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.

  2. New iSEE Green Event and Green Office Certification

    Associated Project(s): 
    Certified Greener Campus Programs
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Certified Green Event Program

    Congratulations to the newest recipients of the Green Office and Green Event Certification programs!

    Green Event:

    iSEE Illini Lights Out, Certified September 2022

    Illini Lights Out is a series of reoccurring events (Sept. 23, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 2) where students volunteer to turn off lights in academic buildings around campus. They are saving energy and promoting sustainability in the progress!

    Green Office:

    University Library Conservation Lab, Gold Certified September 2022

    The University Library Conservation Lab is gold certified with 34 elective actions taken! They notably upgraded their photo documentation lights from incandescent bulbs to LED rated, and the LED lights came from another section of Preservation Services where they were no longer in use. 

    Keep up the great work!

  3. Insider article on 9/21/22: Ahead of the Curve and All Electric

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    F&S Sustainable Fleet Plan
    Decrease Emissions from UI Fleet
    Increase use of EVs and other Alternative Service Vehicles

    F&S purchased two all electric Ford F-150 Lightning trucks in spring 2022. Read the Insider article about this here: https://fs.web.illinois.edu/Insider/2022/09/21/ahead-of-the-curve-and-al...

    Attached Files: 

  4. Scope Change and Extension request approved

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    From: Student Sustainability Committee 
    Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 2:31 PM
    To: White, Morgan
    Cc: recycling@illinois.edu; Varney, Peter W 
    Subject: Re: Extension request for Dump and Run

     

    Hi All,

     

    This Scope Change was approved! Sorry for the late response!

     

    Please let us know if any additional information is needed on our end!

     

    Best,

     

    SSC

  6. Weekly Update: BTWD, LTN, Build-a-Bike, very busy this week

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Real busy times last week. Shop was manageably busy, but we had BTWD and LTN on consecutive days. Both events went well. I spent more time at the DRES stop than the Bike Center station, which was a new experience. Lots of folks on that route, and I was able to talk route-planning and commuting strategy with some people new to commuting. Weather cooperated swimmingly.

    We had a deluge of completed B-a-Bs last week. Always good to see the smiling faces of rewarded effort. Marketing folks came by and updated some of our filing cabinets and bins with printed (legible) labels and photos of contents to better help people find and identify parts. We’re still slower on Tue/Thurs as we work to get the word out that we’re now open those days as well.

    We’ll work this week on a couple shop builds we’ve been too busy to finish, prep for the abandoned bike giveaway, and clean shop as we’ve been too busy to do much of any of that in the last two weeks.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 86
    Sales: $1,084.30
    Bikes (B-a-B): 3 for $150

    Memberships: 17 for $510
    Tires/tubes: 10 for $59

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  7. Waste Transfer Station Tour and Plastics Request

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sculptures
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Deke Weaver, Professor in the School of Art & Design, requested a tour of the Waste Transfer Station, as well as asked the following questions: 

    1. Do any of you have a rough estimate of how many plastic water bottles the U of I population goes through in a day (week, month, year)?

    2. Would it be possible to collect a few of the plastic water bottles from the recycling center for this project?

    Weaver is working on a public engagement piece about the oceans, climate, plastics and interconnected ecosystems and needs approximately 2500-4000 bottles. The project is a whale sculpture named CETACEAN. 

    Shawn Patterson from Facilities & Services replied explaining that the waste transfer station acquires 2-3 thousand pounds of plastics each month and will be able to accommodate the professor's need for plastics.

  8. Air Quality Monitoring Station Project Updates

    Associated Project(s): 
    Air Quality Monitoring Station

     

    Air Quality Monitoring Station Project Updates:

    • The project is still underway as the initial phase of data collection is completed.
    • Collected air concentration and weather data at 15-minute’s intervals for a year. The data will be made public for use by campus.
    • Past data is being used to develop data filters to prevent outliers and data imputations in the proposed dashboard being implemented on PowerBI.
    • Public dashboard to be released to telecast live data through API access before the end of 2022.
    • Collected data being used for advanced research at Land Use Evolution and Assessment Lab (LEAM) to identify the potential for low-cost sensor deployment for urban scenario predictions.

     

     

  9. L&W iCAP Meeting 9/16/2022

    Associated Project(s): 
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Campus Landscape Master Plan (CLMP)
    Cover Crops on South Farms
    Vet Med Parking Lot Re-Design
    Increase Pollinator-Friendly Areas

    On September 16th, the Land & Water iCAP team met to identify projects that need to be wrapped up, review the key priorities document, and discuss recommendations to be completed in the short term.

