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.

  1. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Most surprisingly, we sold a bike on Friday during the snowy times. Odd timing but if you need a bike, you need a bike! Can’t argue there. Got a new hire in pipeline, gearing up for some warmer weather this week. Probably means some busyness around here.

    Been working with my staff on lacing up wheels. Can’t speak highly enough of the instructional book and the staff have taken to it admirably.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 21
    Sales: $493.50

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $160

    Memberships: 5 for $150

    Tires/tubes: 9 for $95

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  2. 02-12-24 Dump & Run Meeting 2

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Attendance: Pete Varney, Dan Hiser, Miriam, Bryan Johnson, Thurman Etchison, Daphne Hulse

     

    Agenda

    1. Determine exact remaining budget for this year (Daphne)

      1. $5,951.38 in SSC fund

      2. $6,992.19 spent for the 2023 program

    2. Identify locations for Orchard Downs & Ashton Woods (Mark, Bryan)

    3. Reassess all previous locations & confirm (Mark, Bryan)

      1. Box truck sizes on Euclid - donation partners

      2. Babcock Hall - inquire with driver on the northernmost suggestion

      3. Sherman Hall - inquire with driver

    4. Inquire with Housing communications team about opportunity for advertisement + communications for Orchard Downs, Ashton Woods (Mark, Bryan)

    5. Loop in Jenna (Project4Less) into food pantry donation conversations (Thurman, Daphne)

      1. Connected with the Eastern Illinois Food Bank - setting up meeting to discuss logistics

    6. iSEE - what materials will be collected? (Miriam)

      1. Out of office - reconnect later

    7. Assign locations to non-profit partners, once locations are determined (Daphne)

     

    Action Items

    1. Connect with driver for shipping containers, ensure access to locations (Daphne)

      1. Confirm all locations with Stacey DeLorenzo (Daphne)

    2. Connect with non-profit groups, confirm participation (Daphne)

    3. Confirm graduate halls move out timing (Mark, Bryan)

    4. Marketing materials from Housing - posters, digital sign (Mark, Bryan)

    5. Confirm iSEE’s plan for integration (Miriam, Daphne)

    Attached Files: 

  4. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Run of the mill week here. Thanks to Todd for grabbing scrap over the weekend. This week I’ll grab some more bikes from the barn to fix up and/or scrap. Had a few sneaky ones that look good at first glance and are junk in the end. We’re getting a good stockpile of overhauled wheels ready for when folks’ bikes need new-to-them wheels.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 35
    Sales: $388.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $200
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 2 for$8

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  5. Weekly update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Sneakily busy last week. Warmer weather this week will likely keep visitors darkening the doors. Still plugging away at the abandoned bikes. Had an interview last week for another student worker to bolster our team in advance of the really warm weather.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 43
    Sales: $615.50

    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $260
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 2 for $5

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  6. 01-29-24 Dump & Run Meeting 1

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Attendance: Pete Varney, Dan Hiser, Miriam Keep, Bryan Johnson, Mark Kuehl, Thurman Etchison, Daphne Hulse

     

    1. Overview of the budget last year

      1. $6,992.19 spent for the 2023 program

      2. Daphne is determining the number of remaining funds from our SSC award (this will likely be the last year we have funds remaining in our SSC account)

    2. Overview of results last year

      1. Goodwill: 16K lbs (hard household goods)

      2. Salt & Light: 3.5K lbs (soft clothing and bedding)

    3. Overview of this year

      1. Undergraduate residence halls

      2. Explore expansion to graduate residence halls

        1. Orchard Downs

          1. 2 laundry room locations

        2. Ashton Woods

      3. Explore food collection - work with local pantry

      4. iSEE collaboration

        1. Interested in collecting recyclable materials (both that F&S typically collects, as well as special collections)

      5. 3 non-profits interested

        1. Goodwill Land of Lincoln - interested in returning for this year again

        2. Salt & Light - interested in returning for this year again

        3. Habitat for Humanity ReStore - interested in joining this year, wants furniture specifically

    4. Assess last years’ donation site locations (bolded locations were successful, asterisked locations should be reassessed)

