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  1. Waste Transfer Station Tour and Plastics Request

    Associated Project(s): 

    Deke Weaver, Professor in the School of Art & Design, requested a tour of the Waste Transfer Station, as well as asked the following questions: 

    1. Do any of you have a rough estimate of how many plastic water bottles the U of I population goes through in a day (week, month, year)?

    2. Would it be possible to collect a few of the plastic water bottles from the recycling center for this project?

    Weaver is working on a public engagement piece about the oceans, climate, plastics and interconnected ecosystems and needs approximately 2500-4000 bottles. The project is a whale sculpture named CETACEAN. 

    Shawn Patterson from Facilities & Services replied explaining that the waste transfer station acquires 2-3 thousand pounds of plastics each month and will be able to accommodate the professor's need for plastics.

  2. Second Nature Carbon Credit Email Exchange

    Below is an email exchange between Meredtih Moore of iSEE and Steve Muzzy of Second Nature:

    Hi Steve,

     

    Hope you are doing well! I am touching base again to see if there is an update about the status of our carbon credit sales. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

    Meredith

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

    Hello Meredith,

     

    Thanks for checking in. I've been meaning to follow up with the great news that UIUC credits have been issued and sold. However the reason I have waited is because the broker sold the credits in five batches and they are still waiting on final payment for one batch. Once they have all payments in hand, Second Nature can invoice them for your portion of the revenue. As with the entire process for this round of verification, the sale of credits has for some reason taken longer than expected. We are wanting to issue one invoice for all the batches rather than do multiple invoices - this will allow us to pay UIUC in one lump sum. 

     

    I can tell you the total number of credits sold was 115,836. And pending the final batch sales per/ton you should clear a per ton amount between $6.00-$6.50.

     

    I would expect issuance of UIUCs credit sale revenue check next month.

     

    Best,

     

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

    Thank you so much for the update, Steve!!

  3. Air Quality Monitoring Station Project Updates

    Associated Project(s): 

     

    Air Quality Monitoring Station Project Updates:

    • The project is still underway as the initial phase of data collection is completed.
    • Collected air concentration and weather data at 15-minute’s intervals for a year. The data will be made public for use by campus.
    • Past data is being used to develop data filters to prevent outliers and data imputations in the proposed dashboard being implemented on PowerBI.
    • Public dashboard to be released to telecast live data through API access before the end of 2022.
    • Collected data being used for advanced research at Land Use Evolution and Assessment Lab (LEAM) to identify the potential for low-cost sensor deployment for urban scenario predictions.

     

     

  4. Geothermal Urbana-Champaign Project Update

    Associated Project(s): 

    Geothermal Urbana-Champaign Project updates:

    • Geothermal Urbana-Champaign is an ongoing project with no end deadline.
    • John Freitag is the Project Consultant.
    • So far, 11 geothermal contracts have been signed for 47 tons of capacity.
    • During the first year of the Geothermal Program, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association MREA was involved in helping to start and run the program. 

    The marketing resources document of the project is attached.

  5. L&W iCAP Meeting 9/16/2022

    On September 16th, the Land & Water iCAP team met to identify projects that need to be wrapped up, review the key priorities document, and discuss recommendations to be completed in the short term.

    Meeting minutes are attached.

  6. Video: Highlights from Bike to Work Day and information on Light the Night

    Associated Project(s): 

    Mark Herman from iSEE created a timelapse video showcasing the Alma Mater station during the Bike to Work Day event on September 14, 2022. This video gives a highlight of the event as well as promote Light the Night event on September 15, 2022.

    Watch the video here: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/video/highlights-bike-work-day-...

  7. BTWD follow up with Stations Managers

    Associated Project(s): 

    Following email was sent to all BTWD station managers the day after the event on September 15, 2022.

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

    Hi Bike to Work Day station managers,

    I hope you had a good BTWD yesterday!  Here are the last 3 reminders/requests for you:

    1. Return your leftover materials to Charlie’s house (805 S. Coler Ave., Urbana) by Friday, if you haven’t already done so.
      1. This includes your box with the registration list, registration forms, the donation can, t-shirts, handouts, and the yard sign.
    2. Complete this short survey by Friday (if you can) to tell us how BTWD 2022 went for you:  https://forms.gle/yJ6LSevkt8zoSDSr8
    3. Send me photos from your station if you haven’t already done so, or label & drop them in this Google Drive folder.

