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Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects

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  1. 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

  2. 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

  4. 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.  ​

  5. 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

  6. Land and Water Team March Monthly Meeting Minutes and Notes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Increase Pollinator-Friendly Areas
    Campus Rec Water Conservation Incentives
    Benefits of a Large-Scale Prairie Experiment

    The Land and Water team met on March 7th, 2025, at 9 am on Teams this month. In this week's meeting, the team discussed prairie strips, sustainable water usage on campus, milkweed plantings for pollinators, and activities to participate in this coming Arbor Day. The agenda and notes from the meeting are linked below. 

    Attached Files: 

  10. Bird Strikes Meeting Notes 3/3/25

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bird Safety

    Discussed background information regarding Bird Strikes on the UIUC campus such as number of deaths, which buildings/locations on campus cause the largest number of deaths, etc. Further discussed potential solutions and strategies for implementation (including outsourcing, funding, volunteers, etc.) as well as next steps.

    Attached Files: 

  11. Battery Recycling for F&S

    Associated Project(s): 
    Battery Recycling

     

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    Battery Recycling at F&S
    There are three programs for recycling batteries at F&S.

    Rechargeable batteries for tools: The Tool Room provides new rechargeable batteries for F&S tools. When a tool’s rechargeable battery gets too old to hold a charge, return it to the Tool Room for a replacement. The Tool Room will recycle them.

    Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) batteries: The electricians purchase UPS batteries from Interstate Batteries and return them to the same vendor for recycling.  

    Hazardous waste pickup, including batteries: The Division of Research Safety provides a free waste pick-up service that accepts batteries. To request a pick-up, use the Illinois Sign On form at https://unillinois.chemicalsafety.com/unillinois/.

    Some departments at F&S may arrange for battery recycling of their own batteries, but there is no F&S-wide program other than the three mentioned above.

    As a reminder, personal-use batteries cannot be recycled through campus programs. Champaign and Urbana both provide this service. Please visit the appropriate website to learn more:

     

  13. Weekly digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Still slow but have had a few people in looking for bikes or B-a-Bs but no sales on either. With the warmer weather this week, we’ll likely be busier. I’ve got a half dozen bikes to safety check while the weather is cooperating.

    Last week and today we made some more headway on the abandoned bike pile. Still coordinating with some other groups to take some of the junky bikes off our hands.

    Tonight is the Bike Project Monthly Meeting.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 23
    Sales: $82
    Membership: 1 for $30
    Tire/tube: 1 for $6

  14. 02.20 Engagement Team Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Advance Student Sustainability Outreach Efforts
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Certified Green Chapter Program

    The meeting covered several key updates and discussions on sustainability initiatives. The Chair provided updates on the Green Training Program survey, seeking feedback on student engagement strategies. The Vice Chair discussed efforts for a greener campus, including outreach to Greek Life. The Clerk emphasized the importance of in-person meetings and marketing materials. Guest speakers highlighted upcoming events like Sustainapalooza and Illinifest, stressing the logistical challenges and opportunities for student involvement. Discussions included promotional outreach, sustainability projects such as Greener Chapters yard signs and low-maintenance greenery at ISR, and the importance of connecting sustainability efforts across campus. Additionally, engagement team members offered support for these initiatives, and an approved course for next semester was announced. Adam encouraged members to consider speaking at the sustainability film festival.

    Attached Files: 

  16. Weekly digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Uneventful over here. Slow and cold. Plodding away at bikes and wheels to have a good supply of both come the busy times. This week I’ll meet some TBP volunteers to clean out the barn more, as it’ll be March soon.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 19
    Sales: $281.50
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $100
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 1 for $4

  17. Archived project information

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

    Dart Container at 1505 E. Main St., Urbana, accepts expanded polystyrene (EPS), more commonly known by its brand name Styrofoam, for recycling. Departments are encouraged to take EPS there to recycle this bulky material. By doing so, we can reduce the volume of waste sent from campus to landfills and avoid the harmful environmental impacts of that practice. There is no charge to drop off EPS at Dart for recycling.

    There is currently no central funding source to pay for transportion of EPS to Dart, so departments need to arrange transport independently.

    The drop-off location is in a fenced-in area of the Dart parking lot and may be accessed 24 hours a day. Dart accepts foam packaging (except for packaging peanuts), foam cups, foam egg cartons, foam meat trays, foam ice chests, and other foam products that fall within these guidelines:

    • Make sure foam has the #6 chasing arrows symbol on it.
    • Deposit foam in a clear or translucent bag (large bags are provided at the drop-off site).
    • Rinse or wipe foodservice containers free from food.
    • Remove straws, lids, tape or any other non-foam material.
    • Do not include foam-packaging peanuts.

    From fall 2015 until summer 2017, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) ran the Styrecycle program in partnership with Community Resource Inc. (CRI). Ownership of CRI changed in July 2017, and the new owner was not able to continue the program.

  20. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    We have been surprisingly busy here at CBC so far this year. We’ve sold a few bikes thus far and seen a couple Build-a-Bikes head out the door—all good things!

    Over the weekend, TBP volunteers and I tackled the abandoned bikes in the barn. Made some good progress and had almost a dozen folks on hand helping to sort/strip/move bikes out. Will have to take a few more cracks at it before we completely empty the space but got a good start. Great to see so many volunteers come out—many hands make light work!
     

    The numbers (1/22 – 1/31):

    Visitors: 73
    Sales: 1,371
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $610
    Bikes (B-a-B): 3 for $180
    Memberships: 15 for $450
    Tires/tubes: 4 for $19.50

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