen Coleman (12/05/2017)

     

    An email with more information is attached below.

     

    Attached Files: 

  6. PWR SWATeam Meeting - 11/2/17

    Associated Project(s): 
    Increase Recycling through the WTS
    Increase Recycling Rates
    Zero Waste iCAP Team

    The Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeam met to discuss a variety of updates and challenges regarding recycling on campus. The group discussed progress on the rearrangement of outdoor dual bins on the North Quad and standards for the placements of bins inside of buildings. The group also discussed their long-term vision for trash and recycling operations on campus and brainstormed various methods for increasing recycling at the Waste Transfer Station. An update was also given on the status of SmartWay certification on campus.

    Attached Files: 

  7. Solar Urbana-Champaign Bulk Solar Purchase Program Finishes Strong

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach

    FOR RELEASE

    Contact: Peter Murphy, MREA Solar Program Manager, peterm@midwestrenew.org

    Solar Urbana-Champaign Bulk Solar Purchase Program Finishes Strong

    Urbana, IL– November 20, 2017. Claire Johnson and Jill Houser have just finished installing solar panels on Andy Robinson’s roof as part of the Solar Urbana-Champaign 2.0 program. They are  members of New Prairie Construction’s solar installation team, and part of a mostly female crew. They and other teams from New Prairie Construction will be installing 446.95 kilowatts of solar on 58 properties across Champaign County as a result of the program, which helped people save on solar through volume purchasing. Robinson not only went solar through the program, he also helped to lead it.

    Please find the full story below, along with installation photos of Andy Robinson's system. Photo credit Andy Robinson.

    Kaitlyn Kohl

    Communications Coordinator

    kaitlynk@midwestrenew.org

    Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)

    7558 Deer Road, Custer, WI 54423

    www.midwestrenew.org

     

    Learn from the leaders in our year-round, professional courses.

    Become a proud member of the MREA! 

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    November 20, 2017

    Contact: Peter Murphy, MREA Solar Program Manager, peterm@midwestrenew.org

    Solar Urbana-Champaign Bulk Solar Purchase Program Finishes Strong

    Claire Johnson and Jill Houser have just finished installing solar panels on Andy Robinson’s roof as part of the Solar Urbana-Champaign 2.0 program. They are  members of New Prairie Construction’s solar installation team, and part of a mostly female crew. They and other teams from New Prairie Construction will be installing 446.95 kilowatts of solar on 58 properties across Champaign County as a result of the program, which helped people save on solar through volume purchasing. Robinson not only went solar through the program, he also helped to lead it.

    “I’ve thought solar was a cool way to reduce our carbon footprint ever since seeing the 2007 UI solar decathlon house in DC, but it also needed to make financial sense for our family,” said Robinson, who was hired by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to facilitate the education sessions, called “Solar Power Hours,” for the program. “Now we will offset nearly all of our electric use and it was a good financial investment.  New Prairie laid out the panels on the front and back roof in a way that looks like it is a part of the design of our 1920 house. We were especially happy to meet the diverse install crew of local women and men, and a highly qualified refugee.”

    “In the 1980’s, Jill and I got our start in construction through the woman-owned company Working Women Construction,” said Julie Birdwell, owner of New Prairie Construction. “When we started New Prairie Construction, we made a commitment to providing opportunities for women. We never regretted it. Our New Prairie women contribute more than just diversity. They help contribute to a positive work culture and maintain a high level of attention to detail and craftsmanship.”

    “When we think about the benefits of solar energy, we often picture environmental benefits, of which there are of course many,” said Peter Murphy, Solar Program Manager at Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). “But what often gets overlooked is the growing number of solar jobs, which are local and by nature cannot be outsourced.”

    “One out of every 50 new jobs added in the United States in 2016 was created by the solar industry, representing 2% percent of all new jobs,” according to The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit organization that conducts a national solar jobs census.

    “We recently had an opportunity to hire an Afghan national who worked in construction for the US military in Afghanistan,” said Birdwell. “Hiring such a refugee is a way of acknowledging the risks and sacrifices he and his family have made to support our country. In addition, he and our other employees from different cultures and countries provide positive contributions to our work culture, and we feel, our overall product.”

    “In the first day of solar production, our kids said that we were vacuuming with sunshine,” said Robinson. “And they are right.”

    “The electricity produced by the 446 kW of solar the program has contracted will offset around 639,035 lbs of CO2 being released into atmosphere in the first year alone,” said Scott Tess, Environmental Sustainability Manager at the City of Urbana. “That amount of solar energy will also save almost 10 million gallons of water from use in thermoelectric power plants that run on coal or natural gas.”

    The program was administered by the MREA at no cost to the city or the county. MREA has successfully implemented similar programs in other jurisdictions in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin as seen in Milwaukee, Cedar Rapids, Bloomington-Normal, and elsewhere. Solarize programs have taken place all over the country, from California to Maine.