    No Pictures Yet from these Stations:

    1. Campus Alma Mater
    2. Campus Bike Center
    3. Campus National Soybean Research Center
    4. CRCE
    5. Campus Uni High
    6. Rantoul
    7. Savoy

     

    Video Received & Posted from this Station:

    1. Campus Alma Mater

    Pictures Received & Posted from these Stations:

    1. Campus DRES
    2. Campus Orchard Downs
    3. Campus Research Park
    4. Champaign Downtown Plaza
    5. Champaign Wolfram
    6. Mahomet
    7. St. Joe KRT
    8. Urbana Brookens
    9. Urbana Downtown

     

    Thanks,

    Gabe

  8. Water for volunteers+WO to transport the water

    Associated Project(s): 

    DIA provided 6 powerade containers that were used for water for the volunteers at Light the Night event. Work Order (WO 11003192) was created for the Transportation Shop to transport 2 large gatorade containers (filled with water) each to Alma Mater, Hallene Gateway, and Campus Bike Center by 3:30 pm tomorrow (September 15, 2022) for Light the Night event.

  9. F&S meets with North American to discuss green cleaning practices

    Good morning Eric, Molly, and Zach,

     

    I hope this message finds your team well. I wanted to follow up with you after the presentation from last week and make sure that you have my contact information going forward, since I joined the Facilities & Services team so recently. I was very excited to see the zero waste pillar included in so many of the solutions you presented, especially regarding the green cleaning chemicals.

     

    One of the projects that the F&S waste management interns and I have been working on the past few weeks is finding chemical alternatives for all the cleaning products that BSWs currently use that would satisfy the requirements for WELL and LEED certifications. This has proven to be challenging, as no single brand we researched had a comprehensive program to address all our needs. After hearing about the WAXIE green cleaning program, I am interested in continuing the conversation about this! I’d love to learn more about what products North American would recommend for the university.

     

    Thank you,

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    ZERO WASTE COORDINATOR
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

     

     

    Thank you Daphne for your email, and it was great meeting you last week!

     

    Pete and Macie made it very apparent how important Zero Waste is to the university, so I am sure you have the university’s complete support in your efforts.

     

    I was telling Macie in a separate email chain that I am working on next steps with CIF, Can Liners, Robotics, and we can also continue the chemical conversation as it relates to Waxie Solsta.

     

    I am attaching a product sheet that shares which solutions the system has that are third party registered and what those certifications are (review pages 28-29). These are just the products that are in the dilution control system, which means they would do 90% of the daily cleaning for the buildings.

     

    When we come down next week, we can dive in a little deeper and develop a list of chemicals to trial.

     

    Thank you everyone!

    Zach

     


     

  10. Email to IUB: Help with Bike to Work Day and Light the Night event

    Associated Project(s): 

    Sarthak Prasad sent an email to Dave Guth to connect with Illini Union Board for help with Light the Night 2022 as well as Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events in 2023 going forward.

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

    Hi Dave,

    As you may already know, we organized Bike to Work Day today from 7 – 10 am, with one of the locations being the Alma Mater station! I had several people signed up to volunteer and only a few of them showed up this morning. I am hoping that IUB could send some volunteers for Light the Night event (tomorrow from 4-7 pm), in case something like this happened again. Could you please let me know if IUB could help out tomorrow?

    I would also like to ask IUB, if they could lead the Alma Mater welcoming station for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events next year. Thank you,

    Sarthak

  11. EV charging stations and a personalized update about EVs - Robert O'Daniell

    Following is an email from Robert O'Daniell regarding EV charging stations and his experience during his recent road trip.

    From: Robert O'Daniell
    Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2022 2:58 PM
    To: White, Morgan; Prasad, Sarthak; Kontou, Eleftheria
    Subject: A personalized update about EVs

     

    Hi - I did another roadtrip this weekend.  At a DCFC I chatted with a guy on a longer road trip that was intent on charging to 100%.   He was there a very long time as the charger slows remarkably as they go beyond 90%. For him to charge from 90% to 100% would take 15 minutes to get 25 miles. I spent 12 minutes at Target and got 75 miles of charge. 

     

    As this year has rolled on, attempts to improve my EV charging survey has waned. There has been decreasing willingness of people participating and I was having doubts about the questions I was asking.   So I have stopped.  And then the EV sections of the Inflation Reduction Act turned everything on its head.  

