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Project Updates for collection: 2010 iCAP Projects

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  6. Existing signage and striping

    Associated Project(s): 
    2014 Campus Bike Plan

    Facilities & Services is taking an interim step to make some initial improvements during spring and summer 2013. This work includes repainting several existing dedicated bike off-road and side paths, and adding stop signs for bicycle traffic at key intersections on existing paths. This step does not bring the existing bikeways up to acceptable safety standards, yet they will reduce bicyclist / pedestrian conflicts.

    Attached Files: 

  8. update from Joyce Mast

    Associated Project(s): 
    Install Solar PVs on NCPD

    From: Mast, Joyce C
    Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:32 AM
    To: Beverage, McKenzie; Johnston, Morgan B
    Subject: RE: ECE Solar Installation Status Update

    McKenzie,

    Thank you for checking with me about the status of the Solar Installation on the North Parking Garage. I expect that no funds will be spent on the SSC account before the end of the fiscal year. We need results from the feasibility study for placing the panels on the North Parking Garage roof before we will be spending money on the panels or installation.  The study is to be officially completed by September 6, 2013, but we expect to  have drawings and plans by July. This will give us enough information to seek more matching funds so that the panels may be installed in time for the July 2014 completion date for the new building.  

    Best regards,

    Joyce Mast

  9. Housing Sustainability Report 2011

    Associated Project(s): 
    Issue Press Releases and Sustainability Reports

    University Housing’s 2010 Strategic Plan identified stewardship of resources as critical to our long-term success. According to the plan, stewardship of resources means “University Housing will demonstrate intentional and transparent stewardship of the financial, physical, and human resources of our entire organization. We will seek to use and conserve our resources in an effective manner that meets the needs of our residents and customers seeking and expecting excellent value.”

    While University Housing had already initiated a number of sustainability efforts, the University developed the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) in May 2010, identifying new sustainability mandates with which Housing will need to comply. Additionally, the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) was asking for support on multiple initiatives.

    As a result, University Housing identified the need to pool our sustainability resources through a single point of contact and formed the Housing Sustainability Council.

    Attached Files: 

  10. 2009 Classroom Occupancy Sensor Installation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Occupancy and Daylight Sensors

    In 2009, the Student Sustainability Committee awarded $50,000 to Facilities & Services for installation of occupancy sensors to control lights in ten campus buildings: Animal Sciences Laboratory, Architecture Building, Bevier Hall, Chemistry Annex, Huff Hall, Materials Science and Engineering Building, Mumford Hall, Music Building, Noyes Laboratory and Transportation Building. The funds were used to install a total of 230 occupancy sensors in 223 rooms in these ten buildings.

    Attached Files: 

  11. 2008 Classroom Occupancy Sensor Installation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Occupancy and Daylight Sensors

    In 2008, the Student Sustainability Committee awarded $20,000 to Facilities & Services for installation of occupancy sensors to control lights in three campus buildings: Loomis Laboratory, Foreign Languages Building, and Armory. Later, the budget was increased to $50,000 and the scope expanded to include seven additional buildings: Davenport Hall, Everitt Electrical Building, English Building, Henry Administration Building, Psychology Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Building, and Wohlers Hall. The funds were used to install a total of 332 occupancy sensors in 272 rooms in these ten buildings.

    Attached Files: 

  12. meeting updates

    Associated Project(s): 
    Install Solar PVs on NCPD

    Yesterday’s meeting covered more refined and detailed breakdown of the following topics, most of which were discussed in prior meetings, with the exception of the newly introduced structural support “Space Frame” option.

    • Panel layout configurations for truss mounted structural frame- 4 sections of seven rows at approx. 100 modules/row or four sections of six rows also 100 modules each. Truss mounting providing specific spacing for mounting dimensions. Also mentioned types of Truss material recommending tubular over welded angle, siting weatherization, degradation, appearance and animal habitat prevention as main reasons.
    • Space Frame structure was introduced as a favorable option.
    • A space frame is a structure system assembled of linear elements so arranged that forces are transferred in a three-dimensional manner. In some cases, the constituent element may be two dimensional.
    • Macroscopically a space frame often takes the form of a flat or curved surface.
    • It should be noted that virtually the same structure defined as space frame here is referred to as latticed structures in a state-of-the-art report prepared by the Task Committee on Latticed Structures [2], which states
    • A latticed structure is a structure system in the form of a network of elements (as opposed to a continuous surface). Rolled, extruded or fabricated sections comprise the member elements.
    • Another characteristic of latticed structural system is that their load-carrying mechanism is three dimensional in nature.
    • Space frame benefits although more costly up front were presented as prefabricated, galvanized and powder coated, sturdy, longer Life cycle and less maintenance, but requiring cranes and other installation costs. They also have installer requirements for mounting solar array as to maintain the integrity of the coating and protective surfaces. Provided flexible mounting spacing to help maximize power output and minimize shading.
    • Inverter layout revisited with schematic diagram presented illustrating component placement and wiring layouts.
    • An overall electrical schematic was presented identifying key component placing and overcurrent protection limits and needs, along with electrical room Layout.
    • Metering usage stated existing meters could be utilized with the addition of a revenue grade power production meter to monitor the array output.
    • Single line diagram was presented identifying current and project components, mentioning the output potential of 1400-1600 amps at 480 volts.
    • Introduced idea of rainwater harvesting for irrigation or toilet flushing usages.
    • Procurement procedures mentioned and moved as major topic for next meeting with concerns of turnkey type purchasing being the industry norm verses purchasing standard variety purchasing from multiple vendors in normal construction.
    • Next meeting PEP is having the structural Engineers present design considerations, and Mr. Jim Lev will have construction procurement representative attend.

