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. Agenda for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night: September 8, 2022

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night

    See attached the agenda item for the meeting on September 8, 2022 for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events.

    Attached Files: 

  3. e-week, GradLinks, Email+, and other methods for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night

    E-week, GradLinks, and iNews newsletter announcements were posted by September 4, 2022 for Bike to Work Day (BTWD) and Light the Night (LTN) events. iSEE, Campus Rec, Campus Wellbeing Services, University YMCA, ISSS (for students and scholars), and other newsletters also included an announcement for these events.

    Bike at Illinois also sent out a newsletter in September to promote these events!

    Digital Signage were posted across the campus on September 7, 2022 to promote these events.

    See attached all the methods used to promote these events on campus.

    Attached Files: 

  5. iCAP Team Priority Areas 2022-2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Topical iCAP Teams
    Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Energy iCAP Team
    Education iCAP Team
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Engagement iCAP Team

    The following email was sent to the iCAP Teams:

    Hello iCAP Teams,

    Thank you again for serving on these important campus sustainability committees, and for your commitment to helping the university achieve the objectives in the Illinois Climate Action Plan.  As promised in the charge letters you received, we are attaching the Key Priorities Document here.  The attached document includes a section for each iCAP Team, with two parts in each section: Priority areas and in progress iCAP Portal projects.

    1. Priority Areas

    In order to help our campus move from STARS Gold to STARS Platinum, we have identified priority areas where our university can potentially improve. iSEE’s summer intern Tyler evaluated the latest UIUC STARS report and identified example case studies from STARS Platinum schools.  Tyler’s report is online at “Report on Improving UIUC STARS Score.” The priority areas also include topics for potential recommendations that have been brought up in previous discussions with the campus sustainability teams.  One example of this is the current efforts to reduce plastic waste on campus.

    Many prior iCAP team members have expressed a desire for guidance on appropriate topics for recommendations, so we are providing this guidance to assist your team with focus areas for development of recommendations.  We encourage you to investigate these ideas with gusto; reach out to people at other schools to learn more about the ideas and contact people on our campus who would have a stake in the project (“stakeholders”) to understand how it could fit into our campus. You should also review the recommendation template to see the information that needs to be completed when you submit a recommendation to the iCAP Working Group. 

    1. In progress iCAP Portal projects

    The iCAP Portal has over 900 projects and contains information about our campus sustainability efforts, going back as far as 2003. The information is primarily entered by members of the iCAP Teams, the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC), and a few volunteers.  We are requesting your assistance to get updates on some of the projects that are listed as “In Progress.”  For each of the projects listed in the attached file, please answer the following questions:

    • Who is the current contact person? The project records on the iCAP Portal may provide past contacts, and your team members may have relevant information.
    • Is the project completed? If not, what is the current status of the effort?
    • What changes are needed on the iCAP Portal project page content? Pictures would be particularly nice to be able to share on the Portal.

    We are very excited about this coming year, and we want to support you in any way necessary.  Please reach out to any of us at any time.

    Thank you,

    Morgan, Jen, and Meredith

    Attached Files: 

  7. Weekly Update: Open weekdays, BTWD, LTN

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, This week we begin being open the full week (minus Monday for Labor Day). Hopefully we’ll be able to better help folks, as we’ve had lines for stand time most days during our M/W/F schedule.

    We’re out of bikes but have been selling a good number of memberships. I’ll be out on Thurs/Fri but my staff will cover.

    We’ve taken a step back technologically and had good results: Printed membership forms are easier for folks to fill out, take less time, and we have more clipboards than computers which means we can get people working on their bikes sooner. Manually entering the forms afterwards and the environmental toll are worth it during these super-busy times.

