You are here

Project Updates for collection: all

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. Plans underway for September 2018 event

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night

    We have decided on the original two locations:

    • Illinois and Lincoln
    • Alma Mater

    Date agreed upon was Thursday, September 20, 2018. 4:30 – 7:00 PM.

     

    Light selection is half Planet Bike Blinky sets and half silicone–wrap sets. MTD will be ordering $3,000 of the silicone lights and TBP will, with their approval, order $3000 of PB Blinky sets.

     

    With the speed of distribution last year the stations ran out of lights before the end of the event. This year we will not need the reflector station.

     

    F&S would like to see if we can set-up the event to spend some time talking to the recipient of lights about bike safety and/or do an ABC Quick Check before we install the lights.

  2. Solar Urbana-Champaign 3.0 launches

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Urbana-Champaign

    Solar Urbana-Champaign is back with version 3.0! 

    • New options for renters, homeowners, commercial property owners, businesses, and farm owners.
    • Now available in Piatt County in addition to Champaign County.
    • Solar Power Hour presentations all summer long.
    • September 30 sign-up deadline.
    • Solar Power Hour kick-off events: Wednesday, May 16 in Urbana and Thursday, May 17 in Monticello (see below).

    The successful Solar Urbana-Champaign group purchasing program is available again in 2018. Since 2016, the program has led to the installation of over 1 megawatt of solar on 138 properties across Champaign County. The program has educated hundreds of individuals about solar and helped people save on solar through volume purchasing.
    Now, the program expands eligibility to Piatt County residents as well as Champaign County residents. And, thanks to new state legislation, even more people can get access to solar.
    Start by attending a Solar Power Hour (full calendar below). This free information session teaches you the basics of solar, its financial implications for your household, and how the solar group buy program works. Then, get a free, no obligation site assessment from the competitively selected solar installer for Solar Urbana-Champaign 3.0.
    This program was brought to you by the City of Urbana, Prairie Rivers Network, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Assocation. We welcome everyone to help spread the word!
    If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know by responding directly to this email. Shine on!

    - Peter
     

  4. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, last week picked up a little. We had a couple days there of pretty steady busyness. Summer weather’ll do that!

    I’ve hired two new student workers for the summer, which is a start, but will need to hire a few more in time for the Fall semester once Evan, Dennis, and Lucas move on.

     

    I dropped off a stack of quarter sheet flyers at Champaign Cycle over the weekend, much to their delight, so we’ll have a little more exposure in the wider off-campus community.

     

    This week I’ll continue processing the bikes donated from Champaign Cycle’s Community Bike Sale. I’ll do final safety inspections on the half dozen or so bikes that are almost ready for sale. Additionally, I’ll begin training the new student staffers.

    Numbers:

    Visitors: 87
    Sales: $598.20
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $110
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 9 for $49

     

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  5. Freezer Challenge update and encouraged to register

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge
     
    Click here to see this online
     
     
     
     


    Hello everyone and Thank You to the many labs already registered!

    The International Freezer Challenge is in full swing with an EXTENDED deadline thru JUNE 15th. 
    Approximately 25 labs have registered to participate in the Freezer Challenge. Reaching our goal of 50 labs participating will put the university in contention for first place in the academic organization category. Regardless, participation represents your commitment to environmental stewardship and supports the University of Illinois in reflecting our world-class standing.

       All actions taken during the past school year are eligible for points and can be added to your score card

    The Eco-Olympics student group is supporting the University of Illinois’ participation in the International Freezer Challenge and is pleased to provide the following awards.

    The top (4) four Labs scoring the highest points during the competition will WIN $50 gift certificates to Silvercreek, Nando Milano’s or Biaggi’s restaurants.

