SCC Awards Funding for Solar Projects
Associated Project(s):
The SSC awarded funding for Solar at the ECE North Campus Parking Deck project and the Conceptualization phase for Solar at KCPA.
You are here
Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects
Search
Search tips:
- This form will search for words in the title OR the description. If you would like to search for the same term(s) across both the title and description, enter the same search term(s) in both fields.
- This form will search for any of the words you enter in a field, not the exact phrase you enter. If you would like to search for an exact phrase, put double quotes (") around the phrase. For example, if you search for Bike Path you will get results containing either the word Bike OR the word Path, but if you search for "Bike Path" you will get results containing the exact phrase Bike Path.
Pre-proposal meeting and site visit for the Solar Farm
Associated Project(s):Held pre-proposal meeting and site visit for the Solar Farm RFP. Also, submitted the EcoCAT review request regarding that space. Responded to over 30 questions from potential proposers for the Solar Farm RFP.
Anaerobic Digester Study progress
Associated Project(s):Feasibility Study for an Anaerobic Digester at the Beef and Sheep facility on South Farms has funding approved and will move forward with A/E selection.
Recycling Assistant to assist and oversee
Associated Project(s):Tim Hoss was approved as a Recycling Assistant academic hourly position to oversee the implementation of the Food Waste Composting Facility and assist with other iCAP waste management projects.
Biogasification power plant talk
Associated Project(s):F&S met with representatives from the Center for Neighborhood Sustainability to continue discussion of potentially building a biogasification power plant off campus for production of biogas as an alternative fuel for power generation for campus.
EcoCAT documentation initiated
Associated Project(s):IDNR staff will review the project because the Franklin's Ground Squirrel may reside there. They state they will require thirty days of review. The Franklin’s Ground Squirrel resides in culverts and areas with low shrubs and prairie grasses and not in cultivated farm areas. Most of the Solar Farm area has been farmed for years.
RFP released and notices sent to community
Associated Project(s):From: Jack Dempsey Subject: Solar Farm letter ready to go In the interest of keeping an open dialogue with our neighbors, I would like to inform you that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is pursuing the development of a 28.5-acre solar farm on the campus’s South Farms. The attached fact sheet describes the details of the project, including specifics of the proposal, expected timeline, and frequently asked questions about solar farms. This information will be sent to the residents on First Street near the proposed site, with the attached letter. I’m also including the full RFP here in case you are interested. This is expected to go live tomorrow. If you have any questions or suggestions as we move forward with this project, please contact Morgan Johnston, our Sustainability Coordinator copied here. Thanks, Jack RFP and subsequent amendments are online at http://www.procure.stateuniv.state.il.us/dsp_notice.cfm?Uni=UIUC&PN=1KSP....
Battery Recycling Program Preparing to Launch
Associated Project(s):Battery Recycling program containers were ordered in late February. The official launch of this program will be mid-spring.
Grants Cleared Up for Food Waste Composting Project
Associated Project(s):Staff answered questions from DCEO about the FSCRAP grant, in cooperation with University Grants and Contracts. Additionally, staff provided detailed responses to inquiries from students about the status of the project.
Red Bison Works on Plans for Prairie Restoration
Associated Project(s):Staff met with representatives from the Red Bison registered student organization about the prairie at the corner of Florida Avenue and Orchard Street. Red Bison has taken on responsibility for that prairie, and is looking into naming options, signage, and enhanced plantings.
Two Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed
Associated Project(s):Two electric vehicle charging stations were installed for Fleet vehicles at the Garage and Car Pool facility. This was done in conjunction with the purchase of two Chevy Volts for the campus fleet. At this time, the charging stations are not accessible to the public.
Solar Farm Proposal Approved
Associated Project(s):The proposed Solar Farm was taken through the formal Site Selection process for campus, and approved by the Chancellor’s Capital Review Committee (CCRC). Then the Request for Proposal (RFP) was published and over 30 vendors downloaded the RFP. A Fact Sheet and Q&A were sent with introductory letters to the community leaders and Solar Farm site neighbors on First Street.
Krannert initiates solar project for building
Associated Project(s):Krannert Center for Performing Arts worked with F&S Planning to initiate a solar energy project for their building. Funding will be requested from the Student Sustainability Committee this spring, and a DCEO grant will be requested after the initial conceptualization phase is complete.
SSC Weatherization student leader met with the Building Maintenance team
Associated Project(s):The SSC Weatherization student leader met with the Building Maintenance team at F&S to review the student team reports for the small houses they assessed last fall. Building Maintenance will develop cost estimates for the identified needs, so the students can prioritize the available funding ($50,000 from F&S).
