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  1. June 5 update meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Outdoor Recycling Bin Update

    Morgan White, Daphne Hulse, & Sinead Soltis met to review the completed outdoor bin survey, which maps out the bins currently installed on campus and can be found in an ArcGIS online format. Over the next two weeks, the sites with a proposed bin installation will be finalized to resume installation. A follow-up meeting will be held Wednesday, June 7th, to better understand what is needed to get work order started. As a note, about 40 bins have been installed out of the 74 ordered.

    Update from Daphne Hulse 6/9/23: 43 dual bins were counted as installed on campus currently. A visit to storage showed that there are currently 80 dual bins still palletized (128 individual bins (64 pairs) located in PPSB shed and 32 individual bins (16 pairs) located outside near shed) and waiting for installation. According to the attached outdoor bin memo, 130 bins were originally purchased. We have 123 bins total accounted for (installed and palletized). 7 bins are unaccounted for. They may have been damaged/replaced.

    Attached Files: 

  3. Green Research Committee-update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Research Committee

    Green Research Committee,

     

    Jeremy and I met with Susan, Ehab, and Madhu last week to give them an update on our progress over the past few weeks. I have attached the topics discussed. Here is a brief summary of that meeting and how we propose to move forward.

     

    • The October deadline can be extended. However, if there are requests for campus funding, it is a good deadline since all the budget meetings with the Provost happen in the Spring. As long as we continue making progress, we will update them in October with what we have done by then.
    • When we write recommendations, we should consider the financial impact. Cost to implement and money saved following implementation.
    • Jeremy is going to put together a single document that includes the information Paul shared on Teams and more details for the topics discussed in the meeting. That will be shared with the committee.
    • Next meeting, we will discuss that document. Please read it before the meeting and write comments.

     

    I will try to get something on the calendar soon.

     

    Thanks,

    Stephanie

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

    Hi Morgan,

    I am helping Jeremy write the combined document and am looking for your perspectives on 4 main items in this list, do you have 30 minutes to chat about these between now and the end of the week?

     

    Thank you 

    Paul Foote

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

    Hi Morgan,

    My edits for the Research committee working documents and included and in green font.

    Jeremy is going to combine these documents for our next meeting on Tuesday.

    In addition to reviewing my edits in the brainstorming document would you please also comment on the greater campus collaboration sections in the draft document?

    Many stakeholders already use siloed versions of this across campus, i.e. Provost’s Office, individual Colleges and Departments, Capital Planning, Deferred Maintenance and F&S Utilities and Energy Services along with others.  A committee or team could pull all of these perspectives together and coordinate an overall metric system to accommodate the many priorities that each stakeholder values.

     

    • Plan for equipment cooling during construction/renovation to avoid one-pass water cooling.

    Core program to work with F&S, Department heads and PI’s to develop design criteria for closed loop cooling applications possibly utilizing the chilled water loop when feasible for process cooling etc…

     

    • Establish and begin transitioning to a space utilization strategy to create flexible spaces and support the growth of interdisciplinary work. Sustainable lab design incorporates flexible spaces an effort that involves the PI’s, Deans, capital planning and other stakeholders to coordinate these types of designs. The Core Program can help advocate for these flexible spaces, identify and start conversations for flexible opportunities, break down barriers to communication and operating in silos.

     

    Along with this from the Brainstorming document

    Employ green lab director, industry standard range $65k to $85k and up depending experience level, or could hire an existing staff/faculty with a dual role position and similar qualifications with parallel work goals, outcomes or responsibilities and shared leadership and wage responsibility.

    An example of a shared position would be their current wage plus an additional wage for the Green Research Position/Role and shared leadership for their reporting line. Many units have this on campus already.

     

    Which answers this question at the bottom of the draft document

    • Should we recommend where a Green Research program should reside organizationally?  Possibly all 3 departments OVCRI, ISEE and F&S.  

     

     

    Thank you 

    Paul Foote

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

    Hi Jeremy,

    I sent this to Morgan for feedback if she has time.

     

    Please find my edits in the documents attached for the Green Research Committee.

     

    Best

    Paul Foote

    Attached Files: 

  4. TEACH AD workshop at the Healthy Lifestyle Hub, about the anaerobic digesters installed at Green Era Campus

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    University of Illinois at Chicago
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste

    Sarthak Prasad and Daphne Hulse attended an in-person TEACH AD workshop at the Healthy Lifestyle Hub in Chicago to learn about the anaerobic digesters installed at Green Era Campus in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.

    Attached Files: 

  6. Redwood Materials: F&S, iSEE, and ACES introduced to GIES alum Seema Nilakhe to discuss battery recycling opportunities

    Associated Project(s): 
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)

    RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

     

    Great – thank you all for your thoughts and connections.  I’m moving Madhu and Bob to bcc and can loop them back in as needed.