    Random drawings will be held giving away:
                4- $25 Gift certificates to Silvercreek
            4- $20 gift certificates to Courier Café
            25-Coupons for free drinks at Espresso Royale
            10-Coupons for free shake drinks at Courier Café

    A HUGE Thank You to everyone for making these awards possible!
                You can reach the Eco-Olympics team via email: ecoolympics@gmail.com

    The main take away is that by utilizing best practices in sample management and storage, our labs increase their efficiency and sustainability.

    For more information contact Paul Foote @ gfoote2@illinois.edu
    or visit: https://www.freezerchallenge.org/ or Freezer Challenge on the iCAP Portal
    		 
     
     
     
     
     

  7. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Last week’s zero waste activities were 

    • A call with Morgan to move the glove recycling materials along. I followed up with revisions to some of the graphics we are using.
    • Morgan and I also discussed a write-up I am working on for the Architecture Review Committee regarding the replacement of the outdoor concrete trash bins with dual trash-and-recycling bins. 

    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  8. Chancellor Jones sends congratulations letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Chancellor Jones sent a congratulatory letter to the Tree Campus Advisory Committee, in recognition of their efforts to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA. That letter, as well as the letter from the Arbor Day Foundation, are attached here.

    "Congratulations to all of the Campus Tree Advisory Committee on your efforts that led to Illinois being recognized as a Tree Campus USA for a third consecutive year! This is a very visible example of what our campus commitment to environmental sustainability looks like in practice. I also know that this recognition is not simply a paper honor handed out to every university that applies, but only goes to universities that meet the exacting criteria set out by the Arbor Day Foundation. Thank you for all your hard work. The new tree on the Quad planted to celebrate this latest honor is going to be a great addition to the campus skyline."

    Robert J. Jones, chancellor
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Attached Files: 

  9. note about measuring quality of water in campus watershed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Rainwater Management
    Reduce Nitrates from Agricultural Stormwater

    The SWATeam asked County Engineer, Jeff Blue, who owns the bridge running across the Embarras on Airport Road (1100N) just west of the intersection of Race Street (1350E), in the hopes of adding a monitoring station.  Mr. Blue replied, "That bridge is under the jurisdiction of Philo Township. I know he is doing some substantial work on the ditch on the north side of Airport Road this summer which leads to this bridge. I doubt if the township would object, but it would be best to wait until the work on the ditch is complete. Please let me know what type of monitoring device would be used and how it would be attached to the bridge. I should be your contact on this project, as we are the bridge inspectors on behalf on the township."

  10. SWATeam Appreciation Letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Topical iCAP Teams
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam [ARCHIVED]
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)

    See attached the Appreciation Letter sent to all SWATeams earlier this month.

    Attached Files: 

  18. dockless bike sharing article

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Sharing
    Bike Share with Veo

    http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-05-07/ui-officials-working-incentives-keep-shared-bikes-populated-areas.html

    UI officials working on incentives to keep shared bikes in populated areas

     

    Mon, 05/07/2018 - 5:37pm | Tim Ditman  

    CHAMPAIGN — As a dockless-bike-sharing program inches closer to reality in Champaign-Urbana, University of Illinois officials are working on an incentive program to ensure more bikes rented on campus stay in populated areas.

    The concept, in general, allows people to rent bikes anywhere in town rather than at a fixed location. The two cities and the UI are working on an intergovernmental agreement to have mostly the same rules.

    Lily Wilcock, active transportation coordinator for the UI, said the campus's rules will require the bikes to be returned to a rack so as not to block sidewalks or entrances to buildings, and the UI is working with bike-share companies to make that easier.

    "One of the concerns we had as the University of Illinois was, what do you do if someone just rides it to their house and then they leave it there?" Wilcock said. "Some of the companies have responded to that, in that they've been using in other cities an incentive program. They've been allowing someone to ride the bus out to an area to get the bicycle, and then they get a free ride back to leave it in a more populated area. ... And then they get incentives like a certain amount of ride credit."

    Wilcock said a dockless-bike-sharing system could launch on campus in the fall.

Pages