    I’ll do some prep on my end for BTWD and LTN next week.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 102
    Sales: $1,865
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $655
    Memberships: 24 for $720
    Tires/tubes: 22 for $144

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  10. archived info - previous project description and background

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Dashboard Project

    Project Description

    The Illini Energy Dashboard provides clearly visible understandable information data and information to students and staff of selected University buildings describing energy consumption rate (electrical, chilled water and steam) so that users can make educated choices about the way they can affect energy consumption and conservation. The biggest challenge in successfully creating a campus-wide goal of energy reduction is being able to evoke a behavioral change resulting in energy conservation and sustainability efforts. This project aims to achieve such a change by showing energy consumers at the University how they're consuming energy in a clear way.

    The Energy Dashboard Project is a multi-part project that includes implementation of a website, connection of existing real-time energy meters, and installations of additional real-time energy meters throughout campus.  With support from the Student Sustainability Committee, this project funded the purchase of the website module for the campus' energy data historian program, through Insight.  F&S staff oversaw the implementation of the module, and ECI staff developed the look and reference content of the site.  The website went live in early 2012, and existing real-time meters have been connected.  At this time, additional metering is underway.

    Project Background

    The conversion factors used in the dashboard display are:

    •     Average US Household: 901 kWh/month, 30.03 kWh/day
    •     CFL light bulb: 15 watts, 360 Wh/day, 0.360 kWh/day
    •     Refrigerator: 180 watts, 4320 Wh/day, 4.320 kWh/day
    •     22" LED TV: 30 watts, 720 Wh/day, 0.720 kWh/day

    Previous Related File is attached

    Attached Files: 

  12. iCAP Team Charge Letters 2022-2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Topical iCAP Teams
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Energy iCAP Team
    Land and Water iCAP Team
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Education iCAP Team
    Resilience iCAP Team

    iSEE Director, Madhu Khanna, sent out the seven iCAP Team charge letters for the 2022-2023 academic year (attached). 

    "Thank you once again for your service in helping to make the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign a more sustainable campus. Attached is your charge letter for the 2022-2023 academic year with an outline of your campus sustainability duties as part of the iCAP Team. We look forward to your positive and impactful contributions."

    Attached Files: 

  13. FC Standings

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge

    UIUC was within top 4 for energy savings in the Freezer Challenge this year among academic organizations. 

    And, in the top 2 in terms of normalized points earned. UAB beat UIUC in both categories this year, with over 100 labs participating from their campus. 

  14. FC Standings

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge

    UIUC was within top 4 for energy savings in the Freezer Challenge this year among academic organizations. 

    And, in the top 2 in terms of normalized points earned. UAB beat UIUC in both categories this year, with over 100 labs participating from their campus. 

  15. Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Supporting Member

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Increase Recycling Rates

    In Spring of 2022, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign became a Supporting Member for the Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC).

    As an Advisory Member, we are invited to:

     

    • Submit articles for the Email Bulletin.  
    • Submit blogs – which will be advertised on social media.
    • Participate in four substantive committees:
      • glass markets
      • regional recycling markets
      • bottle bills
      • diversity, equity and inclusion
    • Participate in Projects or Initiatives:
    Attached Files: 

  16. Achievements in Transportation - Insider article

    Associated Project(s): 
    Walkability Study
    Bike Shelter at Flagg Hall
    Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts
    Bike at Illinois Website and Campaign
    Sustainably Manage Transportation Systems


    The August 26, 2022 issue of Insider featured the "Achievements in Transportation". Read the article online at https://fs.web.illinois.edu/Insider/2022/08/26/achievements-in-transport... or see below.

    Achievements in Transportation



    Be it walking, bicycling, taking transit, or driving vehicles, getting around the campus is done more sustainably than ever.

    The F&S Transportation Demand Management (TDM) department creates, maintains, and coordinates the overall transportation network for all modes of travel. TDM implements campus and community policies and plans, like objectives in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).

    “Safe and sensible transportation, in all its forms and complexities, is essential to a functioning campus,” said Stacey DeLorenzo, transportation systems manager.