    Meeting minutes are attached.

    Attached Files: 

  10. F&S meets with North American to discuss green cleaning practices

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Cleaning Products and Practices

    Good morning Eric, Molly, and Zach,

     

    I hope this message finds your team well. I wanted to follow up with you after the presentation from last week and make sure that you have my contact information going forward, since I joined the Facilities & Services team so recently. I was very excited to see the zero waste pillar included in so many of the solutions you presented, especially regarding the green cleaning chemicals.

     

    One of the projects that the F&S waste management interns and I have been working on the past few weeks is finding chemical alternatives for all the cleaning products that BSWs currently use that would satisfy the requirements for WELL and LEED certifications. This has proven to be challenging, as no single brand we researched had a comprehensive program to address all our needs. After hearing about the WAXIE green cleaning program, I am interested in continuing the conversation about this! I’d love to learn more about what products North American would recommend for the university.

     

    Thank you,

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    ZERO WASTE COORDINATOR
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

     

     

    Thank you Daphne for your email, and it was great meeting you last week!

     

    Pete and Macie made it very apparent how important Zero Waste is to the university, so I am sure you have the university’s complete support in your efforts.

     

    I was telling Macie in a separate email chain that I am working on next steps with CIF, Can Liners, Robotics, and we can also continue the chemical conversation as it relates to Waxie Solsta.

     

    I am attaching a product sheet that shares which solutions the system has that are third party registered and what those certifications are (review pages 28-29). These are just the products that are in the dilution control system, which means they would do 90% of the daily cleaning for the buildings.

     

    When we come down next week, we can dive in a little deeper and develop a list of chemicals to trial.

     

    Thank you everyone!

    Zach

     


     

    Attached Files: 

  11. EV charging stations and a personalized update about EVs - Robert O'Daniell

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

    Following is an email from Robert O'Daniell regarding EV charging stations and his experience during his recent road trip.

    From: Robert O'Daniell
    Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2022 2:58 PM
    To: White, Morgan; Prasad, Sarthak; Kontou, Eleftheria
    Subject: A personalized update about EVs

     

    Hi - I did another roadtrip this weekend.  At a DCFC I chatted with a guy on a longer road trip that was intent on charging to 100%.   He was there a very long time as the charger slows remarkably as they go beyond 90%. For him to charge from 90% to 100% would take 15 minutes to get 25 miles. I spent 12 minutes at Target and got 75 miles of charge. 

     

    As this year has rolled on, attempts to improve my EV charging survey has waned. There has been decreasing willingness of people participating and I was having doubts about the questions I was asking.   So I have stopped.  And then the EV sections of the Inflation Reduction Act turned everything on its head.  

    Even the piece by Kontou that the July 28th IDOT WebEx meeting mentioned  as cutting edge shows its age in only a little over two years.  ( first a disclaimer - inspite of being a math major at UI 50 years ago, the equations and graphs in her report are a little too esoteric for me.)  But some of the basic information  demonstrates remarkable changes,  It mentioned 50 kw charging as fast, now NEVI mandates a minimum of 150kw (350 kw is now fast).   Mentioned charging locations that numbered at 1300.  Now Tesla alone has 1200 supercharger locations,  The mentioned EVgo has dropped from prominence, now Electrify America from its infancy in 2019 now leads the way. Electrify America currently has 800 and most are up to NEVI standards.   EVs charging up on off-peak hours takes advantage of unused capacity at those times ( and gets a discount). And now with two way charging, EVs can put power back on the grid at some heavy peak use periods. (Known as V2G)  Predictions of some EV issues will be difficult.


    Recent V2G articles.  

    https://electrek.co/2022/08/25/electric-school-buses-supply-80-hrs-energy-massachussetts-grid/

     

    BMW, Ford, GM will help incentivize California EV drivers to charge off-peak

     

    Can a Garage Full of Revel Taxis Stop the Next Blackout?

     

    Brooklyn-based Vehicle-to-Grid Bidirectional Station Charging back into NYC Grid | EnergyTech

     

    Alf+T0JozD8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

     

    So - EV charging will have two opposite effects on the grid.  Occasionally add to a peak load. But also help balance the load on the grid by taking some energy during off-peak hours and putting it back during peak load pressures. 

     

    EV charging also has another opposition.   DCFC continuing to get faster and  Levels 1 & 2 staying the same or getting slower. 


    The two factors are the "60% rule" and the increasing acceptance of convenience charging. 

     

     The 60% rule is to only charge between 20% and 80% (the 60% in the middle).   This protects battery life and has the advantage of saving time. Saved time is illustrated in the opening paragraph of this email.  3 times the charge in slightly less time.

