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- Associated Project(s):Attached Files:
SSC Final Report: Energy Farm LED
Associated Project(s):SSC received the final report on Spring 2022 for Energy Farm LED project on 1/15/22.
Attached Files:Transportation iCAP Team January Meeting
Associated Project(s):The Transportation iCAP team met on Thursday, January 27th from 4:00-5:00 P.M. The team discussed progress on the EV Task Force Member Recommendation, the fleet replacement plan recommendation, and two returned recommendations: the Carbon Credit program and the Carpool Survey.
The team has decided to do further research into what a carpool system would look like at the U of I, and will discuss the matter further with insight from other schools at the next meeting. Progress will hopefully be made on the Fleet Replacement Plan Recommendation, as the team will be meeting with Pete Varney in the Parking Department soon.
Further Information can be found in the attached document.
Attached Files:Zero Waste iCAP Team Meeting
Associated Project(s):The Zero Waste iCAP Team met on Thursday, January 27 to finalize the recommendations drafted at the end of last semester, the Water Drinking Behavior Survey and the Water Filter System Tracking. The team also discussed several recommendations they intend to pursue this semester, including: Adopt-a-Highway program, Food Literacy Project, Composting Committee, P Card Training and Sustainable Receipt options. Meeting minutes are attached.
Attached Files:Energy iCAP Team January Meeting
Associated Project(s):The Energy iCAP team met at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 26th and discussed updates on recommendation ideas as well as agreed to move forward with the submission of two recommendations to the iCAP Working Group. Progress is currently being made on a feasibility study of CO2 District Heating and Cooling which will be undertaken by a group of engineering students during the Spring Semester, and progress on a new recommendation for Building Envelope Commissioning will take place.
The Team also agreed to move forward with a recommendation that the Office of the Chancellor commission a report on the Safety and Security of a proposed MMR Nuclear Reactor on campus property as well as another recommendation that would seek to charge Facilities & Services with developing a comprehensive energy plan that will bring the University to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Further Details on the meeting can be found in the attached agenda which also contains meeting minutes.
Attached Files:Visualization of the impact of CIF geothermal
Associated Project(s):“In summary, there will be 2 slides taking turns to be displayed on the digital screen in CIF. The first slide is primarily composed of the 3D GSHP system schematic (Ground loops, heat pump and building) and the key parameters & features. The second slide shows the results from building energy modeling, including annual outdoor temperature variations, heating/cooing loads and other energy consumptions. This may [help] visualize the impact of CIF geothermal and give public a better understanding on the renewable resources.”
-John Zhao (11/14/2022)
PhD. Candidate
Research Assistant
Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Research field: Ground Source HVAC System/Subsurface Heat Transfer
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Attached Files:Natural Disaster Planning and Preparedness in Illinois Meeting
Associated Project(s):The Disaster Planning and Preparedness interest group meeting was held on January 25, 2022.
The agenda includes:
- Introduction to Extension disaster preparedness programming, both in Illinois and across the country
- Successful models for Extension-Faculty applied research partnerships
- ISEE perspective on collaboration potential
- Extension identified applied research and outreach gaps
- Open discussion of potential topics for applied research and pathways to partnership
- Identification of people who are interested in continued discussions on topic specific projects and partnerships
The email attached below contains more information.
New Greener Campus Programs Certifications
Associated Project(s):Congratulations to the newest recipients of our Green Office and Green Event Certifications!
Green Office Gold Certification:
Visit Champaign County-Certified January 2022 (with notably 38 sustainable actions pursued!)
Green Event Certifications:
University Housing Gender Inclusivity Training-Certified January 2022
Campus Recreation/Instructional Kitchen Winter Virtual Canned Food Drive-Certified January 2022
CU at Home One Winter Night-Certified January 2022
Thank you to each of our participants, keep up the great work!
The Landscape Recycling Center tests for...
Associated Project(s):The Landscape Recycling Center tests for temperature, oxygen, and moisture monthly. They test for ph, metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and infectious bacteria in finished compost product annually. As food scrap makes its way through the process and we continue to test the final product, we will be able to observe any changes to these parameters.
