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  2. Water001 BIF Greywater Meter recommendation - Transmittal

    Associated Project(s): 
    BIF Greywater Pipe System
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Water and Stormwater Recommendations Summary

    Following the completion of iWG assessment of Water001 BIF Greywater Meter, the recommendation was transmitted to the Facilities & Services (F&S) department on July 12, 2017.

    See iWG assessment of Water001 BIF Greywater Meter here. 

    See SWATeam recommendation Water001 BIF Greywater Meter here.

  3. EGen006 Petascale Offsets recommendation - Transmittal

    Associated Project(s): 
    PPA for National Petascale Computing Facility
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    eGen Recommendations Summary

    Following the completion of iWG assessment, this recommendation was transmitted to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR).

    For future updates, please refer to PPA for National Petascale Computing Facility.

    See iWG assessment of EGen006 Petascale Offsets here.

    See SWATeam recommendation EGen006 Petascale Offsets here.

  4. Red Oak Rain Garden Renovation Stakeholder Meetings

    Associated Project(s): 
    Red Oak Rain Garden

    Specific stakeholders were invited to join a workshop on July 11, 2017 for stakeholder input to the rennovation design of the Red Oak Rain Garden.

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

    You’re invited to a series of two facilitated meetings seeking input from stakeholders about the Red Oak Rain Garden.

    Red Oak Rain Garden was installed 10 years ago as part of Tony Endress’ NRES classes. As of this year, the Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists have an agreement in place with F&S Grounds to volunteer with the garden. Although the garden still performs well keeping water off of the pedestrian sidewalk, approximately 90% of the original plantings did not survive. We are working on a renovation plan that will enhance its aesthetics and multi-functionality. But, how exactly does the space function presently? What would be ideal?

    This is where you come in. As either a campus neighbor, student, volunteer, and/or stormwater-related professional, we seek your input that will inform the garden plan.

    Meeting 1: July 11 (Tue) 3 – 4:30 PM ACES Library, Monsanto Rm. Agenda: Provide background/history, ask questions, and present preliminary design direction options.

    Meeting 2: July 20 (Thu) 3 – 4:30 PM ACES Library, Heritage Rm. Agenda: Present refined design options based on feedback from Meeting 1 and seek preferences.

    IWRC intern/MLA Candidate Cameron Letterly will lead the sessions along with a facilitator to guide discussion.

    There will be an opportunity to provide input online for those that cannot be present.

    Please feel free to forward to invitation to others who have an interest in this garden.

    Thank you,

    C. Eliana Brown

    33 NSRC, MC-635, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Urbana, IL 61801  217-265-0760

    Illinois Indiana Sea Grant  University of Illinois Extension  Illinois Water Resources Center

  5. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, last week felt on the slow side but I suspect that is a false memory, as our visitor numbers were at 102. That’s about on par for this time of year.

    Sales for the week were: $795.50 overall; one refurbed bike ($210); one B-a-B ($41); one family and three standard memberships ($155); and 21 tires/tubes ($136).  Also of note: $94 in lock sales.

    Last week I had Kameron, the high schooler, come in again. He has really taken to organizing and his efforts are paying off. The shop is overall still a mess, but the small parts are being meticulously organized which helps everyone find what they’re looking for—used parts-wise—that much faster. He will be joining me a couple days this week in the mornings as well.

    We had another Friday Community Ride organized by the student staffers. It went well; we rode to the Urbana First Friday event.

    This week I plan to process the donations we received over the weekend here, work with Kameron in the mornings on organizing and scrapping some of the junk that is cluttering up the space, and build more bikes.

    Sincerely,

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

  6. March 2017 Sustainability Council Recommendations Approved

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Council
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Rooftop Solar Potential
    Clean Power Agreements Off-Campus
    Energy Conservation Efforts
    Utility and Energy Services Funds
    ECBS Recommendations Summary
    eGen Recommendations Summary

    Interim Provost Wilkin, on behalf of Chancellor Jones, approved moving forward with the recommendations discussed at the March 2017 Sustainability Council meeting. See attached file.

    See iWG follow-up on the March 2017 Sustainability Council meeting here.

    See Transmittal of EGen005 Rooftop Solar Standards here.

    See iWG Assessment for SWATeam recommendation EGen005 Rooftop Solar Standard here.

    See SWATeam recommendation EGen005 Rooftop Solar Standards here.