      1. Hopkins

      2. Student Dining and Residential Programs

      3. Illinois Street

      4. Lincoln Avenue

      5. Wassaja*

      6. Weston*

      7. Busey-Evans*

      8. FAR/PAR*

    5. Pete & Dan: containers could be opened at 8am and closed at 8pm

    6. Housing suggests that we should look into bolder advertisements in residence halls

     

    Action Items:

    1. Determine exact remaining budget for this year (Daphne)

    2. Identify locations for Orchard Downs & Ashton Woods (Mark, Bryan)

    3. Inquire with Housing communications team about opportunity for advertisement (Mark, Bryan)

      1. + communications for Orchard Downs, Ashton Woods

    4. Reassess FAR-PAR location (Mark, Bryan)

    5. Reassess Busey-Evans location (Mark, Bryan)

    6. Loop in Jenna (Project4Less) into food pantry donation conversations (Thurman, Daphne)

    7. iSEE - what materials will be collected? (Miriam)

    8. Assign locations to non-profit partners, once locations are determined (Daphne)

  7. Engagement iCAP Team Meeting Minutes 1/26/2024

    Associated Project(s): 
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Certified Greener Campus Programs

    The Engagement iCAP Team met on 1/26/2024 to discuss the Campus Sustainability Survey and provide updates on AY 23-24 objectives. Daphne Hulse attended as a guest speaker to discuss the Green Sports Alliance and Green Tailgate event volunteer engagement.

    Attached Files: 

  8. ECE Net Zero Celebration

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Net-Zero Energy Building
    ECE LED Lighting
    ECE Rooftop Solar PVs
    Electrical and Computer Engineering Building: LEED Platinum

    https://ece.illinois.edu/about/calendar/eceb-anniversary 

    The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Building at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was certified as the university’s first zero-energy facility in January 2023. Join the ECE Department and The Grainger College of Engineering to celebrate this milestone on the path to building a more sustainable future. 


    When: Wednesday January 24, 2024 from 4 p.m.
    Where: Electrical & Computer Engineering Building Atrium, 306 N. Wright St, Urbana, IL 61801

     

  9. Weekly Update: Kid's Bike Giveaway, Busy in cold weather!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Happy New Year! Since my last email, we hosted our annual Kid’s Bike Giveaway. It was terrible weather with a steady cold rain, but we still gave away 70+ bikes in about 20 minutes. There was supposed news coverage with WCIA but I wasn’t able to track down the actual footage. Not an hour after we’d given away all the bikes, someone showed up with a couple kids bike donations. Already started on next year!

    The semester started last week, and we were surprisingly busy—even on Friday when it was a snowy mess out there, which meant it was a melting snowy mess in our workshop, too. A good problem to have.

    We’ll see how we fare this week with the freezing rain.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 21
    Sales: $283
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $170
    Memberships: 1 for $30
    Tube/tire: 1 for $4

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  11. SLLC moving to Illinois Street Residence (ISR) Hall

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Living Learning Community (SLLC)

    Sustainability LLC on the Move! The Sustainability Living Learning Community (LLC) is moving from Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls to Illinois Street Residence Halls in fall 2024! Residents in the SLLC can explore their interest in sustainable living academically, organically, and experientially with students of diverse backgrounds. Information >>>

  12. iSEE newsletter - biomass boiler

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

     

     

    Warm for the Winter: How the Energy Farm's Biomass Boiler helps fuel research during the cold months

     

    		  

    Sustainability in Action: Biomass Boiler


    The 5-year-old biomass boiler at the Illinois Energy Farm is truly a sustainable option. Miscanthus from the fields is dried and used to fuel the boiler, which heats a large greenhouse growing new plants. The ashes are applied back onto Energy Farm fields to create a carbon sink, adding to the closed loop. In our new video, you can see how it works and hear Energy Farm Director of Operations Tim Mies describe the system!

     

  13. UIUC works with Ecolab to transition to soap concentrate

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Cleaning Products and Practices

    Soap waste is especially prevalent on large campuses and facilities that experience high day-to-day foot traffic. Through North American, UIUC's custodial product vendor, the university is transitioning to Ecolab's soap concentrate. This allows soap dispensers to be refilled rather than tossed and replaced with a single-use dispenser. This choice was made in an effort to address waste reduction practices in the Building Services division of F&S.