    Read the full Transportation Demand Management Plan FY22 Achievement Report on the F&S website.

    Students walking to Quad on Centennial Plaza in spring between the Chemistry Annex and Noyes Laboratory.

    Key achievements include:

    Asset Management Plan

    • $1.25M was allocated for pavement maintenance and improvement projects, starting in FY22.
      • Pennsylvania Ave – Asphalt patching West of Maryland: $98,471.81
      • First and Peabody – Concrete patching: $47,866.28
      • College Ct westbound lane near PAR – Concrete patching: $42,055
      • Campus-wide – Spray injection: $25,000
      • Campus-wide – Crack sealing: $25,000
    • F&S TDM is responsible for the 2014 Campus Bicycle Master Plan. The department installed the campus’ first bicycle shelter, removed abandoned bicycle paths, and enhanced bicycle facilities.
    • Installed bicycle and pedestrian counters by Eco-Counters at 4 campus locations, with more planned soon. Learn more at Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts.

    Programming

    TDM educates and encourages students, faculty, and staff to use active modes of transportation. TDM evaluates and plans campus infrastructure to create a safe environment.

    The Bike at Illinois website features information on bicycle education and facilities, bike sharing, registration, safety, and more. The F&S website includes information on walking, MTD buses, accessibility, and car-share options.

    Collaborations

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is home to some of the world’s brightest researchers and students. The phrase “an active partner in research, teaching, and learning” added to the F&S mission, to academic collaborations. Working with researchers is an essential component to the future of F&S, and a major theme emphasized in the F&S Strategic Plan. F&S collaborates with students and researchers to envision the campus as a living lab and implement research to see the impact with real-world application.

    All INSIDER stories on F&S academic collaborations, visit https://go.fs.illinois.edu/Academic.

    Can pavement construction use food waste?
    Dr. Lance Schideman (ISTC), Dr. Yuanhui Zhang (ABE), and Dr. Ramez Hajj (CEE) use bio-oil produced from food waste as a rejuvenator for asphalt. F&S is collaborating with these researchers to implement this technology on campus pavement in the near future.

    Do students collaborate with F&S?
    The TDM department collaborated with more than 25 students in the last year to help with class projects, research, or interests in transportation systems on campus.

    Walkability Audit
    F&S conducted a thorough walkability audit. Nearly 75 volunteers collected data for the following surveys: a) Walkability Audit survey, which focused on the general walkability of the campus (macro level), and b) Deficiency Reporting survey, which focused on identifying specific faults on campus (micro level analysis). Sutapa Banerjee, a master’s student in urban planning, analyzed the walkability audit survey to determine the “walk index” of 76.2 for the campus. The deficiency reporting survey data and ADA transition plan supplement will improve accessibility on-campus.

    Those involved: Sutapa Banerjee (MUP-2 student), Dr. Lindsay Braun and Dr. Bumsoo Lee (Department of Urban and Regional Planning), Mylinda Netherton (Disability Resources Educational Services), Allison Kushner (Office of Access & Equity), Ryan Welch (F&S Grounds), Brent Lewis (F&S Capital Programs), and Chad Kupferschmid and Justin Pinnell (F&S Facilities Information Resources).

  20. Weekly Update: High demand for refurbished bikes, Dangerous driving behaviour

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, We’re down to two oddball bikes for sale here at the Bike Center. Demand remains high; donations remain low. We’re still helping plenty of folks, though. Visitor numbers support that.

    Had a staff meeting last Thursday and then Friday was quite busy, but we were adequately staffed, which was a welcomed change. Unfortunately, the rest of the days are still in-progress in that department.

    Neil St and Stadium Dr remains an ever-dangerous section of campus as I was victim this morning to a dangerous driver barreling past me—on the right, no less—at the underpass.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 157

    Sales: $2,140
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $595
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Memberships: 28 for $840
    Tires/tubes: 28 for $219

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

Pages