     

    Accepting convenience charging is maximizing charging convenience.  Speed at DCFC.  And if its not convenient, I don’t charge (even if free). A different take on “Willingness To Pay” (if the charger is 100 yards away and I’ll only get 10 miles, why bother)

     

    Faster = = DCFC & the NEVI guidelines. DCFC is at least twice as fast when charging from 20% to 30% than it is when  charging from 70% to 80%.  Nobody (should) wants to charge to 100%, where the charging speed is similar to Level 2 charger.  Lots of current EVs charge faster than my car, and I can add 75 miles in the time it takes to use the rest room.  With the NEVI 50 mile interval, it guarantees roadtrips with minimal times as drivers plan better. 


    Slower = =  For my home, I spent $200 on the slowest level 2 charger available (16 amp).  Even if my VW is down to 20% when I go to bed, my "slow" charger will add enough range to get from CU to Woodridge ( 142 miles) when I get up.  In the 8 hour “off peak” window, 90 miles can be added. 

     

    Since few people in this area need 75 miles to get home from work, those that need to add charge before leaving work for home can get what they need from the slowest level 2 chargers.  This could save money for places like UI by reducing the cost of the EVSE and the necessary wiring for them.  It would be interesting to know if any workers at UI would  pay extra to rent a reserved parking space with a charger. (For those with longer commutes or no chargers at their apartment complex)

     

    We need to get our municipal leaders to get involved with IDOT and get one or more of the DCFC locations paid for with Federal money (NEVI program). Those DCFCs could fulfill all of UI needs for short term EV charging and the need for level 1 or 2 charging spaces.   But as a visible sign of support of sustainability issues, some should still be there. 

     

    Level 2 destination chargers scattered throughout the community will always be both used and appreciated,  As EV drivers learn the most efficient ways to charge, their WTP for level 2 charging will wane.   WTP for DCFC will always be there.


    Thank you for your time. 

     

    ps.  as a side note - a few details to go but I will be doing an EV interest group at OLLI soon.  (OLLI - UI affiliate of Osher Life Long Learning Institute)

     

    Robert K. O'Daniell

    Photographer Emeritus-News-Gazette

  13. ZW007 Composting Strategies - Successful

    Associated Project(s): 
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)

    iSEE Director, Madhu Khanna, responded in favor of the ZW007 Composting Strategies recommendation with the following message:

    ================

    Dear Morgan and Jen

    iSEE is very supportive of discussing composting program expansion opportunities and we appreciate the submittal of this recommendation. We have established and supported the implementation of several compost tumblers on campus and participate in a Sustainable Land Management Committee to work on identifying potential compost opportunities at South Farms. This committee is currently working on establishing an outlet for composting manure with the intent of expanding to include campuswide organic waste, excluding the waste from Dining Halls as they already divert their organic waste through Grind2Energy Systems.

    We have now had time to discuss the recommendation below in more detail. In the near term, we have initiated conversations to pilot a program between the Union and Urbana Landscape Recycling Center to assess demand and logistical details needed to support such a program. Many of the individuals included on the proposed committee membership list are included in these discussions, and progress will be continuously reported on the iCAP Portal. As you recommended, we are gathering these stakeholders to discuss composting.  Because it is a large and complex issue, we are taking a less structured approach than a formal committee. We will reassess the launch of such a group as we move forward with the Union pilot project. Thank you again for your dedication to campus waste diversion.

    Best wishes,
    Madhu

    ================

    See the iWG assessment and transmittal of ZW007 Composting Strategies here. 
    See the submittal of ZW007 Composting Strategies here.

    For future updates, please refer to the Large-Scale Food Waste Composting  project.

  14. Weekly Update: Bike to Work Day and Light the Night this week, Abandoned bicycles

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Light the Night
    C-U Bike to Work Day

    All, The visitor numbers seem low for how busy it felt this past week. Had a few students step up, volunteer, and enjoy it enough to come back in the last few weeks. That’s always a good sign we’re doing something right.

    I was out Thursday/Friday and my staff handled the Bike Center in my absence. No major issues, so I call that a success.

    We’ve got BTWD and LTN this week, back-to-back days, on Wed then Thursday. Weather looks good (at this point).

    This Friday is the last day for students to claim their abandoned bikes so my staff and I will count the remaining ones that we’ll be able to use. From there, I’ll coordinate with Working Bikes to pick up the rest—potentially as soon as next week. The influx of bikes will be a boon to for our programs as we look to build back stock.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 49
    Sales: $895
    Memberships: 15 for $450
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 15 for $70

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  15. iSEE Green Event Certification

    Associated Project(s): 
    Certified Greener Campus Programs
    Certified Green Event Program

    Congratulations to the newest recipients of our Green Event Certification Program!