     

    Jennifer, Morgan and Daphne, can you please share your interest in joining a call along with your availability for the last 2 weeks in June?  I’ll get a call scheduled with Seema so that we can explore a possible collaboration.

     

    Best,

    Amy

     

    Amy Fruehling, MBA

    Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations

    College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

    1301 W. Gregory Dr.

    Urbana, IL  61801

     

    217.265.4045

    afruehli@illinois.edu

     

    From: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 12:06 PM
    To: Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>; Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>; Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Cc: White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Amy,

     

    Bob is correct that campus no longer has a battery recycling program. I would be interested in following up about how we might restart the program. Colleagues in Facilities & Services, including Morgan White and Daphne Hulse, Zero Waste Coordinator, might also be interested in joining a call.

     

    On a related note, the alum may be interested in an initiative to recycle components of EV batteries (among other types) for reuse in Europe that leverages a partnership between industry and academia.

    https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news-archive/2019/new-project-launches-focusing-on-the-sustainable-reprocessing-of-rare-earth-magnets

     

    Best,

    Jen

     

    Jennifer Fraterrigo (she/her)

    iSEE Associate Director for Campus Sustainability and
    Professor of Landscape and Ecosystem Ecology
    Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

    University of Illinois

    W-423 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave.

    Urbana, IL 61801

    jmf@illinois.edu
    ph 217-333-9428

    https://fraterrigolab.nres.illinois.edu/

     

     

    From: Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 9:27 AM
    To: Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>; Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Hi Amy,

     

    Campus had a battery recycling program but it was discontinued in 2015 due to lack of funding.  It is now left to units to fund recycling programs if they want.

    https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/battery-recycling

     

    I also thought of Jen Fraterrigo for discussing potential partnerships on campus.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Bob

     

    Robert L. Schooley
    Professor and Head
     
    Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

    College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    W-503 Turner Hall | M/C 047
    Urbana, IL 61801
    217.244.2729 | schooley@illinois.edu
    nres.illinois.edu
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

     

     

     

    From: Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:24 PM
    To: Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>; Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; White, Morgan <mbwhite@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Hi Amy

     

    Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This sounds interesting.  Would you know what kind of batteries she is interested in building a recycling program for?

    I am ccing Jen Fraterrigo and Morgan White to let us know if we have any current program for this and get their thoughts on potential opportunities for battery recycling on our campus.  

     

    Best

    Madhu

     

     

    Madhu Khanna

    Pronouns: she, her

    Alvin H. Baum Family Chair & Director, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment

    ACES Distinguished Professor in Environmental Economics

    Co-Director, Center for Economics of Sustainability

    University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

     

    Office: 1101 W. Peabody, Suite 336, M/C  635

    Urbana IL 61801

     

    email: khanna1@illinois.edu; phone: 217-333-5176; fax: 217-333-5538

     

    http://ace.illinois.edu/directory/madhu-khanna

    https://ceos.illinois.edu/bio-khanna

    https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LPH4gbUAAAAJ&hl=en

     

    https://illinois.zoom.us/j/2173335176?pwd=Ri8rTzQ0S1RxZHpiY2tEWVdaSlhtZz09

     

     

    From: Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:13 PM
    To: Khanna, Madhu <khanna1@illinois.edu>; Schooley, Robert Lee <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Madhu and Bob,

    Checking in to bring this request to the top of your email again.  I’d like to get back to our alum contact at Redwood Materials this week. Did you have any thoughts on her request below, or are there others you’d suggest that I reach out to?

     

    Thanks!

    Amy

     

    From: Bollero, German A <gbollero@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, May 26, 2023 3:18 PM
    To: Fruehling, Amy <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Re: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    I will let Madhu and Bob to respond to this.

    Thanks

    GB

     

    From: "Fruehling, Amy" <afruehli@illinois.edu>
    Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 at 2:54 PM
    To: German Bollero <gbollero@illinois.edu>, "Khanna, Madhu" <khanna1@illinois.edu>, "Schooley, Robert Lee" <schooley@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Campus Sustainability - Redwood Materials

     

    Hi Bob, German and Madhu,

     

    Redwood Materials, founded by Tesla co-founder, JB Straubel, is a renewable energy company that focuses on making batteries sustainable and affordable by localizing the battery supply chain and producing components in the US from recycled batteries. A fantastic Gies alumni and former student that I worked with, reached out and is interested in creating a battery collection program at Illinois.  She referenced the campus-wide recycling program with Coca Cola.  While I think this could fit nicely into the Campus Sustainability program, I think that we could discuss possible research, project or funding collaborations that would enhance a program of this nature and support an academic partnership.