    See Transmittal of EGen003 PPA term to the Sustainability Council here.

    See iWG Assessment of EGen003 PPA Term here.

    See SWATeam recommendation EGen003 PPA Term here.

    See Transmittal of ECONS003 Conservation Budget to the Provost Office here.

    See iWG Assessment of ECONS003 Conservation Budget here.

    See SWATeam Recommendation of ECONS003 Conservation Budget here.

    Attached Files: 

  7. Conservation Budget Recommendation (ECONS003) - Chacellor's approval

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECBS Recommendations Summary
    Sustainability Council
    Energy Conservation Efforts
    Retrocommissioning (RCx)

    Attached is the Chancellor's reply to the ECONS003 Conservation Budget recommendation.

    See Transmittal of ECONS003 Conservation Budget to the Provost Office

    See iWG Assessment of ECONS003 Conservation Budget

    See SWATeam Recommendation of ECONS003 Conservation Budget

    Attached Files: 

  8. EGen003 PPA term recommendation - Successful

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    eGen Recommendations Summary
    Clean Power Agreements Off-Campus
    Sustainability Council

    Following the completion of the iWG Assessment, the EGen003 PPA Term recommendation was discussed at the Sustainability Council meeting in March 2017.  In June 2017, Provost Wilkins said, "On behalf of the Chancellor, I'm writing to convey approval of the recommendations. Please do begin encouraging action on the items mentioned. Thank you and the rest of the Council for the diligent and forward-looking thinking on these items."

    Regarding the EGen003 PPA Term, the next steps are "When the next RFP for a clean energy PPA is planned, seek campus / system approval to request pricing for both a 10 year agreement and a 20 year agreement, through Prairieland Energy, Inc."

    See Sustainability Council approvals here.

    See transmittal of EGen003 PPA Term here. 

    See iWG Assessment of EGen003 PPA Term here.

    See SWATeam recommendation EGen003 PPA Term here.

    For future updates on this topic, please see Power Purchase Agreements for Clean Energy. 

  9. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Last week’s zero-waste activity was:

    • Drafting the content for a source-separation PowerPoint presentation and send it to Morgan and Anna for review/comments
    • Discussing volume estimates with CRI and getting pricing from them for glass recycling for the Wounded Vets Center

    Sincerely,

    Marya Ryan

    Zero Waste Coordinator

  12. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hello all,

    Here are my updates from last week:

    • Collation of notes for source-separation PowerPoint presentation and a phone call with Anna Barnes to discuss it
    • Meeting with Dawn Aubrey at Housing to discuss the scope of their waste-reduction activity and learn their role in glass and glove recycling efforts

     

    Sincerely,

    Marya Ryan

    Zero Waste Coordinator

  14. Bevier Cafe Herb Garden Agreement - Signed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bevier Café Herb Garden
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The Bevier Café is a learning laboratory where FSHN students to get hands on experience running a food service establishment. The funding requested in this application will serve to purchase startup equipment for growing fresh herbs for use in their operation. The goals of this project are two-fold. The first is to produce “hyper-locally” grown fresh herbs to use in food production. Reducing our carbon foot print and aligning with iCAP sustainability goals. The second goal is education for students and the general public. Students will get to experience of a small scale farm to table operation. Students will be heavily involved in developing planting schedules to meet demand, plant care maintenance, and incorporating products into the menu. The public which we serve will not only be able to enjoy the fresh herbs incorporated into our recipes, but will have access to tours and educational information about the project. This proposal directly funds: 1) Indoor grow equipment for herbs 2) Installation costs from Facilities and Services.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Funding Letter - Bike Registration RFID

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Registration
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts

    This project funds an opt-in bike tracking system for all registered campus bikes working toward two goals: 1) Collecting useful data on where cyclists are biking on campus for more accurate and timely information than the perennial bike census; and 2) Providing incentives for people who bike to campus, in the form of points toward or drawings for gift certificates for local dining options near campus. When students and faculty of the University register their bikes, they will each receive a tag for their bike with a personal ID number. With the data collected about their individual biking habits, students and faculty will be able to track how often they bike and earn rewards through an online interface and incentive system. The interface will show the number of times biked, the rewards an individual can earn, and offer the ability to submit reports since bikers often see needed improvements before planners and engineers. This system is being developed entirely in-house by a team of women engineers. This proposal directly funds: 1) Supplies for creating the system 2) Two interns to assist with logistics 3) Mounting equipment and RFID tags.