     

    ***************************************************************************

    From: Dean, Sean <Sean.Dean@ecolab.com>
    Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 10:43 AM
    To: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Walter, Christopher <Christopher.Walter@ecolab.com>; zhansen@na.com
    Subject: Thank you from Ecolab

     

    Hello Pete,

     

    Was a pleasure to meet you yesterday, thank you for the time, especially unannounced!  Look forward to scheduling a formal review once installations are done and your teams have had a chance to acclimate to the concentrated program.  Sending a recent link highlighting a topic from our discussion, environmental responsibility is key guiding principle for all Ecolab businesses.  It’s nice to be recognized for it and perhaps there’s more opportunities for North American, Ecolab, and the University to partner on sustainable initiatives in the future.

     

    Thanks again,

     

    Ecolab Honored for Sustainability Initiatives (cleanlink.com)

    Sean Dean
    Regional AVP Facility Care

    ECOLAB  T 336 207 2732  E sean.dean@ecolab.com

  17. EV charging

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

    Some of the comments from parking seem to imply a LOT of external vendor “input” on corded Level 2 chargers. I sense a reluctance about outlet-based charging, even though it can get to extreme scale.  I am not sure the folks have thought much about the energy costs and effective costs of moving a car. We still have the experience of minimal use because of high cost and inconvenience of moving cars with the commercial units in place.

     

    The Curbside technology certainly makes sense along a street with two-hour parking spaces, and my sense is that we are headed there. In the lots, I just do not see a fundamental problem with installing several dozen outlets and not worrying about the all-day aspect. Of course, today’s discussion was about Curbside and it makes sense in context.

     

    Philip T. Krein, Ph.D., P.E.

  18. Communication with Sterling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy-Efficient HVAC Infection Control

    Hi everyone,

     

    Getting these meetings scheduled for the next semester.

     

    Sterling, does this time at 1:30-2 work for you? I will alter the time slot if needed.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Quinn M. Connolly

    -------------------------

    Hi Quinn,

     

    Yes, 1:30-2:00pm works fine for me.

     

    Also, now that you're added our Google Drive please feel free to take a look at the content folders and comment. If you prefer to email me your questions privately, you can do that as well.

     

    Over the holiday I plan to set up a similar Google Drive for us as iCAP Energy-Efficient HVAC Infection Control as well.

     

    Hi Sarthak + Morgan,

     

    Leon Liebenberg is on the top of my list to answer his questions regarding engineering student participation and SSC.

     

    Thank you for being patient with us up until now and rest assured that it will all be worth the journey!

     

    Have a happy and safe holiday!

     

    Thanks, Sterling

  19. Illinois General Assembly SB1769

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)

    Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1769 (ilga.gov)

    This will be fun.

     

    Confirming my intention to be retired by 12/31/2029

     

    Thank you,

    Pete

    -----------------------

    Sarthak, please read the link and provide a short summary for me and Stacey.

    Thanks, Morgan

    ----------------------

    Hi Morgan and Stacey,

    It just says that by Jan 1, 2030, all new passenger vehicles that a state agency purchases or leases has to be zero emission.

     

    Sarthak

  20. Green Research Budget

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Research Committee

    Steph and I have been sending ideas on this back and forth for a few days. Wanted to share it as a starting point for our discussion this afternoon.

     

     

    Training software - $1000

    Swag - $2000

    Professional development travel: $4500

    Student help: $20,000

    Salary: $65,000-$75,000

    Food, shirts, recognition: $5,000

    Computer, telecom, supplies, PPE, transportation: $1,500

    Web presence (link to iCAP portal): $15,000

    Total ~$114,000-$124,000

     

    Additional considerations

    • If soft money, will need to fund fully burdened salary.
    • Contingency, escalation and inflation.
    • How will materials for initiatives be funded? Initial initiatives include shut the sash stickers, GRP branded equipment timers (swag item, departmental/lab purchase), and reduce/reuse/recycle equipment (shelves, etc.).
    • What about new initiatives/pilot programs? Will GRC need to perform costs-benefit analysis and secure funding through other means (e.g., SSC) or include a budget line. For a 5 year pilot this may be irrelevant

     -----------------------

    Dear Jeremy and Stephanie,

     

    Attached please find a draft budget, per our conversation yesterday.  Please let me know if I need to edit anything and please share the draft with Morgan for her input. 