    • University of Illinois Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration — Certified September 2022
    • Chancellor’s Office for Special Events & Commencement University of Johannesburg Dinner — Certified September 2022
    • Office of the Chancellor – Special Events/Commencement Seitu Jones/Washington Carver Project Dinner — Certified September 2022
    • Office of the Chancellor for Special Events MSI Alliance Dinner — Certified September 2022
    • Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Farewell Reception for Provost Cangellaris — Certified September 2022
    • Office of the Provost Orientation for New Academic Leaders — Certified September 2022
    • Office of the Provost Illinois New Faculty Orientation (INFO) — Certified September 2022
    • Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Chancellor’s Distinguished Staff Awards — Certified September 2022
    • Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Illinois vs. Wyoming Football Pregame Event — Certified September 2022
    • Chancellor’s Office for Special Events Shield Appreciation Event — Certified September 2022
    • Parkland College Cobra Carnival — Certified May 2022

    Keep up the great work!

  16. Resilience iCAP Team September 2022 Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Resilience iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    Urban Biodiversity Master Plan
    Rainwater Management Plans
    Environmental Justice Plan
    Local Sustainability Issues
    Green Jobs
    Vision Zero
    Develop Local Carbon Offset Program

    The Resilience iCAP Team had its first online meeting of the year on Friday, September 9th from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. The team reviewed the Resilience Charge Letter, talked about ground rules of the team, reviewed seven Resilience iCAP objectives, and shared updates on each objective. Meeting minutes and ground rules documents are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

  18. Weekly Update: Open weekdays, BTWD, LTN

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, This week we begin being open the full week (minus Monday for Labor Day). Hopefully we’ll be able to better help folks, as we’ve had lines for stand time most days during our M/W/F schedule.

    We’re out of bikes but have been selling a good number of memberships. I’ll be out on Thurs/Fri but my staff will cover.

    We’ve taken a step back technologically and had good results: Printed membership forms are easier for folks to fill out, take less time, and we have more clipboards than computers which means we can get people working on their bikes sooner. Manually entering the forms afterwards and the environmental toll are worth it during these super-busy times.

    I’ll do some prep on my end for BTWD and LTN next week.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 102
    Sales: $1,865
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $655
    Memberships: 24 for $720
    Tires/tubes: 22 for $144

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  19. archived info - previous project description and background

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Dashboard Project

    Project Description

    The Illini Energy Dashboard provides clearly visible understandable information data and information to students and staff of selected University buildings describing energy consumption rate (electrical, chilled water and steam) so that users can make educated choices about the way they can affect energy consumption and conservation. The biggest challenge in successfully creating a campus-wide goal of energy reduction is being able to evoke a behavioral change resulting in energy conservation and sustainability efforts. This project aims to achieve such a change by showing energy consumers at the University how they're consuming energy in a clear way.

    The Energy Dashboard Project is a multi-part project that includes implementation of a website, connection of existing real-time energy meters, and installations of additional real-time energy meters throughout campus.  With support from the Student Sustainability Committee, this project funded the purchase of the website module for the campus' energy data historian program, through Insight.  F&S staff oversaw the implementation of the module, and ECI staff developed the look and reference content of the site.  The website went live in early 2012, and existing real-time meters have been connected.  At this time, additional metering is underway.

    Project Background

    The conversion factors used in the dashboard display are:

    •     Average US Household: 901 kWh/month, 30.03 kWh/day
    •     CFL light bulb: 15 watts, 360 Wh/day, 0.360 kWh/day
    •     Refrigerator: 180 watts, 4320 Wh/day, 4.320 kWh/day
    •     22" LED TV: 30 watts, 720 Wh/day, 0.720 kWh/day

    Previous Related File is attached

    Attached Files: 

  20. ZW007 Composting Strategies - Transmitted

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting

    Following review by the iCAP Working Group, the iWG recommends that the ZW007 Composting Strategies recommendation be transmitted to iSEE:

    "Because these discussions are at the beginning stages in various formats and topics, the iWG recommends that iSEE collaborate with the Zero Waste iCAP Team to plan and host a discussion/symposium/workshop in FY23 to share knowledge about composting programs, efforts, and strategies for campus and the community. A review of known solutions from other places and an assessment of anticipated costs for composting strategies should be included, and include presentations from experts on best practices."

    See the submittal of ZW007 Composting Strategies here.

    Attached Files: 

Pages