    "The solar branch of New Prairie Construction Co. is a natural extension of our commitment to providing high quality, environmentally responsible solutions for homes and businesses," says Julie Birdwell, co-owner of New Prairie. "Solar Urbana-Champaign 2.0 provides an excellent opportunity for our community to use the power of bulk purchasing to get premium quality installations for a great price.  We are excited to work with our neighbors to help increase sustainability and energy independence in Champaign County."

    MREA issued a request for proposals to solar installers in January. A local advisory committee reviewed proposals based on professional certification, experience, and cost. They selected New Prairie Construction Co., based in Urbana. They were chosen as the solar installer for the second Solar Group Buy because of their high-quality solar installations, building science expertise, and emphasis on customer service.

    ###

    The MREA was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit shortly after the first Energy Fair in 1990. MREA’s mission is to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more, call 715-592-6595 or visit www.TheEnergyFair.org or www.midwestrenew.org.

  8. Local Grains and Locally Processed Foods for Dining Services

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Agricultural Practices
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The Student Sustainability Committee funded Local Grains and Locally Processed Foods for Dining Services in October 2017.

    This project aims at developing methods that promote locally processed grains for U of I students. This project connects to the Vegetable Crop Farm, FSHN Pilot Plant, and Sustainable Student Farm, offering the final puzzle piece required to offer campus grown grains to UIUC community members. This project will purchase reusable containers to transport grains, and other campus products, between campus farms and campus processing facilities. Moreover, project leaders will analyze both taste and nutrients for Vegetable Crop Farm product.

    The SSC funding will go directly towards:

    1. Reusable storage containers
    2. Analysis equipment
    Attached Files: 

  9. ECS Bike Share Completed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Departmental Bike Sharing
    Campus Bike Center
    Provide Working Bikes for University Employees

    Facilities and Services division Engineering and Construction Services (ECS) has three bikes for employees to share for campus business. Check out is easy and the same as checking out a department car or truck. Two helmets are available for borrowing and lock keys are color coded to the bike they go to.

    Two of the three bikes were purchased through the Campus Bike Center, with locks and front baskets. The helmets came from Neutral Cycle. The whole project cost less than $750 and will have minimum maintenance each year.

    For questions about use please contact Lily Wilcock, lwilco2@illinois.edu.

     

  10. Confirmation of payment and Transfer from Carbon Credit Fund to different CFOP

    Associated Project(s): 
    Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) with Second Nature

    1. Confirmation of receiving $123,727.50 on 06-27-2017 for a partial sale of the 2016 carbon credits

    2.  "We bought more than originally was planned, so the actual cost was $48,532 rather than $41,200. The $48,532 was paid out of our CFOP#: 1-100018-508000-508001 on July 21, 2017 Document #: I6801799" - Eugenie Kokini (11-13-2017)

     

    An email with more information is attached below.
     

    Attached Files: 

  11. ISTC Policies for the Sustainable Purchase, Use, and End-of-Life Management of IT Equipment

    Associated Project(s): 
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)
    Develop Sustainable Purchasing Policies

    The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) has listed its policies for sustainably purchasing, using, and managing IT equipment at the end of its life.  These policies, which include ideas adapted from both campus and beyond, are in the attached file.

    Attached Files: 

  13. FY17 ECIP award winners announced

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP)
    Occupant Action Category

    % Improvement

    Incentive Award
    1. Foellinger Auditorium 41.0% $61,994
    2. Natural Resources Building 21.0% $38,543
    3. 1207 W. Oregon 19.4% $15,677
    4. Agricultural Engineering Sciences
        Building    		 13.6% $12,986

    Energy Advancement Category

    % Improvement

    Incentive Award
    1. Early Child Development
        Laboratory    		 25.2% $10,000*
    2. Administrative Information Technology
        Services Building    		 24.1% $10,000*
    3. Astronomy Building 23.4% $10,000*
    4. ACES Library, Information &
        Alumni Center    		 23.2% $10,000*

     

  14. iWG meeting minutes October 27, 2017

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Green Lab Program
    Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP)
    Topical iCAP Teams
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam

    see file

    Attached Files: 

  16. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Illini Lights Out
    Green Lab Program
    AFMFA- Deferred Maintenance Funds
    Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP)

    The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) is looking to become more involved with the SWATeams and sustainability on campus. ECBS proposed ideas such as decreasing refrigerator usage, making a climate action plan specifically for DIA, and promoting recycling at tailgates. Illini Lights Out had their first event on September 29, and it was a success. 284 light switches were turned off in 13 different buildings. The Green Labs Coordinator position is slowly making progress, but there is a concern with funding. Updates on the ECIP were made, and there is a push being made for mid-year checkpoints in the future. ECBS also discussed if AFMFA projects could be redefined in order to do more maintenance-based projects. 

    Attached Files: 

  17. PWR SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Develop Sustainable Purchasing Policies
    Zero Waste iCAP Team

    The Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeam kicked off the semester with a discussion of their past and continuing efforts and proposals, their progress in achieving iCAP objectives, and goals for the upcoming year. They also gave recommendations on the creation of a Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) Climate Action Plan.

