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Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects

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  3. Media Hits

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-01-20/solar-farm-construction-start-spring-ui.html

    http://www.illinoishomepage.net/story/d/story/south-farms-to-include-sol...

    http://www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_20693.shtml

    http://sustainability.illinois.edu/big-news-from-facilities-services-sol...

    http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2015/01/21/dd-obama-no-challenge-poses-...

    http://wgil.com/v3/2015/01/21/u-of-illinois-gets-ok-to-hire-california-f...

    http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/4798ffaa7e8a4a4d869ef07afe8be884/I...

    http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/ui-gets-ok-to...

    http://www.energycentral.com/news/en/34977147/-Solar-farm-design-work-co...?

    http://www.bnd.com/2015/01/21/3621109/ui-gets-ok-to-hire-california.html

    http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/9878155-solar-farm-construction-to-start-in...

  5. Solar Farm Agreements Signed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    CHAMPAIGN, IL (January 20, 2015) –  Construction of a 5.87 megawatt (MW) Solar Farm on campus will begin in Spring 2015 after university and state officials approved power purchase and land lease agreements with Phoenix Solar South Farms, LLC.

    See the attached release, fact sheet, and poster for more details.

    Attached Files: 

  6. Previous iCAP Portal overview

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    To increase the use of renewable energy sources for campus electrical needs and meet the commitments set by the 2010 Climate Action Plan, the University of Illinois issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a firm to design, build, operate, and maintain (DBOM) a Solar Farm at the Urbana campus with a corresponding Power Purchase Agreement.  The Solar Farm will be connected directly to the University’s electrical distribution system in parallel with the electrical service provided by the local utility.

    The University provides electricity, chilled water, and steam service to more than 50,000 people (faculty, staff and students) who work, learn, and/or live on the campus.  The electricity generated from campus is delivered to the campus via the University’s owned and operated distribution system.  Although the University’s grid is connected to the local utility transmission and distribution system, which receives transmission services from the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO), the University will use all of the electricity generated from the solar farm project.

    Background

    The University is seeking a proposal to lease 21 acres of land in the South Farms area, for the installation and operation of a Solar Farm.  The University will lease the land to the selected Proposer for $1.00 per year and establish a Power Purchase Agreement for the renewable energy.  The Proposer will be responsible for design, construction, permitting, transportation needs, operation, and maintenance of the Solar Farm, as well as connection to the University’s electrical grid.

     

  7. Housing recycling bin test project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Install Appropriate Waste Collection Infrastructure

    During the fall ’14 semester, University Housing was able to acquire a recycling bin from MaxR through their Free Bin Friday promotional event. The bin was specifically designed for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign using our colors and logo, and currently resides at the entrance of 57 North inside the Student Dining and Residential Programs Building (SDRP).

    A suggestion was made to use this bin, along with the recycling bins recently purchased for the main quad, to conduct a test to determine if the branding of a bin would impact recycling participation among our student population.

    The test would be conducted at the north entrance of SDRP, and would take place during the spring ’15 semester once weather is more favorable for outdoor foot traffic. All existing trash receptacles would be removed and replaced with the MaxR bin and the appropriately signed bins for the main quad. The test would be conducted for a two week period with the containers switching places after the first week to eliminate positioning as a possible cause for false results. Data would be collected and analyzed by ISCT to determine participation and contamination rates for each style of container. The results would be available made available to various sustainability groups across campus including ISTC and ISEE.

  8. idea for online content

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Ben McCall suggested a central repository of information about "how to deal with stuff" on our campus -- maybe a website called zerowaste.illinois.edu.  He suggested it could perhaps be a collaboration between F&S, ISTC, and iSEE.  Morgan replied with the recommend ation that we use an existing website with a short URL rather than set up a completely new one, and then get a short URL for it. 

    The current pages for our campus are the F&S Waste Management and Recycling page at http://www.fs.illinois.edu/services/waste-management-recycling, and the iCAP Portal repository page at https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/themes/procurement-waste.

    Urbana has a similar site at: http://urbanaillinois.us/residents/recycling-program-u-cycle/where-do-i-take-it.

  9. 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.

