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  2. Energy iCAP Team Meeting from 04-14-21

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    Green Lab Program
    Improve Space Utilization
    Clean Energy Plan

    The Energy iCAP Team met on April 14th, 2021 with Brian Bundren, a member of the Illinois Space Advisory Committee, about to learn more about how campus space can be managed more efficiently as a way to reduce energy consumption. The University moving from hybrid learning to more in-person instruction and the new IVCB budget model that assigns bills individual colleges for their energy use will have significant impacts on space usage. The team also discussed our recommendation for Green Labs, or ways to integrate sustainability in research labs and reduce their energy consumption. We will also be moving forward with recommending an Energy Planning document to outline steps towards carbon neutrality by 2050. 

    Meeting minutes and agenda are attached!

    Attached Files: 

  3. Resilience iCAP Team Meeting Minutes from 4-06-21

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Environmental Justice Plan
    Develop Local Carbon Offset Program [ARCHIVED]
    Local Sustainability Issues

    The Resilience iCAP Team met on April 6th, 2021 to brainstorm ideas for public engagement for creating our first Environmental Justice Plan. Members identified important avenues for learning about local intutions on what are relevant barriers to equitable health and safety in our communities. Moving forward, the Biodiversity Plan and EJ Plan will look to possibly engage the Department of Urban Planning and other students who will work on focus group interviews over the summer. The meeting concluded with an overview of the current progress of all Resilience iCAP objectives and future steps.

    Meeting minutes and chat log are attached! 

    Attached Files: 

  4. Weekly Update: Friday Ride

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Not a whole lot to report from last week. We had our first attendee for a Friday Ride. He was unfamiliar with basic rules of the road so we took him on a very short loop to get him acclimated. At a stop light he asked, “So you can ride in the road?” Something to consider in future route planning/participation. We missed a call/voicemail from someone else asking about the Friday Ride so we’ll have to keep an eye on the phones going forward, as well.

    The forecasted snow on Tuesday probably won’t help business this week. I have the Campus Transportation Advisory Committee to attend on Tuesday but the rest of the week is business as usual. I’ll grab some more salvageable parts from the bike barn for staff-tasks for the week.
    The numbers:

    Visits: 25

    Sales: $339
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Tubes/tires: 10 for $50


    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  5. Welcome Note for Earth Day Solar Open House

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Power on Campus
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach

    Happy Earth Day, 2021!!! 

    Welcome to the UIUC Solar Sites Open House!

    • Nine campus solar power installations are available to visit at this virtual open house.
    • Contact people for each site are standing on the yellow stars by their facility, on Earth Day from 9-10:30 AM.
    • There are also links for further information about each solar site.

    Hints for Using Topia

    • Zoom out on your browser to see more of the campus at once.
    • Click on a destination to move your avatar to that site, or use the arrow keys to navigate
    • Send messages in Topia to people you meet here, with the mailbox icons.

    ***MAKE SURE TO USE GOOGLE CHROME AS YOUR BROWSER*** 

    Invitation - Open to All

    Ever wonder how far the university has come in solar energy use? Come out to the UIUC Solar Sites Open House hosted on Topia, an interactive online platform, to learn about different buildings and areas across campus that are producing solar energy! During the Open House, contacts for each location will be available to answer questions about the solar installations at nine locations. Learn more about the amazing solar installations on campus!

    This event will take place online from 9-10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day!), at https://topia.io/uiuc-solar-sites.*

    ***MAKE SURE TO USE GOOGLE CHROME AS YOUR BROWSER*** 

    Attached Files: 

  6. New Solar Panels at BIF

    Associated Project(s): 
    BIF Rooftop Solar PVs

    The new 12.5 kW array will be the second rooftop installation at the facility. The current array, on top of Deloitte Auditorium, produces about 41,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, – or about 3.4% of the electricity needed to power BIF for an entire year. The new array will be smaller but will supply enough power to offset the anticipated energy usage of the fourth floor addition by contributing 15,500 kWh per year.

     

    https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/news/2019/04/22/solar-panels-added-to-...