     

    I am reaching out to you given your roles in the college and campus sustainability initiatives.  Are there any programs within iSEE, NRES or that campus is working on that might align well?  Are there others within your units that you recommend that I pose this question to?  I’d like to have a follow up call with the alum, Seema Nilakhe, to share some options, and then can bring others into the conversation to hopefully begin talking about how to move forward.

     

    Thank you for your thoughts,

    Amy

     

    Amy Fruehling, MBA

    Sr. Director of Corporate Relations

    217.265.4045

    8DFIANu9afgYkAAAAASUVORK5CYIIA

     

  7. Weekly Update: Emptying the Round Barn, New staffers

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, We were closed yesterday for the Memorial Day holiday.

    Last week I moved bikes out of the barn. We’re not 100% done but only have 25 or so bikes left.

    This week I’ll move the rest of the bikes out of the barn and do some reorganizing to accommodate the influx. We also have a new staffer starting this week, so we’ll host a training session or two with them.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 13
    Sales: $1,069.50
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $530
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $110

    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tires/tubes: 11 for $86.75

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  8. Reimagine our Future Partner Form

    Associated Project(s): 
    ReImagine Our Future

    Good morning friend of the Reimagine Our Future competition,

     

    We were wondering if you would like to continue to be a part of the competition for this upcoming school year. 

     

    If so, can you please fill out this google form?

     

    We appreciate your support and hope you will join us for another year of this amazing competition inspiring undergrads to come up with sustainable solutions.

     

    Thank you so much,

    Allie Garlin

    Reimagine Our Future Student Assistant

  9. Tracking/displaying Grind2Energy data.

    Associated Project(s): 
    Grind2Energy

    Hi Thurman,

     

    A recurring topic that’s come up in our zero waste conversations has been the desire to track and display more metrics under the zero waste theme on the iCAP Portal. Grind2Energy data was one metric that was brainstormed, as it relates closely to our Zero Waste Objective 5.5, “Plan for organic waste.” Since Dining already tracks that data, it would be easy for us to get it up on the portal. Would this be something that you’d be in favor of us doing? If so, any input on how the data is displayed (by month, or annually)?

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

     

     

     

    Hi Daphne,

     

    Fate has it that I will be seeing the Grind2Energy people tomorrow at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. I would like to see if this is something that can by automatically updated from our system. They may have some functionality for this and if not, it may be some thing they could create and would be a selling point for them. I will find out the possibilities. I would rather that this be auotmatic so that the data is always current and nobody can "drop the ball" along the way.    

     

    THURMAN ETCHISON
    Assistant Director of Dining - Facilities and Equipment
     

     

     

     

     

  10. Weekly Update: Updated hours, Moving bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Last week we started our Summer Hours of M/W/F 2 – 6p. No complaints so far and if visit numbers are any indication, it’s the correct move. A lot fewer folks through the doors this time of year.

    On Wednesday, with the help of a TBP volunteer we moved 10 or so bikes over to the Urbana space. A good small step, but still more bikes to clear. That’ll continue this week as well.

    We’ve been selling bikes at a marginal clip but can’t have enough bikes ready come August so we’ll wrench on a few more this week during the down times.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 22
    Sales: $834.25
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $672
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 1 for $8

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  13. Cosmo-e pilot on campus this summer

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Share with Veo

    Beginning Monday, May 22, the university and bike sharing partner Veo will launch a pilot program to explore the use of Cosmo-e bikes on the Urbana campus. During the trial, the motorized class two e-bikes will be allowed to operate on university streets and dedicated bicycle lanes. Rental bikes were previously restricted to pedaling only in these areas.

    The program will run through Monday, August 7, at which point the ridership data and community feedback will be used to review the status of the service and determine future usage guidelines for the bikes before the start of the fall semester. Requirements for the pilot will also consist of strict geofencing restrictions for the class two e-bikes to protect pedestrian safety by properly balancing active transportation modes, including the following:

    • Enforcing no-ride zones for the Main Quad, South Quad, Bardeen Quad, North Quad, Ikenberry Quad, and the trails of the Arboretum
    • Maintaining existing prohibitions for sidewalks and multi-use shared paths
    • Allowing parking only in designated university bicycle racks
    • Regulating slower device speeds while on campus property (8 MPH maximum in primary areas)

    Riders will receive more information, such as route maps and general reminders, from Veo before the pilot program begins. For questions about the upcoming pilot, contact hello@veoride.com. Additional resources are available on the Bike at Illinois website. 

    Improving mobility options for students, faculty, and staff continues to be one of the university’s top transportation priorities. The pilot is the latest example of collaborative efforts to offer greater bike sharing availability and flexibility while maintaining the highest safety standards throughout the U of I’s jurisdictional locations.

    Read more at Campus Pilot Project for Veo Motorized Bikes

     

     

  14. 5-17-23 F&S and YMCA meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    On May 17, 2023 Morgan White, Daphne Hulse, and Marc Alexander met to discuss the future of Dump and Run.