  10. update from Bart

    Associated Project(s): 
    Recycling for the Quad

    From: Bartels, Bart A
    Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 11:14 AM
    To: Johnston, Morgan B; Osby, Tracy L; Welch, Ryan B
    Subject: Recycling on the Quad recap
     

    Hi All,

    Here is an overview of yesterday’s meeting.  Please let me know if I have misunderstood anything or left something out.  I have attached a worddoc version if you prefer to read from that.

    Actions

    Bart

    ·         is going to pick up one case of 33 gallon liners from Tracy and take them to Ryan’s storage area near the Quad.

    ·         Needs to contact Sean in the sign shop to change the recycling lid signage from “Funded by SSC” to “Partially Funded by SSC”.

    ·         Will coordinate collecting the lids and get them to the sign shop for sandblasting and painting.

    ·         Get Ryan a copy of the map.  Review with Ryan for changes.

    ·         Send Ryan an overview of the Recycling experiment with Housing

    Ryan

    ·         his team is going to use the liners in the recycling bins.  The idea is to pick up the recycling as needed and place the bags in the Green garbage truck to then be dropped off at the south bay of the WTS.  Adjustments could eventually be made to the process in an attempt to solve any problems.  Options could include:

    o   Not using liners and instead making two separate runs through the Quad, one for recycling and then one for landfill.  The recycling could be hauled to the WTS or bagged and dropped off in one of the dumpsters.

    o   Pick up recycling and landfill on alternating days.

    ·         Will take care of moving the bins into place and contacting the iron workers to get them secured.

    ·         Will check out his storage area for extra bin lids.  Any extra lids could be used to reduce the amount of time the Quad bins would have to go without a lid.

    TIMELINE

    January

    ·         complete lid signage

    ·         get liners to Ryan

    February

    ·         collect lids and take to sign shop for sandblasting, painting, and signage application

    ·         Take completed recycling lids and put them back out on the Quad

    ·         Run recycling bin experiment with Housing

    March

    ·         On Spring Break, move bins into position and have iron workers bolt them down

    ·         Launch the project following spring break with student volunteers leading promotion

    October

    ·         End the project and review for changes that could include expansion, adaptation, or reversing course. 

    BUDGET

    New Bins                                        $12,000

    New Signage                                    $1500

    Sandblasting and Painting lids   $3000

    Transporting Bins to campus     $1000

    ISTC Waste Audits                         $5000

    TOTAL                                             $22,500

     

     

  13. Update from Ben McCall

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Parking Master Plan
    F&S Sustainable Fleet Plan
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Support the MTD Bus System

    Dear Transportation SWATeam,  [Sorry for the barrage of emails...this is the last one for this morning!]

    I met with Michelle Wahl from Parking late last week, and she had some very useful comments on the iCAP draft that I thought I should share with you:

    1) She mentioned that in years past, she used to receive "idling reports" on her vehicles, which must have been equipped with some sort of system that tracked when the vehicles were idling.  This raised the question of whether such technology could be deployed widely on our fleet, rather than focusing only on "class 6 and above trucks" (neither of us knew exactly what that means).

    2) She was concerned about the financial aspects of providing additional opportunities for people to purchase less than full-time parking privileges in lots with wait lists...this is probably something that deserves further discussion.  If Parking allows someone to drop their full-time parking pass for a particular lot and instead purchase less than full-time for the same spot, their revenue will decrease.  This is concerning because Parking is legally required to be self-supporting -- they cannot receive any subsidy from campus, nor can they make a profit.

    3) She recommended adding a recommendation that parking rates be increased to provide a dis-incentive for single-occupancy vehicle use. 

    This would also be essential if the number of parking permits sold were to decrease, as Parking's costs are essentially fixed. Raising rates would be a challenge because they are subject to collective bargaining, but it has been successfully done on other campuses (including UIC). 

    Having an explicit call for this in the iCAP might help provide ammunition for such efforts.

    4) She recommended some investigation of the subsidy that Parking currently provides to MTD.  At present, Parking pays over $500K per year for this, ostensibly to support the buses that run to the "shuttle lot" (E-14, I think).  But this amount greatly exceeds the total revenue that Parking receives from selling permits in the shuttle lot.  She thought it was worth making sure that the amount Parking is contributing towards the MTD is the appropriate amount, because any funds that could be "saved" there could be directed towards other sustainability-related initiatives within Parking.

    5) She pointed out that there are now 18 "Level 1" charging stations for electric vehicles on campus, and Parking has plans to install some "Level 2" charging stations in 2015.  She thought it might be worth showcasing this work on page 29 of the current draft, and I am inclined to agree.