  9. Archived info - previous project description

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Rooftop Solar PVs

    The new ECE building is designed to include Solar Panels on its roof. The panels will provide about 11% of the building's energy needs.  The infrastructure for connecting these panels to the building electric supply was included in the original design and construction costs for the full building, while the solar panels themselves were funded separately. This specific project is to have a series of photovoltaic solar arrays on the roof of the building with a 300 kW peak power rating, capable of generating an estimated 470 MWh of electricity annually. (This project is distinct and separate from the project to install solar panels on the roof of the North Campus Parking Deck.) The scope of the project is to provide a structure located on the existing roof of the ECE Building which will support 950 solar panels and provide all components to connect them to the building electrical system for a fully operational system

  11. Weekly Update: Basic Maintenance 101, Friday Ride

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Mechanics Classes at the Campus Bike Center

    All, Still not steadily busy as the temps started to dip. We’ll see what this week brings.
    We had our Basic Maintenance 101 class on Wednesday night. Sam held the class and we had 5 people signed up but only 1 showed. Friday Ride was a no-show except for a DI reporter who wanted to cover the event.
    This week is business as usual and our Friday Ride again. I’ll scavenge some freewheels and tires/tubes off some of the junk bikes in storage at some point, too. We are desperately low on used freewheels and can’t really get any new ones due to the sustained supply shortages.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 22
    Sales: $664.50

    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $410
    Tires/tubes: 7 for $26

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    WManager, Campus Bike Center

  12. Free Native Bee Homes from The Bee Conservancy

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA

    The Bee Conservancy, an environmental NPO, is handing out hundreds of free native bee homes across the U.S. and Canada in hopes of boosting native bee populations.

    As part of its Sponsor-A-Hive program, the group is offering 500 native bee homes to community-focused organizations that support food growth, education, or ecological conservation. (Two hundred were awarded in fall and 300 are being awarded this spring.) Eligible groups include community gardens, nature centers, schools, tribal organizations, parks, and zoos. According to Guillermo Fernandez, founder and executive director of The Bee Conservancy, "We’re looking for organizations that share our passion to nurture local bee populations, create habitat for them, and support their communities and local food systems."

    Applications are open until the end of April 2021!

     

    Read more about The Bee Conservancy native bee home giveaway in the TreeHugger article.

  13. Adapthaus inauguration coming soon!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Solar Decathlon

    The Illinois Solar Decathlon team has completed construction of the innovative ADAPTHAUS and is planning an inauguration event. To learn more about this project, visit some of the many links below:

    https://www.solardecathlon.gov/2020/build/competition-team-illinois.html

    https://resourcefurniture.com/inspiration/adapthaus-net-zero-for-the-win/

    https://sustainability.illinois.edu/student-team-awarded-150000-for-sola...

    https://www.facebook.com/illinoissolardecathlon/

    https://dailyillini.com/opinions/2021/01/19/letter-to-the-editor-illinoi...

    https://www.contractormag.com/green/solar/article/21144537/solar-decathl...

    https://twitter.com/Solar_Decathlon/status/1377984161751867395

     

  15. 4/9 Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Reuse Surplus Goods and Valuable "Waste"
    Zero Waste Messaging Campaign

    Meeting minutes for the 4/9 Zero Waste SWATeam meeting are attached. The agenda is as follows:

    • Updates
    • Roundtable Discussion
      • Removal of virgin paper from F&S stores/catalogues 
      • Elimination of thermal paper receipts
      • Assessment of third-party vendors footprint (single-use plastics, recyclable materials, etc) in the Union.
      • Student Waste Management Educational initiative.
      • Single-use plastics in vending machines.
      • Reuse of Surplus Goods
      • Battery Recycling
    Attached Files: 

  16. Red Oak Rain Garden Monthly Newsletter: April 2021

    Associated Project(s): 
    Red Oak Rain Garden

    Each month, the Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) Team produces an e-newsletter to keep supporters updated on everything that is happening in the garden. In the April 2021 e-newsletter, the team highlighted RORG's hosted workshops & presentations, partnerships for grants, social media highlights, and more!

    To read their April 2021 newsletter, please see the attached file below.

    Attached Files: 

  17. Trash Cleanup 4/7/21

    Associated Project(s): 
    Earth Month
    Boneyard Creek Management

    The trash pickup on 4/7/21 was a great success, and a lot of fun too! Thirty people showed up and picked up 80 lbs of trash/recycling that would have otherwise likely made its way into Boneyard Creek! Most groups helped track and characterize the waste. The categories and data are attached.

    Check out our recap video here!

    We made it on the Earth Day Network map: https://cleanup.earthday.org/pages/find-a-cleanup

    Attached Files: 

  18. 2020 Bloom Calendar - Red Oak Rain Garden

    Associated Project(s): 
    Red Oak Rain Garden

    Sad that Mulch Madness is over? You can still watch (most of) those amazing plants 'play' this year in the garden using my 2020 Bloom Calendar as a guide! The champion Virginia Bluebells, which weren't installed until last fall, are in full bloom NOW!

    Check out the Red Oak Rain Garden Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/RainGardenUIUC 

    Attached Files: 

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