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Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects

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  1. Funding Status Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Research Committee

    The Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis, the Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations Lowa Mwilambwe, the Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities & Services Jeff Angiel, the Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Madhu Khanna, and the iSEE Associate Director for Campus Sustainability Jennifer Fraterrigo met on May 15, 2025 to discuss the status of the Green Research program and the staffing request.

    While everyone agreed that the program and coordinator position are important, the group felt that the timing is not right to ask for a new position given the current economic climate and impending budget recission for F&S. The VCRI suggested we brief the Sustainability Council next fall to inform Provost Coleman and the future chancellor about this effort. Everyone deeply appreciates the committee’s work on this topic and remains enthusiastic about implementing the program once we are in a better financial position. 

  2. EV Infrastructure Study at Peer Universities

    Associated Project(s): 
    Electric Vehicle (EV) Task Force
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)

    Check out our new report on EV infrastructure, based on a survey of peer universities. The study examines how institutions across the country are planning, funding, and implementing EV charging solutions to support campus sustainability and evolving transportation needs.

    The insights gathered will inform our campus’s approach to EV infrastructure development and long-term mobility planning.

    Attached Files: 

  3. School of Art and Design Re-Fashioned Fashion Show

    Associated Project(s): 
    Surplus Catalog
    Achieve Zero Waste

    School of Art and Design Re-Fashioned Fashion Show

     

    The annual School of Art and Design fashion show is back! Re-Fashioned will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Siebel Center. Admission is free. Students from the Studio Arts Fashion Concentration will be presenting over 100 one-of-a-kind ensembles. Wearable works of art walk the runway, combining sustainability and creativity in a fun event for the whole family. 

     

  4. CTAC spring 2025: meeting recording and presentation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC)
    Bike at Illinois Website and Campaign
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Support Mobility Innovation (Fliss)
    University Bicycle Ordinance
    2024 Campus Bike Plan
    Reduce Emissions from Business Travel
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Reduce Driving on Campus
    Bike Share with Veo

    The Campus Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) met on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 1 - 2:30 p.m.. Following was the agenda for the meeting:

    • Introduction – Morgan White (5 minutes)
    • Old Business
      • F&S TDM Status Update – Stacey DeLorenzo and Sarthak Prasad (25 minutes)
      • Lincoln Ave Corridor Study (North of Florida Ave) – CCRPC (15 minutes)
      • Bike Share Updates– Sarthak Prasad (5 minutes)
    • New Business
      • EV infrastructure research – Bhagyashree (10 minutes)
      • E-bike research – Bhagyashree (10 minutes)
      • Air Travel Emissions research – Karina Jang (10 minutes)
      • 2025 Transportation Survey – Sepideh Azizi (10 minutes)
    • Community Updates – (5 minutes) 

    Please see attached the slides from meeting. To view the recording, please go to https://uofi.box.com/s/f9vq8w52a4tjmu154ecuspfyfjqb9784.

    Attached Files: 

  5. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center


    Friday was a busy day. First up was the quad event, which despite the rainy weather earlier in the day, ended up being a dry time and quite popular. We’ve had 2 – 3 people come by CBC after having been at the Quad event, so it’s definitely getting some new folks aware of our space. Our open hours were not crazy busy on the bike side of things, but our gear rental partners were positively slammed, which created some logjams at the entrance—nothing we couldn’t handle!

    This week we have our last Instructional Class of the semester, and unfortunately the lead staffer for that program is graduating. Replicating that staffer’s expertise and enthusiasm for the work will be a tall order.

    Tonight is the Bike Project Members’ Meeting, which I’ll be attending.

    Warm weather this week, so we’ll likely be busy.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 60
    Sales: $1,005.25
    Memberships: 9 for $270
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $360
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $111

  7. Weekly digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Last week was decidedly unbusy, surprisingly! Easter weekend made for a quieter Friday.

    We have two new student staff joining us this week or next. Should have a couple weeks to train them up before they forget everything over the summer. Summer learning loss isn’t just for book-learning!

     

    Warmer weather this week should bump our visit numbers. Tomorrow is a bike light giveaway, which we’ll mention to folks who come in today. Elsewhere, still turning out the bikes and hovering around 20 fixed up and ready for sale.

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 65
    Sales: $405.50
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Tires/tubes: 10 for $83

  10. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    On Thursday was another installment of our instructional class, which went well. Friday was our first Bike Center on the Quad event, which also went well. We also received our first end-of-semester/graduation donation.

     

    We have a handful of bikes in the queue which we’ll finalize/safety check this week.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 39
    Sales: $327
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tires/tubes: 4 for $25

  11. Land and Water April Monthly Meeting Minutes and Notes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Rainwater Management
    Rainwater Management Plans
    Prairie Restoration at Florida & Orchard

    This month, the Land and Water team had their monthly meeting on Friday, April 4, at 9:00 am on a Teams video call. Linked below is the meeting agenda with the meeting notes from what the team discussed. Additionally, a recording of the meeting is linked in the agenda. 

