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Project Updates for collection: 2010 iCAP Projects

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  1. Trans001 TEM_DMI recommendation - Assessment with comments

    Associated Project(s): 
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Transportation iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)

    The iCAP Working Group (iWG) met on May 4, 2015, to discuss and assess the SWATeam recommendation, Trans001 TEM_DMI. Their official comment on the recommendation was:

    "Revise the TEM system to capture sustainability metrics for travel, such as categorized travel purposes and total miles traveled by each mode, in order to enable future reporting in DMI by unit, funding source, etc. OBFS should work with the Transportation SWATeam and iSEE staff to identify and optimize these metrics."

    See attached the iWG assessment complete with official comments from all the iWG members.

    See SWATeam recommendation Trans001 TEM_DMI here.

    Attached Files: 

  3. April 2 2015 minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP)
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Reduce Emissions from Transportation
    Appropriately Staff Sustainable Transportation Efforts
    Develop Scenarios for Converting the UI Fleet to Renewable Fuels
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Appropriately Staff Zero Waste Efforts

    see file

    Several recommendations were discussed from the Transportation SWATeam and the Puchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeam.

    Attached Files: 

  4. Trans001 TEM_DMI recommendation - Submittal

    Associated Project(s): 
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Transportation iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    Transportation iCAP Team

    The Transportation SWATeam submitted a recommendation, Trans001 TEM_DMI, to the iWG stating, "The transportation SWATeam recommends that the data for faculty/staff travel be collected through the campus Travel and Expense Management (TEM) and Division of Management Information (DMI) system. The program should require that faculty/staff (or the unit head) report travel purposes and funding sources when they request travel expense reimbursement via TEM and the DMI manage and analyze the database."

    See attached the SWATeam recommendation, Trans001 TEM_DMI, complete with comments from all the Transportation SWATeam members.

    Attached Files: 

  5. Previous description in iCAP Portal - paragraph removed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Sharing

    Administrative Information Technology Services (AITS) has played a large role in leading this discussion and is working with Facilities & Services to try to implement a bike share program before Fall 2014. AITS hopes to partner with other departments on campus to create a cohesive and connected bike share system within the University.

  7. Previous description in iCAP Portal

    Associated Project(s): 
    2014 Campus Bike Plan

    Transportation Demand Management (TDM) in Facilities & Services is finalizing the 2014 Campus Bike Plan, a master plan to direct our efforts for future bicycle infrastructure improvements and program development.  The official public comment period for the Campus Bike Plan ended in April 2013, but additional feedback is always welcome via the online bicycle feedback form.

    The draft 2014 Campus Bike Plan was available for public input during a four-week period, and members of the campus community were encouraged to review the plan and submit their comments and feedback via the online Campus Bicycle Feedback Form. 

     

  8. Renewables presentation to MSTE

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    Use Clean Power

    The Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in the College of Education hosted Morgan Johnston as a guest speaker on February 27.  One part of the overall Climate Action Plan is to increase the use of renewable energy generation for our campus power requirements. This presentation reviewed the progress toward increased use of renewables for our campus, and discussed current efforts underway, including the forthcoming Solar Farm.

    https://youtu.be/edg5OfDCfck

    Attached Files: 

  11. GRITS one month trial period January 2014

    Associated Project(s): 
    Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
    Billion Dollar Green Challenge

    F&S is working with Shoshana Blank, the Senior Research Fellow & GRITS Project Lead at the Sustainable Endowments Institute, on a trial tracking and reporting system for the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).  Mike Marquissee is entering some historical data in to the system.  F&S is also sharing access to the trial site with the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) Program Advisor, Micah Kenfield. 

    Initial reactions at F&S are very positive.  The GRITS system has a low annual cost, and it provides a simple and robust tracking system for the RLF.  This would be an upgrade from the spreadsheet tracking we are currently using.  The program also provides reports on payback, energy saved, fund growth over time, and more.  Additionally, there is a Project Library resource, which shares conservation project information from other GRITS participants.

  13. update from Ben McCall

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    2014 Campus Bike Plan

    Dear Transportation SWATeam,

    Morgan and I had a very nice discussion with Pam Voitik at F&S late last week, and I wanted to brief you on some of the key points as they relate to the iCAP revisions.

    1) F&S is in favor of hiring a full-time "Active Transportation Coordinator," and having that person report to the Transportation Demand Management Coordinator (Stacey DeLorenzo).  "Active Transportation" (as you probably all know, but I didn't!) is industry lingo for all transportation except single-occupancy-vehicles.  So this person would be responsible for mode shift, the Bike Plan, and so forth...basically the last two bullet points in item #6 on page 30 of the current draft.

    2) Pete Varney and his team would be the sensible locus for efforts related to shifting the fleet more towards EVs and bicycles, and exploring renewable fuels for the fleet.  [The second and third bullet points in item #6 on page 30.]

    3) The first bullet point, about air travel, is outside of the scope of F&S, and should perhaps be a focus of iSEE or another entity in the domain of the Chancellor or Vice Chancellors.

    4) The Campus Bicycle Plan is essentially finalized now, but F&S is working on ascertaining exactly what entity should formally approve it. 