    Cheers,

    Ben

  14. Update from Ben McCall

    Associated Project(s): 
    Biomass Boiler at the Energy Farm

    Dear Tim,

    Some bad news to report.  The Revolving Loan Fund committee elected to defer consideration of the funding for the biomass boiler, because they were concerned that the operational and maintenance issues were not yet worked out.  This is not as bad of news as I first thought, because the RLF process is going to be revamped in the spring to be more of a "rolling deadline" process, so we should be able to go back to them sometime in the spring and get a quick response.

    Given the delay in RLF funding, it seems to make sense to delay our proposal to ICECF until July.  Another important consideration here is that the North Campus Parking Deck Solar project is evidently going to apply to ICECF in January, and there is at least some concern about submitting two proposals from campus in the same round.  Yet another consideration is that upon reviewing the ICECF form, we noticed that they are looking for a well-developed educational plan...and we have not really spent any time working on that.

    So I'm afraid we are in a bit of limbo here, until we get the O&M issues resolved and the MOU with F&S finalized. Hopefully we can tackle that in January, so that we're ready to go back to RLF as soon as their process re-opens.

    At least we've finally made great headway on the engineering work, and will have some real budgetary numbers to work with soon...!

    Cheers,

    Ben

     

  15. Climate Change issues

    Associated Project(s): 
    LAS Honors College - Sustainability Partners [ARCHIVED]
    Independent Student Projects

    Congzhu Ruan's report on Climate Change issues - part one.  Part two will be produced in Spring 2015.  She said, "Here is the draft of the report,it basically covers all the points but I plan to do some editing (to correct typos and grammar if there's some, perhaps add some new points if I find some!) this winter to make it better."

    Attached Files: 

  16. Final CEE 398 Fall 2014 reports

    Associated Project(s): 
    CEE Project Based Learning (PBL)
    Independent Student Projects
    • Evaluation of Implementing Low-Flow Toilets in University Buildings and Associated Economic and Environmental Benefits
    • Feasibility Study of Green Walls at the University of Illinois
    • Evaluating Greywater Usage at the BIF in Replacement for Potable Water in Toilets
    • Powering Up E-14: A Feasibility Study on Implementing Solar Panels as Parking Coverage
    • Feasibility of Introducing LEED Lab at the University of Illinois
    Attached Files: 

  17. Community Resources Inc interested in partnering with iSEE

    Associated Project(s): 
    Styrecycle: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling program [ARCHIVED]

    On 12/03/2014 03:06 PM, Bartels, Bart A wrote:

    Hi Everyone,

    I just concluded a conversation with Matt Snyder of Community Resource Inc (CRI).  He is very interested in housing a densifier.  I am going to set up a meeting with him to work out the details and get pricing.  This is going to be the proposal based on his interests and our needs:

    Participating buildings will have a Gaylord on the dock for EPS dropoff.  CRI will pick up the gaylords and take the material to their facility, where the densifier or compactor will be housed.  Matt will take care of paying the labor for pick-ups, processing, and sales.  He will be paid out of the sales revenue with part of the revenue coming back to us.  The money coming back will pay for interns that will facility more EPS collection.  The meeting will determine responsibilities and how the revenue will be divided. 

    I am hopeful that we can work out acceptable terms.  Matt wants to make this work.  He said he shipped out a truck load of EPS this morning, even though it didn’t make sense.  I will let you know when the meeting is to take place.

    Bart

  18. Dining ships another gaylord full of gloves

    Associated Project(s): 
    Glove Recycling

    Dear all,

    Michael at Housing  just got another Gaylord full of gloves ready to ship at dining services. Making the total pounds of gloves recycled at Dining to over 1000lbs in just four months!

    Way to go all!!

    Regards,

    Shantanu

  20. Working Bikes donation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Michelle,

    This Saturday we removed 390 bicycles from the warehouse.  Of the bikes we planned to ship to Ghana 60 or 70 did not fit into the shipping container.  I am arranging for Working Bikes to come down in a few weeks and pick these up.  I do not have a date yet.  I will let you know as soon as I can confirm details.  There are also about 60 good bikes that I will transfer from the warehouse to the bike center.  I will work with Tina and the other parking employees to get this done.

    Thanks,

    James Roedl

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