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  1. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Spring Break was slow—as expected. Not many visitors. Made some good progress on builds, but also sold a bike, as well. I cleaned up the back end of the shop and am still working through a surplus of junk parts. The shelves are working well to keep the floor clean of debris and tripping hazards. By last count we have 42 bikes that are For Sale/ B-a-Bs and 36 as unclaimed stock.

    This week I will be prepping at the warehouse for the last of the bikes to be moved out of there. Working Bikes is coming on Friday. They are bringing 25 3-speeds for us, as well, which I will campaign to be dropped off at the Urbana shop before they head to the warehouse. Consequently, I may have reduced hours on Friday. I’ll know more after I make a final tally of the bikes at the warehouse.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 39
    Sales: $389.80
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $190
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tire/tube: 7 for $31

    Thanks!

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  2. SSC Funding Agreement - Hives for Beekeeping Club

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    As a new student organization on campus, the Beekeeping Club will install and maintain two new bee hives located at the Sustainable Student Farm (SSF). Any honey produced will get sold at the SSF weekly stand on campus. Students will learn beekeeping skills as well as an appreciation for honey production. In addition, having the bees located at SSF will increase crop output, bettering local food production. The allocated funding will go towards the bee hive installation as well as the bees.

    This proposal directly funds:

    1. Fencing
    2. Bees
    3. Beekeeping personal safety equipment
    4. Beekeeping supplies
    Attached Files: 

  3. SSC Funding Agreement - Pollinator Signage

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This student-led project provides awareness about pollinators around the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus. Students will design and install signage inside and outside of campus buildings, giving facts about native plants and pollinators. This signage will be approved by the University Board as well as Facilities & Services. This project contributes to the campus goal of becoming Bee Campus USA certified and meets Illinois Climate Action Plan objectives. Students will learn more about pollinators and pollinator efforts on campus. The allocated funding will go towards the signage costs.

    This proposal directly funds:

    1. Signage
    Attached Files: 

  4. SSC Funding Agreement - Off Grid Solar Kiln

    Associated Project(s): 
    Root to Roof Program
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This student-driven project provides an alternative drying source for slabbed and dimensional lumber as opposed to industrial kiln drying. The goal is to recycle an air and water tight shipping container to create a de-humidifying kiln powered by passive solar energy. In a joint venture between the School of Architecture and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, students will develop a knowledge of drying characteristics of various wood species. Students will learn about the moisture peaks in the drying process as well as how wood may become compromised structurally under pressure. The allocated funding will purchase the retired shipping container, solar panels, as well as other kiln materials.

    This proposal directly funds:

    1. Shipping container
    2. Solar panels
    3. Kiln materials
    Attached Files: 

  6. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Here’s the past week’s zero-waste activity: 

    • Jeremiah Yokley from Purchasing replied to me and will re-run the glove purchasing report to show purchases from the Urbana campus only. He confirmed that the report is for iBuy purchases, not for all purchases across the campus.
    • I have still not heard back from Kimberly-Clark regarding the questions I'd sent about Noyes as a pick-up site. I will phone Jonathan McClintock this week, since the couple of times I've tried to reach him by email have not been effective.
    • I sent a revised (possibly final) version of the glove recycling flier to Morgan and Anna. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  7. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, spring is coming! We’ll be open during Spring Break, I’m sure we’ll get lots of inquiries to that effect. We were busy on Friday and the visitor numbers are creeping up each week, with last week’s total sitting at 59—almost to 60!

    This week projects to be a little warmer but it is Spring Break, too so hopefully if there’s a lull we can push out some more refurbished bikes for when everyone gets back.

    As of writing I just got off the phone with a representative from Working Bikes who has confirmed a date of 3/30/18 at approximately 11am for picking up the remainder of the warehouse bikes. I’ll coordinate with Parking to get the doors opened and then it’ll be cleaned out. Hopefully  it shouldn’t hamper open hours but we’ll see. In the coming two weeks I’ll double check the number of bikes over there and add or subtract as I see fit. I quoted WB around 60 bikes in the warehouse but they were fine with us knocking that number up or down a little.

    This week I will build bikes and cull bikes from this shop for the warehouse as well as recruit for the open student worker positions that start this summer.

    Numbers:

    Sales: $331
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $140

    Tire/tube: 3 for $20

    Thanks!

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  8. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Here's the latest: 

    • Early in the month, I contacted Jonathan McClintock from Kimberly-Clark and Tanya Lisowski and Jordan Powers from Fisher. I asked them whether Noyes was incurring any cost for having gloves shipped directly from their building to K-C for recycling. I had also asked if they record the volume of gloves from Noyes and the weight of a box of gloves. They have not replied, so I re-sent my questions to them this evening. 
    • I've been communicating with a doctoral student (Imran Rahman) at one of the labs at RAL about glove recycling. Morgan had asked me to inquire about any costs that they were incurring for geRng their gloves picked up and sent to K-C for recycling. Imran told me that they get their K-C gloves through VWR. VWR is picking up gloves from them at no charge. He doesn't know whether VWR sends them directly back to K-C or is taking them to Noyes. He notes that more centralized recycling at RAL would likely result in more of the chemistry and biochemistry labs participating in the program. I let him know I would stay in touch as we move forward, in the hope that a more convenient solution will emerge. 
    • Shawn Hopkins from Big Belly has stayed in touch with me and is interested in speaking with Morgan or Morgan and me about indoor options.
    • I have not heard back from Purchasing on whether the report on glove purchases was for iBuy only or included all campus glove purchases. I re-sent my question to him this evening. 
    • Anna sent me graphics and photos for glove recycling program materials, so I will move forward on them. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  9. South Farm Management Plan recommendation - Assessment Started

