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Project Updates for collection: Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects

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  2. Weekly Update - Bike Maintenance 101, First visit free

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, We’ve slowed down enough to offer the First Visit Free option again, which has its plusses and minuses but is at least consistent with our website/literature on the topic.

    Last week we had our Bike Maintenance 101 class. Three attendees came, despite the cold and rain, so that was awesome. I think all of them had issues with their own bikes that precipitated their interest in the class and two of them said they’d be back to fix their bikes. A success!
    One bike was on the donation rack this morning. Another small bike but of good quality that’ll hopefully fix up quickly.
    I got in touch with someone from the Fine and Applied Arts to see if there’s any interest in using some of our scrap metal to keep it out of the dump but that was a dead end. I’ll still try to think of ways to keep our scrap pile a little smaller since we’re frequently at-or-beyond capacity. I think overall, we don’t have enough venues through which to repurpose a bicycle beyond B-a-B and Shop Builds. Something to think about.
    This week if we’re slow I’ll have the student staff do a deep dive on our used parts inventory to get a better picture of just how many bike parts we’re storing here. Additionally, we have our What to Wear info session at ARC on Thursday evening from 7 – 8p.

     

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 82
    Sales: $677.75
    Memberships: 14 for $420
    Tire/tubes: 14 for $79

     

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  4. Planning to revise web presence

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    Increase Pollinator-Friendly Areas

    Sara Mason, Chantelle Hicks, and Morgan White discussed revisions to the Bee Campus USA web presence. For ease of maintenance, the iCAP Portal seems to be a more friendly process for providing updates and keeping the web content current and active.  Sara could do the entries this year, and future students could do entries in the future years.  The updates can also be shared on other websites, when requested.  Sara will bring this idea back to the student committee, for a decision.

  5. Committee meeting tomorrow

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    CEE Project Based Learning (PBL)

    This meeting is open to anyone on campus interested in supporting local pollinators.

     

    We are meeting tomorrow from 1:30-2:30 at F&S with both advisors and students from the Bee Campus USA committee.  Chantelle sent the invite, but there are more people than can fit in the room she sent, so please join us in the Garage and Car Pool building conference room.  This is in the building at the southwest corner of Oak and Kirby. 

     

    Our agenda is as follows:

    • Overview of the Bee Campus USA 2018 submitted plan (attached)
    • review the draft signage for small Bee Campus USA signs and proposed placement (attached)
    • discuss a student project related to future expansion of the Pollinatarium, with guest Namita Johri
    • review annual renewal requirements (see attached)

     

    Attached Files: 

  7. Weekly Update - Light the Night, Fix-a-Flat, Bike Maintenance 101

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Much like the weather, we’ve been starting off cold and slow most days and heating up by the end. We’ve been weaving in and out of our FVF policy as I’ve felt bad turning people away when the shop is empty. But then, of course, in a blink of an eye we’re All Stands Full and members are waiting for stand time, which seems unfair.
     

    We had Light The Night on Thursday and that was a success from what I saw of it. Two CBC staffers helped out with the event in my absence as the shop was too busy for me to be able to get away for the whole event.
     

    We also had our Fix-a-Flat class on Friday. We had one participant. He was eager, engaged and said he’d be back for the next class, which was great.
    This week we have our Bike Maintenance 101 class on Friday and I’ll be doing a training with a new hire.
     

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 80
    Sales: $2,108
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $640
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $400
    Tires/tubes: 15 for $59

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  8. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn--

    This past week, I replied to Savannah Feher of ISTC's questions on the recycling FAQ that she is developing. I also consulted with Morgan White on possible campus contacts for additional information to provide to Savannah.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  10. eGen010 Geothermal Feasibility Study - Returned

    Associated Project(s): 
    Geothermal on Campus
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Energy iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    eGen Recommendations Summary

    Andy Stumpf provided the following response for eGEN010, "Yes. The summary will be compiled as part of a 'Living Labs' project proposed by the Illinois Water Resources Center."

     

    See the iWG Assessment of eGen010 Geothermal Feasibility Study here.

    See the SWATeam recommendation eGen010 Geothermal Feasibility Study here

  13. Weekly Update - Light the Night, Fix-a-Flat, Free Visits

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Light the Night

    All, Abbreviated week for me as I was out of town Thursday and Friday. I’ll check in with my staff this week and see how things went in my absence.