  13. Efficiency measures at Abbott Power Plant

    Associated Project(s): 
    Utilities Master Plan for Energy Production and Distribution

    In general, the overall efficiency of a typical power plant is approximately 35%, and the efficiency of a typical cogeneration plant is typically 80-85%.  The efficiency is in general a measure of the energy input (fuel), vs. the energy output (electricity, and in the case of a cogeneration plant steam and electricity).

    We have done a lot of things to improve the plant efficiency, but at this point in time we don’t have good data available that can measure and quantify those improvements.  Some of the items that we have undertaken include:  changing out the lighting to higher efficient flourescents and/or LEDs, changing out the Centac Centrifugal Air Compressors to more efficient VFD driven rotary air compressors, changing the air compressor cooling from city water to the plant service water system, and repairing and replacing direct contact heaters.

    Mike Larson

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Director of Utilities Production

  14. grant deadlines

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

    Joyce Mast, at ECE, is researching funding opportunities for the solar panels for ECE and the NCPD.  she provided this information.

    Deadlines for submitting proposals:

    1) Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity - Assuming our budget is adequate in the next state fiscal year, we may  be offering this program again in September or October of this year (Wayne Hartel, Energy Program Specialist, Illinois Energy Office)

    2) When I looked over the SSC-funded projects for 2012 and told Professor Krein about them, he said we should wait for the September inquiry date. He expects that we should have drawings and plans by July. I’m still looking for matching funds

    3) Their initial thought was Act on Energy grants, however I advised UI probably did not qualify as UI is not a standard tariff Ameren customer (Keith Erickson)

    4) Illinois Clean Energy: a) High Performance Green Buildings – Rolling Review. Submit application anytime
                                                     b) Requests for Innovative equipment replacement projects in existing buildings or
                                                     c)  installations in new construction must submit a Letter of Inquiry electronically by July 16, 2013.

                                                     d)  Solar Photovoltaic Installation by July 16, 2013

                                                     e) Advancing Renewable Energy by July 16, 2013

    I have looked at solar installations on roofs and have pictures. These would be supportive. However, we don’t have enough specific information to apply for any grant until the feasibility study results are in.

    Morgan, do you have more ideas of places we can apply? Gerard?

    I am eager to proceed as soon as possible. If you have further suggestions, please let me know. I could meet with you most any time.

    Best regards,

    Joyce Mast

    Joyce Mast, Coordinator

    Grainger Center for Electric
      Machinery and Electromechanics

    Department of Electrical

      and Computer Engineering

  15. The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research

    Associated Project(s): 
    Facility Standards

    In "The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research" by Lindsay Baker and Harvey Bernstein (2012), authors note research results and needs about green schools.

    What do we know today?   In some areas, we have strong evidence to support the notion that school buildings impact student health and their ability to learn, and we know exactly how to ensure that the impacts are positive. For example, we know how to build classrooms that minimize background noise and allow voices to be heard clearly, which will allow students to hear their teachers and protect their aural health. We have clear evidence that certain aspects of school buildings have an impact on student health and learning, such as:

    • When deprived of natural light, studies have shown that children’s melatonin cycles are disrupted, thus likely having an impact on their alertness during school (Figueiro & Rea, 2010).
    • Teachers report higher levels of comfort in their classrooms when they have access to thermal controls like thermostats or operable windows (Heschong, 2003, and Lackney, 2001).
    • According to researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, when ventilation rates are at or below minimum standards (roughly 15 cfm per student), an associated decrease of 5%–10% occurs in certain aspects of student performance tests (LBNL IAQ Resource Bank).
    • In recent studies, when ventilation rates were lowered from 17 cfm/person to 10 cfm/person researchers saw a 15% increase in symptom prevalence for Sick Building Syndrome (ibid).

    What do we need to find out?   While there have been studies on the impact of environments on children—and the benefits of green buildings more broadly—more research is needed. Some of the larger research questions are:

    • When prioritization is necessary, which building projects can be expected to have larger impacts on facility quality and student health?
    • What are the impacts of high-performance school buildings, above and beyond an adequate (and potentially new) school building?
    • How do high-performance design features interact with each other? Relationships such as those between daylighting and acoustical design are understood less in terms of how they interact than in isolation.

  16. How to Make Your Campus Green presentations

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach

    Morgan Johnston met with a delegation from Mumbai, India, to tell them how we are making our campus more sustainable. 

    Jack Dempsey has been asked to speak to two different delegations this June about the same topic.    The first group is from  a group of private universities in India, sponsored by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and is coming on a program promoted by Pradeep Khanna and his staff in Corporate Relations.  The second group is from a group of institutions in Pakistan with whom we have had a longstanding relationship:  COMSATS Institutes of Information Technology. 

  18. NCPD conceptualization mtg

    Associated Project(s): 
    Install Solar PVs on NCPD

    Today’s meeting covered LED fixture questions and concerns:

    They presented data and layout with luminescence patterns for 2 fixtures one costing $400. 00/fixture and another $1000.00/fixture. It was mentioned that we need dimming features but no specifics on how or the criteria for that.

    Also covered were:

    • different configurations for trusses and rows of PV modules, scaffolding, and height and spacing requirements for same.
    • The module size and efficiency requirements needed to create 1600(Mwh) of power annually, along with quantities per different sq/ft
    • Drainage for the snow and rain off of the modules, along with snow removal equipment in the bay areas
    • Shading impact due to elevator towers, and overlapping rays during the winter months effecting production and how to handle these issues
    • Central inverter scheme being the most effective and the optional layouts and wiring for same.
    • DC combiner boxes layout scheme and wiring to reduce the effects of shading on power production

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