    Attached Files: 

  16. BIF Solar Installation Agreement

    Associated Project(s): 
    BIF Rooftop Solar PVs
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    A strategic goal of both the UIUC and the College of Business is to attract and attain the best faculty. In order to do that, it is essential to provide faculty with office space that allows them maximum productivity. The fourth floor of BIF has proven to be excellent space where faculty can work on research. The fourth floor faculty offices are highly sought after by research faculty due to quality of space, location, convenience, and security. As the College expands the fourth floor to include sixteen new offices, there is an opportunity to include a PV solar panel system. The Student Sustainability Committee has agreed to fund $60,000 toward the total initial cost of $157,340 to fully fund all $48,000 of direct construction and equipment cost for a 12.5 kW array as well as $12,000 in general conditions and contingency. Any other costs will be funded through the College of Business. This proposal directly funds: 1) Solar panels and inverters 2) Limited installation costs 3) Some contingency and general conditions.

    Attached Files: 

  17. Brewing the Best Bankable Biodiesel Agreement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI)
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI) converts waste vegetable oil from campus dining halls into biodiesel (intended for campus vehicles) and biosoap (intended for pre-washing in the dining halls), and aims to do so in a financially and environmentally sustainable manner. Currently, Garage and Car Pool, IBI’s largest customer, requires that biodiesel meets the ASTM D6751 standard. This requires frequent quality control testing that would be cost prohibitive for a project of this scale to send to on off-site firm. The equipment funded by SSC through this award will allow students, under faculty guidance, to conduct their own quality control testing at a more economical cost. In addition to the hands-on experience students will gain, this also gives IBI all the tools to be fully financially self-supporting. This proposal directly funds: 1) Equipment for conducting tests 2) Initial reagents and other supplies for the first round of testing.

    Attached Files: 

  18. Environmental Justice is Social Justice Agreement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Inner Voices
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    INNER VOICES Social Issues Theatre is raising awareness and address issues of Environmental Justice through the creation and production of an original play with accompanying educational materials and holding an inaugural National Call for Scripts focused on the theme Environmental Justice Is Social Justice. Through SSC funding, two theatrical pieces will be produced. The first is a newly-penned work from University of Illinois students and staff, and will be performed on campus throughout Fall 2017. The second will be a series of vignettes submitted through a national call for scripts. Both pieces will be performed dozens of times on campus, and each performance will be followed by reflection and discussion. This proposal directly funds: 1) Honoraria for national script submissions 2) Printing and publicity costs 3) Equipment rentals 4) A small amount of wages for student interns.

    Attached Files: 

  19. EV Car Charging Pilot Study Agreement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    Campus currently has a scarcity of EV Charging Stations on campus, with only eight public and nine permit-required charging stations on campus utilizing level 1 chargers, and only two level 2 chargers on the far east side of campus. Level 1 chargers take significantly longer to charge than Level 2, and there is distinct room for campus to grow in this regard. This project will expand the number of level 2 chargers on campus to promote the utilization of more electric vehicles. Initially, 1-2 stations will be installed, with metering equipment included in order to track utilization and demand. This proposal directly funds: 1) Up to two Electric Vehicle chargers 2) Installation costs from Facilities and Services.

    Attached Files: 

  20. Fly Ash Phosphorous Filtration Agreement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Fly Ash Phosphorous Filtration
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    Subsurface (tile) drainage has helped to sustain the productivity of our farm lands by draining excess water from the field. Excess nutrient losses from our tile-drained agricultural fields have contributed to several water quality issues in the region including the formation of hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. It has been well-documented that tile drain age is responsible for highly soluble nitrate loss but recent studies have demonstrated that it also contributes to dissolved phosphorus loss from the agricultural fields. This project aims to develop ceramic pellets using fly ash and other additives with minimum or no heavy metal leaching. The specific objectives of this proposed research project are to: a) optimize the proportion of fly ash and other additives for high phosphorous removal and limit heavy metal leaching, b) conduct laboratory experiments to analyze the performance of pellet for dissolved phosphorous reduction. This proposal directly funds: 1) Equipment rental and use charges 2) Supplies and Chemicals 3) Student Hourly Labor.

    Attached Files: 

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