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Projects Updates for key objective: No name

  1. Fall 2023 Sustainability Celebration FW: ECIP next steps

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP)

    Hi Paul,

     

    Should we set up a calendar time to talk via Teams about the ECIP plans?  I’d think it would include Jen Fraterrigo, and maybe Rob?

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     -------------------

    Hi Morgan,

    During Monday’s meeting we chose to follow your advice and go with the fall schedule.

     

    We are again having conference schedule during this week and wonder if the sustainability week can be chosen on a week other than the week of Oct 16th – the 20th?

     

    Best

    Paul

     

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

    Hi Paul,

     

    I think the date of the Campus Sustainability Celebration can move, as long as it is within October. I'll touch base with Jen about it and confirm. 

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan 

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

    Hi Elizabeth,

    I checked with Karl and the BTAF Mechanical conference for engineering is Oct 15-18th and the I2SL Sustainable Labs conference is Oct 22-25, if we can avoid these two weeks that would be terrific?

     

     

    Thank you 

    Paul Foote

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

    Hello Elizabeth,

    Any updates on the timing for this event?

     

    I am looking to coordinate the ECIP awards for 2022 and 2023 during this event.

     

    Best

    Paul Foote

  2. Coca-Cola bin updates for Welcome Celebration and Tailgate Recycling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Welcome Celebration Recycling
    Tailgate Recycling
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
    Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 8:51 AM
    To: Etchison, Thurman B <etchisn@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Welcome Celebration recycling update

     

    Hi Thurman,

     

    Quick update on the recycling efforts for this coming Friday – good news first: we should have a good turnout of student volunteers for this event.

     

    The complicated news: the 20 Coca-Cola bins did arrive just a few days ago, but they are unfortunately going to require some F&S modifications before they can be put to use. They’re extra sturdy (bolted down to the pallets) which is great for outdoor events, but they do not currently have any openings to put recycling in and dump it out (see picture below). We expect we’ll have to saw open the plastic top, and then they’ll be a useable bin. Coke finished designs on the wrap that will be placed over top of the bins (attached), so they have some messaging on them when we’re ready to put them to use.

     

    As a quick solution, we have 24-26 bottles/cans recycling bins that we can line with blue bags and put to use (picture below). It unfortunately won’t have the great messaging that the Coke bins would have, but we will have the volunteers there to help manage. Not as sturdy as our new bins will be, but I expect better than the bins that were used last year that blew around. F&S will be bringing these over to Lot 31 on Friday when they’re bringing the tables and chairs, so our volunteers can line these with blue bags and place them nearby the trash bins.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

    https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
     
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    Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

    Attached Files: 

  3. Background research on anaerobic digesters

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    Big Ten & Friends Sustainability
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste

    Sarthak Prasad shared 2018 notes from conversations held with stakeholders at The Ohio State University, West Lafayette (Purdue University), Bevier Cafe (University of Illinois), US Army Corps -- Champaign, and Michigan State University -- East Lansing on the topic of anerobic digesters. Attached are the notes. The document will continue to grow as more conversations occur.

    Attached Files: 

  4. F&S, iSEE to investigate anaerobic digestion at other campuses

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Big Ten & Friends Sustainability

    Sarthak Prasad, Jen Fraterrigo, and Daphne Hulse intend to pursue conversations with campuses that have successfully installed anaerobic digesters. Michigan State University and Pennsylvania State University have been identified as the first campuses to initiate a conversation with. The goal of these conversations will be to understand how campuses achieved momentum and will for the digesters to be financed and built (stakeholders include but are not limited to farmers, relevant academic departments, crop sciences, digester operators, waste management and sustainability, organic waste haulers, researchers).

  5. North American introduces F&S to aerobic composting technology

    Associated Project(s): 
    Plan for Organic Waste
    Reduce Foodwaste
    Achieve Zero Waste

    From: Zach Hansen <zhansen@na.com>
    Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 10:16 AM
    To: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>; Sinn, Macie <sinn1@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Food Composting

    Sounds great!

    Daphne, if you are interested in getting more information on this solution, my counterparts in California has worked closely together on a number of projects with them so I could set up a call.