    • F&S will need to provide public functions stuff for YMCA dump and run sale in the fall (use SSC funding - what is left)

    • We will need to create a MOU including what all this means for YMCA and long-term funding for their sale and our spring move out

      • Be sure to include that F&S will support the August sale in a public functions capacity, and supports the continued use of Stock Pavilion

    • Honor the partnership with the YMCA

      • MOU get marc’s perspective, morgan’s perspective, pete’s perspective, housing’s perspective

    • Be clear that there is a spring collection and august sale. They are separate events but all under the Dump and Run name.

      • Phrase example: “The Campus Bike Center is a collaboration between UIUC and the Bike Project of Champaign.”

        • Dump and Run: “Dump and Run is a collaboration between University YMCA and UIUC.”

      • Collaboration means that we sometimes work in different capacities as the university can be so much larger than a small organization

      • Daphne to draft a MOU for F&S-Housing and F&S-YMCA

        • “…Based on x y z background this is how we intend to move forward in our partnership over the years. One year time intervals automatically renewed each year unless a party decides something should change or cease…”

    • Recurring expenses could be argument among us internally to determine who should contribute (Morgan thinks this is a Pete question)

      • Student fees can go to anything

      • State funds to Housing is slightly limited

      • State funds to off campus entities is very limited

    • Timeline

      • Get the MOU signed and approved before move in weekend, so we can proclaim it the way we planned to

      • August for YMCA to rubber stamp it

    • As a general reference, it is good to get things written down and signed on a MOU with existing leadership who support these initiatives, so they continue even when leadership changes

  17. Native Planting at Burrill Hall

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    Burrill/ Morrill Walkway

    The following is an email sent by John Marlin on May 16, 2023:

     

    As most of you know I am retired from campus and involved in other off campus conservation activities. I will no longer be overseeing the Burrill Hall native planting.

     

    During the pandemic, maintenance at campus native plantings by volunteers was not allowed.  This coupled with very dry conditions caused deterioration of several sites including the one at Burrill Hall. F&S bought the woodland wildflowers for the planting and the Entomology Department installed them and provided some maintenance in conjunction with some students.

     

    Department head May Berenbaum has put together an effort to revitalize the planting and has some limited funding for some maintenance of the native plants.  F&S plans to make some changes in part of the area and the path is to be restored.  Daniel Bush will initially work with the native plants and supervise any students. 

     

    In the past weeds removed from the site were placed by the two square concrete benches and I notified Ryan Welch who had the maintenance crew remove them.  I assume a similar arrangement can be made possibly with Mr. Dalby as the contact.

     

    This site was quite popular with people walking past and provided a good instructional resource, especially the area near the sidewalk.  I hope that this will continue.

     

    John C. Marlin

     

    Dennis Dalby replied:

     

    Thank you John,

     

    It was nice meeting you today to gain some of your tips and input regarding the planting and upkeep of this area.  I’ve been working with Ryan Welch and SIB to get this area brought back up to its current level and look forward to its improved upkeep with the discussions that we had today.  We’ll be working with Ryan to have a wood chip path added once again and will add a few small plants of our own within the areas that we (MCB) will maintain.  SIB will maintain the areas of the native plants.  It will look and function much better once all is in place.

     

    Thanks again for stopping by to share your experience,

     

    Dennis

  18. Weekly Update: Bike donations, Updated working hours

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, We received 8 bike donations directly from graduating students last week—easily a record during my tenure so far. Not sure how the word got out, but it was effective! Of course, I forgot to ask for a few photos for future marketing use, but one person did request a photo with her bike before she donated it.

    I also worked with TBP volunteers to move a chunk of bikes out of storage, so we’re making headway on that. But still a good number of bikes left, too, which I’ll continue to work on going forward.

    This week we start our summer hours of M/W/F 2 – 6p.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 49
    Sales: $868.25
    Bikes: 3 for $570
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $36

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  19. Bike Safety Quiz Form for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Education
    Enforcement for Safe Cycling
    Bicycle Safety Materials

    Here are some links that direct you to UIUC's bike safety quizzes!

     

    Links to Share – share these links with anyone who’s interested in taking the quiz. Feel free to post on social media, websites, etc.

    Adult BikeSafetyQuiz

    Adult BikeSafetyQuiz - Spanish

    Child BikeSafetyQuiz

    Child BikeSafetyQuiz – Spanish

  20. Dump and Run 2023 held from Monday, May 8 through Saturday, May 13

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Collections began at 10am on Monday morning and continued through 3pm on Saturday afternoon. More than 16,000 pounds of household items were donated to Goodwill through the program. Salt & Light collected 3,500 pounds of soft items (clothes, bedding, linens

    Attached Files: 

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