Energy Dashboard Presentation at Behavior Change/ Energy Efficiency Conference
Associated Project(s):The Energy Dashboard Project will be a highlighted project at the Behavior Change/ Energy Efficiency Conference.
Illinois Energy Dashboard project, collaboration with the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) and the Department of Facilities and Services (F & S).
This project has been in the works for over a year, with a commitment to provide clearly visible, usable and understandable information to students and staff of chosen University buildings about energy consumption (electrical, chilled water and steam). We are working with InStep Software, Inc., the University of Illinois vendor for the management and predictive analytics software for energy use on campus. We are now in Phase One of implementation, the design of the look and content of our public Energy Dashboard site, testing and the public launching of the first version of the Ilini Energy dashboard (Phase two will support the installation of real time meters in about 10 – 12 builings).
This is one in many of the continuing efforts across campus to pull together and unify the significant educational (and research) efforts of departments and Colleges in reducing negative human impact and enhancing sustainability locally, nationally and globally.
This project is intended to have a threefold effect:· Provide real time information to develop awareness and cultural/behavioral changes in how energy is used (not only in the buildings featured but in all aspects of life).
· Provide information for faculty and students in research.
· Provide details for building staff to better use resources and energy, and make plans for building adaption in ways that may decrease usage over time.
Current Building Information
Associated Project(s):There 24 buildings currently on the Energy Dashboard. Information about electrical, heating, and cooling energy use is available on the website, but not every building has all three sources available at this point in the project.
Attached Files:Jim Sims named as Planner for connection to campus grid
Associated Project(s):Because the Solar Farm is being managed by Purchasing, through the RFP process and contracts, there is not a Planner assigned to the entire Solar Farm project. However, the portion of the project that does relate to campus infrastructure is the connection to the Campus Electrical Grid. That will be under the responsibility of Jim Sims as the Planner.
F&S and ECI Responsibilities
Associated Project(s):The Environmental Change Institute (ECI) and Facilities and Services (F&S) are working in conjunction on the Energy Dashboard with funding from the Student Sustainability Committee. The SSC has set for responsibilities for each group to complete the project.
The Environmental Change Institute is to coordinate meetings with representatives of major stakeholder groups (ECI, SSC, F&S, etc.) for the purpose of development, communication and clarity concerning the scope of the project, funding expenditures, review of phases, and deliverables; coordinate selection of appropriate building for building metering system upgrades that will be providing real-time data to the dashboard display system, assuming that the connections are technically or technologically feasible; develop content for website, including incorporation of new buildings, with input from stakeholders; coordinate marketing, communications with stakeholders, and progress reports; and compose and develop a final project report with input from F&S and other stakeholders as required.
Facilities and Services responsibilities are implementing and launching the Energy Dashboard module; providing technical support for metering, direct digital connections and dashboard website; purchasing software and installing that software with funds designated in the SSC award letter; determining data connections, server needs, IITAA compliance issues for website; communicating regularly with ECI concerning implementation issues and progress updates; installing and connecting upgraded building metering systems; and determining technical feasibility of connecting building metering systems to Dashboard and supporting systems.
The SSC report also included a schedule extension.
Attached Files:FY12-13 Sustainability Project Options
Associated Project(s):The Illini Union submitted proposed projects to the committee for review and approval, see file.
Land Assignment for Solar Farm
Associated Project(s):ACES will transfer assignment of 27.8 acres at Kruse Farm to Facilities & Services to provide property for the solar farm installation. ln exchange, Facilities & Services will provide ACES Crop Sciences with $84,250 to re-establish new organic acres as replacement for their research
plots.Location of land identified for this purpose is near the southwest corner of Windsor Road and First Street, bounded by the railroad tracks to the west and First Street to the east. A total oÍ 27 .B acres has been identified, including the homestead area, as illustrated on the attached map. lf additional acreage is needed, up to a total of 30 acres, land directly east of the homestead area may be made available.
NRES is in the process of developing this farmland to meet organic designation/standards and relocation of this activity will be required in order to accommodate making the land available to F&S. The Department of Crop Sciences has agreed to provide similar acreage to NRES for this purpose. The location of the replacement land will be in the southern portion of the Cruse Farm and is reflected in the 27 acres identified as C1000W 14 acres and C100E 13 acres in the attached map.
To facilitate relocation and to compensate the Department of Crop Sciences, F&S agrees to provide $550/acre for each of 5 years, plus $10,000. Funds would be provided beginning FY12 as outlined below. After the 5-year period, any compensation required by the Department of Crop Sciences will become the responsibility of the Department of NRES.