    Attached Files: 

  18. ISTC policies for IT

    Associated Project(s): 
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)
    Develop Sustainable Purchasing Policies

    At ISTC computers are required to be at least EPEAT Bronze rated.

    There is mention of EPEAT Bronze in the legislation at the State level—see http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=041501500K65. Note that the phrasing in this is a little odd because some of the products mentioned (e.g. mice, VCRs, etc. ) aren’t part of the EPEAT registry. But since a wide variety of people (i.e. people who are not campus procurement personnel) may purchase equipment, office supplies, etc., and not be aware of what EPEAT is, let alone that the state has expectations related to it, it’s perfectly possible that there are researchers or IT professionals who are buying items for University use with little thought about EPEAT.

    Procurement would have to confirm whether or not non-EPEAT related computers, laptops or tablets were available from vendors in UI punchouts in iBuy.

    Attached Files: 

  19. Transportation SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Counts
    Decrease Emissions from UI Fleet
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Transportation iCAP Team

    The Transportation SWATeam had it's first meeting of the year. They discussed progress on the Transportation iCAP objectives, the status of related projects and proposals, and their priorities for the year. The team identified the following three areas on which they plan to focus in the coming meetings: 

    1. Exploring options for offsetting air travel emissions

    2. Pursuing a comprehensive intermodal transit survey (one for students and one for faculty)

    3. Assessing the feasibility of various options to reduce emissions from the campus fleet

    The next meeting is on October 12th.

    Attached Files: 

  20. Transportation iCAP efforts in progress

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Decrease Emissions from UI Fleet
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Increase Public Transportation Use
    Upgrade Bike Parking U-loops
    2014 Campus Bike Plan
    Bike Sharing
    Bike at Illinois Website and Campaign

    Hello Transportation SWATeam members,

    Thank you again for your willingness to help our campus achieve the Climate Leadership Commitments.  There is great value provided by the bi-weekly meetings of student, faculty, and staff representatives evaluating our progress and recommending additional actions campus units could take.

    The following is a list of current activities I am aware of, and suggestions I have about useful next steps.  I am happy to follow up with you on any of these, as needed.

    Thank you very much,

    ~Morgan

    Transportation

    1. EV analysis for department’s assigned vehicles – Hursh Hazari worked with Pete Varney’s data to evaluate the possibility of replacing some fleet vehicles with EVs.  https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/use-electric-vehicles-ev-campus
    2. Pete Varney has established the F&S fleet as a certified green fleet.  Pete, do you create an annual report for the status of that which you can share?  If not, can you provide an update to the SWATeam and to me? 
    3. Last year the SWATeam discussed encouraging additional campus units to get certified as green fleets.  Your team could submit a recommendation for another unit (or more than one) to pursue that certification. 
    4. New EV Chargers – Scott Willenbrock is working on one at the Illini Union + Phil Krein is interested in getting more Type 1 chargers for the North Campus Parking Deck.
    5. Potential EV Study – At the Oct. 11 Workshop for the Living Lab research connections to iCAP, there will be seed funding offered and the study for transitioning to EVs could collect and use data on campus vehicle use.  Pete has example data, which could be used to support the request for seed funding, which could then possibly fund data collection for the study.
    6. We do not yet have new air travel emission data.  iSEE is working on creating a virtual storeroom to offer carbon offsets to campus units to voluntarily buy air travel offsets.  The storeroom has funding for the first 10,000 offsets, but I understand there was a hurdle on selecting appropriate offsets with additionality.  I recommend asking Ben McCall and Scott Willenbrock about it.
    7. A new Mode split survey is needed as soon as possible.  Lily Wilcock intends to bring this as an item for discussion.  We would appreciate it if you would help define the survey questions, and then iSEE can help distribute the survey to get updated figures. 
    8. Bike Plan – I suggest you ask Stacey DeLorenzo to join one of your meetings to give an overview of the status of the Bike Plan infrastructure upgrades.
    9. Lily has funding for a Bike at Illinois website, which Creative Services will develop in the winter and spring months this fiscal year. 
    10. Lily has worked with MTD to offer bus tours to show campus staff how to use the MTD.  We teach all our new student how to ride, but none of the new employees get the personal introduction.  These tours are very successful, when they are organized with a specific department or location. 
    11. Bike Parking – there is a significant capacity issue, which is noticeable just by looking around campus, especially during class hours in the core area.  Lily has a new website that she can show you, and there is an upcoming Bike Census, which your team members should help with.
    12. Bike Sharing – a handful of dockless bike sharing companies are wanting to come to town/campus.  To manage their impacts (imagine bikes in the boneyard) they will be required to obtain city permits.  Lily is asking the SSC to use the funds they allocated to bike sharing for additional bike parking areas in the heart of campus.
    13. MCORE – this project has several impacts on multi-modal transportation.  You can learn more at http://www.mcoreproject.com/project-construction-updates.

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