    Associated Project(s): 
    ALUFS Recommendations Summary
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Assess and Reduce Agricultural GHG Emissions

    The iCAP Working Group (iWG) met on March 14th, 2018 to discuss the ALUFS004 South Farm Management Plan recommendation. We were joined by Bruce Branham and Colleen Williams from the ALUFS SWATeam to explain the objectives behind the recommendation.

    The iWG started the assessment on March 14th, 2018, and their draft assessment of the recommendation was:

    The iWG recommends that the Dean of ACES charges a committee to develop a management plan (as described by the SWATeam) to promote sustainable practices on South Farm. Committee should include Farm Managers, faculty experts including ACES, PRI and water scholars, and students. The plan should include the assessment of the current status, evaluation of operational and financial impacts, and impediments to Best Management Practices.

    See SWATeam recommendation ALUFS004 South Farm Management Plan here.

  11. Illini Union cooling towers removed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Reduce Cooling Tower and Chiller Plant Water Use

    The Illini Union has demolished its old cooling towers for HVAC in the past 15 years, and recently demolished the old evaporator cooling system for the refrigeration chilling water in 2017. Almost all of our HVAC is now on DDC, with the exception of AHU’s 1, 2, & 3 in the South Building attic, and AHU-21 in the North Building NW subbasement.

  12. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    This past week 

    • Morgan and I had a phone call to catch up on glove recycling. We are still sorting out the situation at Noyes, as they seem to have an independent arrangement with Kimberly Clark for glove pick-up. I am also trying to see if they would allow one of the labs from RAL to drop glove off there. A post-doc from the lab at RAL is interested in having the lab participate but can’t get the gloves to PPSB. 
    • I asked Morgan and Anna for feedback on an online glove recycling participation form to go on the relevant iCAP portal page. I also sent content for an informational flier which will eventually be posted on the site. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  13. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Eco-Olympics

    On January 19, 2018, the ECBS SWATeam discussed updates on the Freezer Challenge, Eco-Olympics, and the Illini Lights Out program. They also brainstormed methods for the departments to become more invested in energy conservation. They are broaching the idea of the departments receiving payback for their participation or possibly charging departments for their energy usage. The team members will research into peer institutions and what they are doing on this issue. The ECBS SWATeam also wishes to build more awareness for energy conservation in residential facilities and in the campus community.

    Attached Files: 

  15. ALUFS004 South Farm Management Plan Recommendation - Submittal

    Associated Project(s): 
    ALUFS Recommendations Summary
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam
    Assess and Reduce Agricultural GHG Emissions

    The ALUFS SWATeam submitted a recommendation to the iWG stating, "A committee of ACES faculty, farm personnel, and iSEE members will develop a comprehensive and cooperative management plan for all non-research agricultural land on the UIUC South farms that promotes sustainable practices and implements current best management practices. The plan should account for crop rotations, soil management, nutrient application, and pest management. This strategy must consider the needs and wishes of the departments that rely on the productivity of this land for financial return. The plan should offer detailed recommendations, costs of implementation, and estimated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from adopted practices. The committee should include faculty with expertise in biogeochemistry as well as staff responsible for agricultural production."

    See attached the SWATeam recommendation ALUFS004 South Farm Management Plan complete with comments from all the ALUFS SWATeam members.

    Attached Files: 

  18. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, last week was ever-so-slightly on the busy side of things. Friday in particular. Alana dropped off shirts (thanks!) so all CBC staff will now have nice new Campus Rec t-shirts. I finished constructing the shelving behind the tool wall so now I need to buy some paint for them. The majority vote on colors is: Pink and yellow. Neither color muted, either. Loud ones.

    Last week I emailed all of the owners of expired build-a-bike tags here at CBC to alert them to their expiration. Two or three have come to update their tags in the last week. This week I’ll cull the remaining abandoned ones and either finish them as Shop Builds or return them to the available stock.

    This week is the Bike Project Members’ Meeting (tonight). The weather is looking to be warmer all week, so I’ll staff accordingly. Hopefully warm weather means selling some bikes. I’ll build bikes, too.

    The numbers:
    Sales: $186
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Visitors: 32

    Sincerely,

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  19. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Here’s what I did this past week for the zero-waste effort: 

    • Continued communications with Roger Adams Lab regarding their interest in glove recycling. Continued correspondence with Serenity Desmond at Noyes about lettng RAL drop off gloves there, since it will be difficult for RAL to get them to PPSB.
    • Received a Purchasing report of glove purchases across the campus. Morgan and I intend to use the information to help promote the glove recycling program.
    • Received a report from UIC on outdoor trash and recycling collection costs before and after implementing Big Bellies on the campus. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

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