    Attached Files: 

  13. Weekly digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Things are picking up and to meet demand, we’ll work on getting some more bikes for sale. We did have nice 3 speed Build-a-Bike finished this week. 

    Hoped to have a few more bikes done this last week but all of the ones I safety checked failed and then some—damaged wheels/broken components—but such is the plight of repairing old bikes. 

    Tonight is the Bike Project Monthly Members Meeting. 

    This week is our first Bike Center on the Quad Day. Fingers crossed for good weather and a good turnout!

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 59
    Sales: $328
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $150
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $24
     

  14. ISEE News about EV stations

    Associated Project(s): 
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

    A sustainable transportation initiative supported by iSEE is conducting an on-campus research project on electric vehicle (EV) charging as a part of its overall project plan. This three-part study will help gather direct user data related to EV charging on campus, AC outlets.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    We were closed last week for Spring Break. Used the quiet time to crank out a few more bikes. We’re hovering around double digits in the for-sale department. With the final batch of bikes out of the barn, I’ll be able to do an earnest inventory and have my staff sort bikes between For Sale/B-a-Bs. A little clarity in that realm will hopefully elp move bikes along a little quicker.

     

    This week we will resume being open Mon – Fri.

    The following numbers are from 3/10 - 3/14:

     

    Visitors: 64
    Sales: $1,196.15
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $650
    Memberships: 10 for $300
    Tires/tubes:  10 for $60.75

  16. Learn About the Campus' New Rainwater Management Program

    Associated Project(s): 
    Rainwater Management Program
    Water Conservation [ARCHIVED]
    Rainwater Management Plans
    Rainwater Management

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Rainwater Management Program showcases a future vision for the campus that emphasizes the importance of rainwater retention and replenishment. The goal is to transition from the traditional viewpoint of stormwater runoff as a maintenance issue to one that envisions rainwater as an asset to preserve, harness and celebrate. Learn more about the program’s release in a virtual forum on from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 2. Preregistration is required to attend the webinar. The RMP was funded by the Student Sustainability Committee.

    Learn About the Campus' New Rainwater Management Program

    April 2, 3–4 pm

    Betsy Richardson • Facilities & Services

  17. Safety and Efficiency in Fume Hood Selection

    Associated Project(s): 
    Reduce Active Fume Hoods
    Green Research Committee

    Safety and Efficiency in Fume Hood Selection

    Laboratory fume hoods are critical in protecting laboratory personnel from chemical exposure; however, fume hoods may also be the largest energy consumers in a research university campus. The Grainger College of Engineering Office of Safety invites campus facilities, safety and laboratory personnel to an in-depth presentation on the latest developments in fume hood technologies, and how to leverage them to create the safest and most energy-efficient laboratories. More details and the registration link can be found at: https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/30/871793530.html

    March 27, 12–1 pm • 3002 Electrical and Computer Engineering Building

    Edward Chainani • Grainger College of Engineering

  19. Archived info - prior project background info

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

    The Revolving Loan Fund is managed by Facilities & Services (F&S) Utility and Energy Services that calculates cost avoidance from an RLF project using the fully loaded utility rates. The loan will be repaid at a fixed 1% interest rate with an annual payment equal to the calculated annual savings until the loan is fully repaid. When a project is funded by multiple funding sources, the annual savings to be returned to the RLF will be calculated by the payback associated with the work completed by the entire project.

    Project Submission and Selection

    Potential projects will be solicited from campus units by F&S Utility and Energy Services when there is at least $1M in funds available for allocation. Projects will be submitted through a web​-based PDF form by the requesting campus department. 

    Project selection will be handled through the RLF Committee that includes the Executive Director of Facilities and Services, Associate Provost for Capital Planning, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Student Sustainability Committee Chair, Illinois Student Senate President, and a representative of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. The Committee will meet on a semiannual basis to approve/reject projects. 

    Project selection will be based on the following weighted criteria: 

    1. Payback Period (30%)
      Project has a short payback period.
    2. Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (25%) 
      Does this project reduce greenhouse gas emissions for campus?
    3. Revolving Loan Fund Size Impact (20%)
      Projects that increase the Revolving Loan Fund size through grants or additional allocations.
    4. Visibility (5%)
      How visible/noticeable is the project to users of the facility, space and/or campus community?
    5. Project Coordination (20%)
      Projects that can be executed in conjunction with other planned or ongoing projects. The intent of the coordination is to make the RLF project more efficient to deliver for the University and/or departments.

    Project Tracking 
    Revolving Loan Fund projects are tracked using the Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS). This interactive system tracks annual energy, financial, and carbon savings from energy efficiency and other resource conservation measures.  ​

  20. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    A full week of warm weather is forthcoming, so we should be busy. We’ll be closed next week for Spring Break and right after that our full Mon – Fri schedule will resume. This Thursday we have another Instructional Class—hopefully it’s as well-attended as the last one!

     

    This week, we’ll also grab the last of the worth-our-trouble abandoned bikes from storage.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 36
    Sales: 767.38
    Bikes (Refurb): 2 for $395
    Memberships: 7 for $210
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $32

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