    Even the piece by Kontou that the July 28th IDOT WebEx meeting mentioned  as cutting edge shows its age in only a little over two years.  ( first a disclaimer - inspite of being a math major at UI 50 years ago, the equations and graphs in her report are a little too esoteric for me.)  But some of the basic information  demonstrates remarkable changes,  It mentioned 50 kw charging as fast, now NEVI mandates a minimum of 150kw (350 kw is now fast).   Mentioned charging locations that numbered at 1300.  Now Tesla alone has 1200 supercharger locations,  The mentioned EVgo has dropped from prominence, now Electrify America from its infancy in 2019 now leads the way. Electrify America currently has 800 and most are up to NEVI standards.   EVs charging up on off-peak hours takes advantage of unused capacity at those times ( and gets a discount). And now with two way charging, EVs can put power back on the grid at some heavy peak use periods. (Known as V2G)  Predictions of some EV issues will be difficult.


    Recent V2G articles.  

    https://electrek.co/2022/08/25/electric-school-buses-supply-80-hrs-energy-massachussetts-grid/

     

    BMW, Ford, GM will help incentivize California EV drivers to charge off-peak

     

    Can a Garage Full of Revel Taxis Stop the Next Blackout?

     

    Brooklyn-based Vehicle-to-Grid Bidirectional Station Charging back into NYC Grid | EnergyTech

     

    Alf+T0JozD8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

     

    So - EV charging will have two opposite effects on the grid.  Occasionally add to a peak load. But also help balance the load on the grid by taking some energy during off-peak hours and putting it back during peak load pressures. 

     

    EV charging also has another opposition.   DCFC continuing to get faster and  Levels 1 & 2 staying the same or getting slower. 


    The two factors are the "60% rule" and the increasing acceptance of convenience charging. 

     

     The 60% rule is to only charge between 20% and 80% (the 60% in the middle).   This protects battery life and has the advantage of saving time. Saved time is illustrated in the opening paragraph of this email.  3 times the charge in slightly less time.

     

    Accepting convenience charging is maximizing charging convenience.  Speed at DCFC.  And if its not convenient, I don’t charge (even if free). A different take on “Willingness To Pay” (if the charger is 100 yards away and I’ll only get 10 miles, why bother)

     

    Faster = = DCFC & the NEVI guidelines. DCFC is at least twice as fast when charging from 20% to 30% than it is when  charging from 70% to 80%.  Nobody (should) wants to charge to 100%, where the charging speed is similar to Level 2 charger.  Lots of current EVs charge faster than my car, and I can add 75 miles in the time it takes to use the rest room.  With the NEVI 50 mile interval, it guarantees roadtrips with minimal times as drivers plan better. 


    Slower = =  For my home, I spent $200 on the slowest level 2 charger available (16 amp).  Even if my VW is down to 20% when I go to bed, my "slow" charger will add enough range to get from CU to Woodridge ( 142 miles) when I get up.  In the 8 hour “off peak” window, 90 miles can be added. 

     

    Since few people in this area need 75 miles to get home from work, those that need to add charge before leaving work for home can get what they need from the slowest level 2 chargers.  This could save money for places like UI by reducing the cost of the EVSE and the necessary wiring for them.  It would be interesting to know if any workers at UI would  pay extra to rent a reserved parking space with a charger. (For those with longer commutes or no chargers at their apartment complex)

     

    We need to get our municipal leaders to get involved with IDOT and get one or more of the DCFC locations paid for with Federal money (NEVI program). Those DCFCs could fulfill all of UI needs for short term EV charging and the need for level 1 or 2 charging spaces.   But as a visible sign of support of sustainability issues, some should still be there. 

     

    Level 2 destination chargers scattered throughout the community will always be both used and appreciated,  As EV drivers learn the most efficient ways to charge, their WTP for level 2 charging will wane.   WTP for DCFC will always be there.


    Thank you for your time. 