    Thanks and I hope you all had a great weekend!

     

    Zach​​​​ Hansen

    Account Executive

    O: (630) 864-8755

    na.com

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    oPEKqip9B1X8FGABYlWFzFb2pawAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

    Learn about our family of brands

     

    From: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 9:01 AM
    To: Zach Hansen <zhansen@na.com>; Sinn, Macie <sinn1@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Food Composting

    Coincidence?

    Daphne just discussed composting with me last week and it is of importance to her. I’ll let her take the lead on this if she wishes to follow-up.

     

    Thank you,

    Pete

    (217) 333-7583

     

    From: Zach Hansen <ZHansen@na.com>
    Sent: Friday, August 11, 2023 4:37 PM
    To: Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>; Sinn, Macie <sinn1@illinois.edu>; Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Food Composting

    Hi Pete, Macie, and Daphne,

    Completely unrelated to the F&S meetings that we have been having, but I wanted to bring this to your attention.

    If there are increases in demand for composting around the facilities like cafeterias, housing, even athletics, this was a pretty cool machine that seems incredibly easy to use and composts food scraps in 5 days!

    https://info.waxie.com/for-solutions

    Have a great weekend!

    Zach

     

    Zach​​​​ Hansen

    Account Executive

    O: (630) 864-8755

    na.com

    8AtXGxmW7lstMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    oPEKqip9B1X8FGABYlWFzFb2pawAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

    Learn about our family of brands

     

  8. State of Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities Notice of Funding Opportunity Released

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Infrastructure

    Greetings Everyone,

     

    I am very pleased to announce that the FFY2024 Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities have been posted!

     

    Here’s a link to the news release:  https://epa.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/epa/about-us/documents/news-releases/2023/07.26.23-IEPA-GIGO-NOFO-Final.pdf

     

    Please plan accordingly, as all applications are due by noon on October 18, 2023.  Illinois EPA will be hosting a technical assistance session specific to these NOFOs on August 15 at 1:30.  It’s not required, but it may be of help, especially with the new application process.

     

    Please see the news release for additional details and links directly to the GATA Portal.

     

    Regards,

     

    Jeff Edstrom

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

    Hi Quinn,

    Please look into the funding opportunity below and let us know the short version.  I’d like to know timelines for the applications, funding level possible to request, and what type of projects could we seek funding for.

    Thanks,

    Morgan

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

    Hi Morgan,

     

    The submission close date is 10/18/23 at 12:00 pm.

     

    Funding Level:

    “GIGO utilizes funds distributed by the State of Illinois generated under the Build Illinois Bond Fund. Illinois EPA expects to award a total of $10,000,000 and anticipates distributing this amount across four (4) to twenty (20) awards. GIGO has a set maximum total grant award of $2,500,000 with a minimum grant award of $75,000. No more than 25% of the program total, per funding cycle, shall be allocated to any one applicant or project. GIGO is a reimbursement program. The grantee must perform the work, pay project costs, and submit an invoice with supporting documentation before Illinois EPA will reimburse the grantee for any approved eligible costs. Illinois EPA shall only make reimbursements to the grantee and shall reimburse the grantee no more frequently than monthly.”

     

    Projects that qualify for funding:

    Bio infiltration

    Retention/Infiltration

    Detention Pond Creation/Retrofit

    Wetland Creation/Modification

    Floodplain Reconnection

    Watershed-Wide Projects

    Rainwater Harvesting

    Downspout Disconnections

    BMP Design and Construction

     

    Here is the link for the information and details.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Quinn M. Connolly

  10. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - August 9, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Michael, Sarthak, Morgan, and Quinn met to discuss the 2010 iCAP objectives dashboard.

    For Michael:

    • [DONE] The individual objective pages' prev/next buttons need their text to wrap
    • Some Objectives are showing the wrong project updates
    • [DONE] The chapter choices on the 2015 need to be revised or removed
    • [DONE] Do not include chapter choices on the 2010 dashboard (for now, unless they're rearranged to support chapters)
    • [DONE] Add a choice for jumping back to the full dashboard for the objective

    For Quinn:

    • (DONE) Pick associated projects
    • (DONE) Also, review the metrics for potential connections - do your best

    For Sarthak:

    • Calculate numbers from percentages

     

  13. Weekly Sustainable Transportation meeting with Hrushikesh and Nathaniel

    Associated Project(s): 
    Appropriately Staff Sustainable Transportation Efforts

    On 07/24/2023,  Sarthak, Nathaniel and Hrushikesh had a weekly meeting to discuss on Weekly Progress of the current projects that we are working on. Please refer to the file attached to view the Weekly Progress.