Equipment purchased at ICRT
Associated Project(s):The Building Envelope Pilot Project funded the following equipment, purchased at ICRT. This invoice was paid on I8563811 dated 12/13/21.
- $123.90 TEC Fog Puffer Kit
- $168.00 BD Panel
- $6121.50 Mpls BD
- $344.15 freight
- $6757.55 Total
Geothermal Urbana-Champaign readies for year two, RFP is out for proposals
Associated Project(s):The City of Urbana has issued a request for proposals for the second year of its Geothermal U-C program, the geothermal group buy program being led by the city. The group buy will make geothermal available to any residents of Champaign, Piatt and Vermillion counties. The GAOI will assist the city with the program this year, providing mainly education programs for interested consumers, as it did for the first year program.
The RFP can be found at the city's website at https://www.urbanaillinois.us/node/9623. The deadline for submissions from installing contractors is noon on January 21. For information, contact Scott Tess at the city at 217-384-2381 or stess@urbanaillinois.us.
Bike at Illinois video: How to Lock Your Bicycle to U-Loop and Ladder Racks
Associated Project(s):Bike at Illinois has produced a video on how to lock your bicycle properly to U-loop and ladder racks. Credit: Joanna Raimo (Campus Recreation)
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cENTu-nKes
Weekly Update: Shop reopening this week
Associated Project(s):All, Last week we were open by appointment only. We logged 6 appointments and sold 1 bike.
This week we will reopen to our usual M/W/F hours. Staff are eager to get back to work. We’ll have to run some refreshers for folks as I’m sure they’ve forgotten some stuff. We’ll do some inventory and build some bikes while we’re at it. We’ve got a couple other events coming up that we’ll have to prep for this week as well.
The numbers:
- Visitors: 6
- Sale: $231.50
- Bike: 1 for $200
- Misc: $31.50
Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center CoordinatorUIUC Ranks #23 on EPA's List of On-Site Green Power Generation
Associated Project(s):As of January 24, 2022, UIUC is ranked 23rd on EPA's list of On-Site Green Power Generation.
The full rankings can be found here:
https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/green-power-partnership-top-30-site-gener...
update from Nidia
Associated Project(s):- Received approval for SSC funding - got the letter and sent it back to SSC, signed.
- Nora requested the CFOP from OBFS
- Nidia wants to talk with Paul about it -
- funding for technical engineering for F&S
- Nidia's appointment
- $75k for purchasing and installing the submetering
- Morgan emailed Rob Roman to request a meeting about how to move forward in the best path.
Spring 2022 Semester Goals
Associated Project(s):Co-presidents Owen Jennings, Maiah Caise, Jack Reicherts, and Maria Maring are excited to embark upon their second semester as SSLC leadership together. The primary goals of the semester include:
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Bolster collaboration between environmental RSOs on UIUC campus. The SSLC hopes to work with Student Affairs to incentivize participation with the SSLC, using the University of California Berkely’s Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) as a template. Weekly board meetings and monthly full meetings will continue per usual.
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Bolster collaboration between other Illinois schools like University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Springfield, and Illinois State University. Both SECS and ISG may play significant roles in this relationship-building. The SSLC has already been in contact with Illinois State.
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Host Earth Month events. The SSLC already began communication with the Illini Union Green Team last semester to begin planning events like Green Quad Day and a movie night on the Quad. Organizations like SECS, Red Bison, and iSEE that have been historically active in Earth Month events will be essential in these processes.
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Write SSLC bylaws. The Council has not previously had bylaws, and they are absolutely essential to moving forward in an organized and successful fashion.
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Continue to monitor the fight for divestment from fossil fuels. This iCAP Objective has caused copious political strife between students and administrators. Because divestment continues to be a hot topic, the SSLC will continue to listen to student concerns.