    Pam's suggestion is that it should be approved by the campus leadership (rather than by F&S), but the responsibility for implementing it should be with F&S.  This would give the Plan more authority/heft than if it were approved by F&S alone. There is reason to hope that this approval will be finalized before the iCAP.

    Cheers,

    Ben

     

  15. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant announcement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Seek External Grant Funding for Implementation

    2015 NFWF Five Star/Urban Waters Restoration Program Invites Applications

    The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is inviting applications for the Five Star/Urban Waters Restoration Program, a public-private partnership designed to develop the capacity of communities to sustain local natural resources for future generations, with a particular focus on water quality, watersheds, and the habitats they support.

    The program is supported by the National Association of Counties and the Wildlife Habitat Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,  Southern Company, FedEx, Bank of America, and PG&E. Each funder under this RFP has specific requirements for the projects they will support (see below). NFWF will match all funding sources applicable to that project’s activities, location, and project type. Grant awards will range from $20,000 to $50,000 and must be matched on a one-to-one basis with cash and/or in-kind goods and services.

    1) EPA Five Star Restoration Training Program: A total of approximately $180,000 is available nationwide, in any size community, from EPA to fund projects meeting the Five Star program elements.

    2) Southern Company Five Star Restoration Program: Approximately $300,000 is available from Southern Company to support on-the-ground restoration projects and outdoor conservation outreach in the company’s service area.

    3) EPA and USFS Urban Waters Program: Grants totaling approximately $600,000 are available to help improve urban water quality, increase public access, and restore riparian habitat and urban forests in developed watersheds across the United States. Priority will be given to projects with an environmental justice focus or that benefit underserved and economically distressed communities in urban areas.

    4) FedEx EarthSmart Outreach: Approximately $415,000 is available from FedEx’s EarthSmart Outreach program to support urban conservation and restoration. All projects must include a volunteer event for up to fifty local FedEx employees. The program will support high-quality projects in Boston; Los Angeles; San Francisco/Oakland; Chicago; Memphis; Seattle; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Newark; Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis; Pittsburgh; Miami; Colorado Springs; Philadelphia; Harrison, Arizona; Phoenix; Cleveland; Atlanta; Portland, Oregon; Lakeland, Florida; New Berlin, Wisconsin; and Akron/Uniontown, Ohio.

    5) Fish Wildlife Service Urban Programs: Approximately $360,000 is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for projects that engage urban neighbors and foster a sense of stewardship where there are Fish and Wildlife Service lands or offices nearby (within approximately 25 miles). Priority areas could also include locations where there are existing Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships or established Urban Bird Treaty Cities specified by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Proposals should articulate tangible ways the Fish and Wildlife Service can become an asset to the community.

    6) PG&E Nature Restoration Trust: Approximately $90,000 is available to support community-based habitat restoration and stewardship projects within PG&E’s service utility area. The trust supports projects that empower community groups, provide benefits to underserved communities, and engage with organizations that provide hands-on experiences for youth in the outdoors. In partnership with NFWF and PG&E, all grant recipients must be willing to host one media event that increases awareness of the project, facilitates partner recognition, and  serves as a volunteer opportunity for PG&E employees to engage in restoration and stewardship. Projects must be based in one of the following California counties: Kern, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, or Humboldt.

    7)  Bank of America: Approximately $195,000 is available from Bank of America to support community-based restoration and stewardship projects within specified geographic areas. All proposals in these areas must include a volunteer event for up to a hundred local Bank of America employees. The program will support projects in Boston; Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

    To be eligible for any of the above grants, applicants must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization; a state,  local, or municipal government agency; an Indian tribe; or an educational institution.. Projects should be completed within one to two years of the award. For USFS urban waters funding, preference is given to projects that take place on, or directly benefit, public lands.

    See the NFWF website for complete program guidelines and application instructions: Complete RFP.

    Deadline: February 3, 2015 @ 11:59 p.m. EST

  17. accounting update from Mike M.

    Associated Project(s): 
    Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

    I have realigned the way we account for projects in AiM, so each RLF will need to have a specific  AiM account number that maps to a banner plant fund.  As soon as I can transfer the open work orders off of MY862-Revolving Loan Fund, I will inactivate that account number.

    So, each new RLF project will need a Banner Plant Account number (I obtain) and a new AiM account number (mee, too.) then I will let the PM know so he/she can set up work orders.  This way, it keeps project costs segregated.  Putting it all into one account like I did initially dumps all project costs into one AiM account making it hard to keep the expenditures separate.  - Mike

  18. F&S response to iWG request

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Utilities Master Plan for Energy Production and Distribution

    Hi Ben,

    Thanks for your letter from the iWG about the Utilities Master Plan (attached for reference). 

    F&S shares the iWG’s concerns with the slow pace of getting an acceptable draft product from AEI.  This has taken much longer than the original goal of completion; however, it is important to have an accurate and good quality report even if it takes longer than planned.  The scope of this study was developed in cooperation with the Office of Sustainability, and approved by FY12 Acting Director of the Office of Sustainability, Associate Chancellor Pradeep Khanna.  It is attached here for your records, as well as the executed contract.

    It has always been our intention to share the draft report with campus stakeholders, especially those participating in campus sustainability efforts.  Once we get an acceptable product, we will share it with the SWATeam and iWG for feedback.  At this time, we expect to have a draft ready to share later this month. 

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     

    Attached Files: 

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