     

    Thanks,

     

    Sharee

    -------------------------

     

    Sharee,

    Thanks for putting this together! I think it looks good to me.

    Jeremy- do you want to share with Morgan?

    Steph

    -----------------------

     

    I checked with IT on computer costs. We are no longer charged for phone access. That went away with Skype. Here’s what I received for hardware costs:

     

    For the laptop it's a 2880 dollar buy in with 60 dollars a month fees after meaning in 48 months it will pay for the next one. For desktop the structure is the same and is a 1680 dollar buy in with 35 dollar monthly fees. The monitors and dock are included in this cost in both cases (although of course there's no dock on a desktop)

     

    I know I missed adding computer(s) for the students. Students are usually provided desktops. I’m guessing we have some in the building that share but in general each student has their own because schedules usually overlap somewhere. If there’s no objections I can add the initial purchase of 2 desktops to FY24 and increase the other years by $70ish to account for the monthly fees.

     

    I also think we can probably lower the web presence costs in years 2-5. Maybe $5k in 2-5 for maintenance and minor customizations?

    ------------------------

     

    Jeremy,

     

    Thank you for checking into the technology costs.  Your edits work for me. 

     

    Sharee

    ---------------------

    Morgan provided comments on the revised budget asking that professional development for FY24 be removed and the full $5,000 for events/recognition in FY24 be included. Those changes along with the charges for computers have been addressed in the attached.

     

    Thanks

    Jeremy

    ----------------------

     

    Jeremy and Stephanie,

     

    I hope you had a great holiday and weekend.  Thank you for providing the revised draft budget.  I don’t have any additional recommendations. I am meeting with Susan Martinis on Wednesday and will confirm the next steps with her.  I’m copying Patty Jones so that she has an opportunity to review the draft budget as well.

     

    I’ll follow up with you both after I meet with Susan.

     

    Thanks again,

     

    Sharee

    ----------------------

     

    Dear Jeremy, Stephanie and Patty,

     

    I met with Susan this afternoon and she supports moving forward with the draft budget.  Perhaps the four of us can meet to discuss the next steps with regards to pursuing contributions for the pilot. I’m not familiar with the SSC process.  Susan indicated that these funds should be pursued and that perhaps other units would be willing to contribute to the Pilot.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Sharee

    --------------------

     

    I think we should include Morgan White in the discussion. Assuming funding is secured the program will fall under her and she is familiar with the SSC process and other potential funding sources.

     

    Thanks

    Jeremy

    ----------------------

     

    Thank you, Jeremy,

     

    I am copying Jamie Willard to request her assistance in scheduling a 30-minute zoom call with the three of us and Morgan White to discuss the Green Research proposal.

     

    Sharee

    --------------------

    Good morning, All,

     

    I have taken a look at calendars to schedule this 30-minute zoom meeting to discuss the next steps with regards to pursuing contributions for the pilot and the SSC process. There is not a clear time that everyone can get together so I am asking for you to fill out the doodle below and see if there is any flexibility to be able to schedule this before winter break.

     

    Attendees:

    Sharee Robinson

    Patty Jones

    Jeremy Neighbors

    Stephanie Hess

    Morgan White

     

     

    Thank you for your time in this matter.

     

    Best,

    Jamie

    ------------------------

    Good afternoon,

     

    My apologies on the delay of scheduling this meeting. I have talked to Sharee Robinson and she has confirmed that with the challenging calendars, this meeting can wait until after the winter break. I would like to schedule this zoom meeting for Monday, January 8th 10:30-11:00am.

     

    Please let me know if this will not work for you at your earliest convenience. I will be sending an electronic invite with zoom link shortly.

     

    Best,

    Jamie

    ------------------

    That works for me. Thanks for coordinating everything Jamie.

    Jeremy Neighbors

    Attached Files: 

Pages