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Fall 2021 Semester Summary
Associated Project(s):The SSLC underwent many changes under the new leadership of co-presidents Owen Jennings, Maiah Caise, Jack Reicherts, and Maria Maring. The board experimented with the mission and niche of the SSLC, ultimately establishing that the organization shall act as a medium of communication between student groups and the administration. The organization will also be the primary host of the annual Student Sustainability Summit in October, touting – among other interdisciplinary events – Green Quad Day, Sustainable Student Research Symposium, and Tuesday Talks at Bevier Cafe.
This Summit was the Council’s most noteworthy accomplishment this semester. The SSLC collaborated with: Red Bison, Outdoor Adventure Club, the Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, the Sustainable Student Farm, the Pilot Processing Plant, Grand Prairie Friends, the F&S Solar House, Stop Line 3 CU, Students for Environmental Concerns, Prairie Rivers Network, and the Student Sustainability Committee. This myriad of events had varying levels of attendance. The SSLC leadership learned two primary lessons from the inaugural Student Sustainability Summit: first, quality over quantity in terms of events; and second, planning well ahead of time is absolutely essential in order to adequately advertise each event. If you attended or co-hosted any Summit event, and you would like to let the SSLC board know your feedback, please fill out this form. The current SSLC leadership looks forward to how future leadership will expand upon the Summit.
Another noteworthy accomplishment of the SSLC this semester was action following the publication of the Campus Admin Manual’s Expressive Activity Policy draft. Students were largely emotional about the policy’s stringent punishment for demonstrations on campus, so the SSLC – in conjunction with SECs and the SSC – wrote a letter to Chancellor Jones demanding that the policy more closely align with the student body’s needs. As of January 2022, the SSLC has received no reply from the Office of the Chancellor.
Co-presidents Maria Maring and Owen Jennings spoke at the Campus Sustainability Celebration and Sustainability Council meeting, respectively, on the topic of divestment. Though SSLC leadership was merely prompted to give basic updates at these meetings, they utilized the face-to-face opportunity with campus administrators to voice student concerns about completing iCAP Objective 9.1: Fully divest from fossil fuel companies by FY25.
In a first, the SSLC and general members participated in the Homecoming Parade. Roughly a dozen students marched with divestment-related signs. The SSLC hopes to expand Homecoming attendance next year.
The SSLC revived its dormant Facebook account (@sslcuiuc) and newly established an Instagram account (@uiuc_sslc). On the latter, the SSLC made 40 posts and gained 227 followers. The Facebook account has 93 followers; engagement on this platform is much less. The SSLC also made a linktree and a Google calendar to which other RSOs can sync. That way, all events from all different orgs are all conveniently on one calendar. This joint calendar is still undergoing troubleshooting, and it is not yet available for public viewing.
Amidst these new endeavors, the SSLC held full membership meetings roughly once a month, as did the previous leadership. One recurring issue was lack of attendance and engagement. Leadership held many conversations with both general members and staff advisors about how to increase the efficacy of the Council, but no good solution was found. The SSLC will continue to hold these monthly meetings and brainstorm about how to increase engagement throughout the upcoming spring semester.
The SSLC board met weekly. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact the Council at sslc-chair@mx-illinois.edu.
SSC Final Report
Associated Project(s):Attached is John Zhao's final report of the SSC Project:
Attached Files:SSC Semesterly Report: Diversion of Non-Recycable Plastics Using Pyrolysis Process Fuels for Campus
Associated Project(s):SSC received semesterly report for Fall 2021 for Diversion of Non-Recycable Plastics Using Pyrolysis Process Fuels for Campus on 12/29/21. Please see attached.
SSC Semesterly (21SP) & Final Report for LED Classroom Upgrade
Associated Project(s):In the SSC-funded project, "Classroom LED Upgrades", incandescent lighting was replaced with LED lighting in 74 General Assignment classrooms in 27 buildings across campus.
The final report for this project was submitted on June 11, 2021, along with supplementary documents of a Semesterly Report (21SP) and a Cost Calculations Spreadsheet.
See the attached files to view these documents.