     

    ps.  as a side note - a few details to go but I will be doing an EV interest group at OLLI soon.  (OLLI - UI affiliate of Osher Life Long Learning Institute)

     

    Robert K. O'Daniell

    Photographer Emeritus-News-Gazette

  12. ZW007 Composting Strategies - Successful

    iSEE Director, Madhu Khanna, responded in favor of the ZW007 Composting Strategies recommendation with the following message:

    ================

    Dear Morgan and Jen

    iSEE is very supportive of discussing composting program expansion opportunities and we appreciate the submittal of this recommendation. We have established and supported the implementation of several compost tumblers on campus and participate in a Sustainable Land Management Committee to work on identifying potential compost opportunities at South Farms. This committee is currently working on establishing an outlet for composting manure with the intent of expanding to include campuswide organic waste, excluding the waste from Dining Halls as they already divert their organic waste through Grind2Energy Systems.

    We have now had time to discuss the recommendation below in more detail. In the near term, we have initiated conversations to pilot a program between the Union and Urbana Landscape Recycling Center to assess demand and logistical details needed to support such a program. Many of the individuals included on the proposed committee membership list are included in these discussions, and progress will be continuously reported on the iCAP Portal. As you recommended, we are gathering these stakeholders to discuss composting.  Because it is a large and complex issue, we are taking a less structured approach than a formal committee. We will reassess the launch of such a group as we move forward with the Union pilot project. Thank you again for your dedication to campus waste diversion.

    Best wishes,
    Madhu

    ================

    See the iWG assessment and transmittal of ZW007 Composting Strategies here. 
    See the submittal of ZW007 Composting Strategies here.

    For future updates, please refer to the Large-Scale Food Waste Composting  project.

  13. Email to volunteers

    Associated Project(s): 

    Following email was sent to all volunteers at Alma Mater welcoming station on September 13, 2022. Similar emails were sent to volunteers at other location as well.

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

    Hello, Thank you for volunteering to help at the Campus Alma Mater station on Bike to Work Day tomorrow morning!

    Please review the attached Volunteer Instructions and Talking Points before tomorrow’s event.  Printed copies of this will also be available at your station.

    Your station manager, Sarthak Prasad, is copied on this email.  Please communicate any schedule changes or questions to him.

    Thank you!

    Gabe

  14. Email to welcoming station managers

    Associated Project(s): 

    Following email was sent to all BTWD welcoming station managers on Septmber 13, 2022.

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

    Hi Bike to Work Day station managers!

    Tomorrow is the big event!  Please follow these 6 steps this week:

     

    1. Tuesday – Pick up your station box at Charlie’s house (805 S. Coler Ave., Urbana)
      1. Enter the screened-in porch, and find your box(es) with your station name on it.
      2. Papers in your box:  registration list, on-site registration forms, volunteer instructions, talking points, fall bike activity flyers, bike registration QR code
      3. Other items:  t-shirts, donation can, handouts & coupons in brochure holders, hand sanitizer
    2. Tuesday – Connect with your volunteers
      1. I will be sending emails to each station manager, and the people who signed up to volunteer at your station, with volunteer instructions.  Full list of names attached.
    3. Wednesday – Get an accurate count of people who stopped by your station
      1. Use the printed, stapled registration list in your box to check off people when they arrive at your station.
      2. You’ll get another updated list tonight with people who registered between Monday afternoon and Tuesday night.  Print or refer to this list on your phone on Wednesday morning, and write down everyone who stops by.
      3. If someone DIDN’T register online, have them fill out an ON-SITE REGISTRATION FORM included in your box.
      4. Return ALL paperwork in your box to Charlie’s house by Friday.
    4. Wednesday – Give away your freebies!
      1. T-shirts are available while supplies last.  Extras go back in your box to Charlie’s house.  If people are looking for a different size, send them to the Urbana Farmer’s Market Bike Table (NW corner) on Saturday between 8a-12n.
      2. Your box has bike maps, rules of the road, organization materials, hand sanitizer, and business coupons!  People can take as much as they want.
    5. Wednesday – Take & share pictures!
      1. Take some pictures at your station (with participant permission), and send them to Evan (ealvarez@cumtd.com) or post them on Facebook and tag “C-U Bike Month.”
    6. After the event – Return your leftover materials to Charlie’s house by Friday.
      1. This includes registration forms, the donation can, t-shirts, handouts, and the yard sign.

     

    Thanks!
    Gabe

     

    Gabriel Lewis, AICP

    Planner

     

    Planning and Community Development

    A division of the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission

     

    1776 E. Washington St, Urbana, IL 61802
    P 217.328.3313 | D 217.819.4102 | ccrpc.org

     

    RPC

     

    People. Possibilities.

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