    There are 6 bikes on the outside rack from this weekend but unfortunately one or two are locked up as if it’s a regular bike rack. Whoops!

    This week will be busy as we have Light The Night on Thursday and our second Fix-a-Flat class on Friday. I’ll be talking up the F-a-F class incessantly this week in hopes of increasing participation numbers. For LTN I’ll be splitting my staff up between the shop and the event for the time that they overlap.


    We have been oscillating back and forth between allowing for Free Visits and not depending on how busy we are and how well-staffed we are at that time. So that points to things getting a little calmer (thankfully). Addressing the burnout my staff and I feel during these very busy beginning months will be a task for the winter.


    Moving all the kids bikes over to Salt & Light didn’t end up happening last week so I’ll shoot for getting those out this week. It’ll help with clearing everything out for our move. Exciting times!
     

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 96
    Sales: $1,242.50
    Memberships: 16 for $480
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $225
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $57
    Tires/tubes: 20 for $92

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  14. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

     

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    This past week, I reviewed PWR and ZW SWATeam recommendations, the F&S Indoor Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Report, and a recent version of a campus recycling FAQ that Morgan had commented on. I sent an update on toner cartridge recycling, which is one of the FAQ topics. I also read the SWATeam iCAP 2020 evaluation and sent Morgan a few comments on it.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  15. Weekly Update - Earn-a-Bike, Light the Night

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Last week was busy, per usual this time of year. TBP and I met with Circle Cycle to discuss their Earn-a-Bike program using abandoned bikes on campus. I interviewed two applicants and will be hiring them. The light sets for the LTN event arrived on Wednesday and were expeditiously moved to the Urbana shop, saving some space over here. Two bike donations were on the rack when I pulled in this morning.

    This week I’ll be taking the large pile of kids bikes over to Salt & Light to donate. I’ll also be meeting with F&S Sustainability and VeoRide to discuss bike share on campus. I’ll be out of town Thursday and Friday. I’ll arrange for the student staff to cover for me.

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 101
    Sales: $1,463.00

    Memberships: 19 for $570
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $400
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 or $120
    Tires/tubes: 28 for $107

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  16. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hello Pete and Shawn,

    I let the person who inquired about toner cartridge recycling last month know that Purchasing is still awaiting further information from Office Depot. Aaron Finder from Purchasing will let me know when he hears from them.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  17. Solar Farm 2.0 to Nearly Triple on Campus Renewable Energy Production

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Issue Press Releases and Sustainability Reports

    Construction of a new 54-acre, 12.1 megawatt (MWdc) Solar Farm is approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as the sole member of Prairieland Energy, Inc. Referred to as “Solar Farm 2.0,” the new utility-scale array to be located north of Curtis Road, between First Street and U.S. Route 45, will produce approximately 20,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, almost tripling the university’s existing on-site renewable energy generation. Solar Farm 2.0 will generate the equivalent electricity use of more than 2,000 average American homes.

    Sol Systems, LLC, will design, build, operate, and maintain Solar Farm 2.0, for the duration of a 20-year contract which includes power purchase and land lease agreements, and an option to buy the system at the end of the term.

    https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/234685.html

  18. Next steps phone call

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Net-Zero Energy Building
    Solar Farm 2.0

    Morgan White and Joyce Mast discussed next steps for acheiving Net-Zero status for the ECE Building.  Mike Marquissee is working on a draft MOU about using Solar Farm 2.0 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

    Joyce is seeking student input about what should go on the ECE Building interactive display.  If you are interested in working with her on this, contact her at jmast@illinois.edu. 

  19. PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement - Successful

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Dr. Evan DeLucia, Director of iSEE, agreed to send a letter of support to F&S and to have iSEE help promote these efforts across campus.

    See the transmittal of PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement Recommendation.

    See SWATeam Recommendation PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement here.

    For future updates on this recommendation, visit the Zero Waste project.

  20. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hello Pete and Shawn,

    I was able to reach Tech Services by phone this past week and learned that they do not have any toner cartridge recyling options beyond the mail-ins that the manufacturers offer. I will touch base with the person who inquired this week to let her know and to let her know that Purchasing is still awaiting further information from Office Depot.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

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