    Nathaniel's Weekly Progress - 

    • Visited Round Barns for Bike Inventory
    • Campus-wide survey to check for remaining abandoned bikes.
    • In-Office Bike related accessories inventory.

    Hrushikesh's Weekly Progress -  

    • Shared used Path Length demarcation ArcGIS for the Bike Friendly University Application (BFU)
    • Work on Campus Bicycle Master Plan
    • Champaign County Bike Month Planning Team Meeting
    • Meeting with UIPD for Field Maps Training
    • ICAP documentation

  14. 8/3 Meeting to discuss location at Hope Village

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Solar Decathlon

    Illinois Solar Decathlon President Rachel Chen met with Marty Smith to discuss the possibility of having the current next solar decathlon home built at the hope village project. Marty discussed possibilities for a separated subdivision of homes. But the more likely option would be to construct a library or community building than a single family home. Either of these options would be more likely during the next building cycle for solar decathlon.

  15. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - August 10, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    Discussion:

    • Continue discussion of Fancy Page Layout (see the 4 mockups in the October 21, 2022 meeting notes)
    • Continue discussion of improving site's aesthetics
    • Question about a TODO: "Collections page: Add image upload option". At a previous meeting we had this TODO, but what was the context? Was it to have a thumbnail for each Collection? Or a banner image?
    • Should we link to "Take Action" project from homepage?
      • Replace map link in Highlights?
      • Need to finish Take Action page content
    • Archiving projects
      • Add "Archived" checkbox?
      • Add "Archived" to Visibility options?
      • Add "Archived" to Project Status options? (probably not - this mixes the status of the project itself with whether we still want it to show up on the site)
      • Remove from nested listings, still publicly available?

    TODO:

    • Main map:
      • Start with only Campus Tour locations shown (for now, start with Reporting Progress theme)
      • Filter by Theme or Collection
      • See CSU's campus map (Sustainability section) for inspiration
      • Smaller markers
      • Remove businesses layer
      • Campus boundary, like ArcGIS Bicycle Map
    • Loading message on page unload shows up sometimes in browser page history (e.g. view iCAP Portal PDF from About page, then click "back")
    • Homepage has extra padding on right side on mobile
    • SSC project embedding: add category filtering options
    • (long term goal) look into importing information from another source, e.g. SSC students without iCAP Portal access can put together info in a structured format for automatic import into iCAP Portal
    • Look into Collection embedding again, à la Drawdown Solutions Library Sammy had found ("Filter by sector or area of action" section)
    • Metric search/display:
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
      • Most recent updates as of: (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
      • (Internal only) Last updated before (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Fancy project layout mockups - keep tweaking #3 to improve contrast
    • Discuss metrics
      • Metrics with lots of data
      • Consider how to handle old metrics that no longer track new data. Archive somehow?
      • Fun with math (e.g. combining multiple metrics)
      • Calculated Metrics on Dev site

  17. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - July 27, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • Fixed sub-project duplication on Header Project Layout pages (e.g. MEB showing up twice on LEED Certification page's sub-projects list)
    • Demo map (Test site): Collections filter (mostly) working now

    Discussion:

    • Continue discussion of Fancy Page Layout (see the 4 mockups in the October 21, 2022 meeting notes)
    • Continue discussion of improving site's aesthetics
    • Question about a TODO: "Collections page: Add image upload option". At a previous meeting we had this TODO, but what was the context? Was it to have a thumbnail for each Collection? Or a banner image?
    • Should we link to "Take Action" project from homepage?
      • Replace map link in Highlights?
      • Need to finish Take Action page content
    • Archiving projects
      • Add "Archived" checkbox?
      • Add "Archived" to Visibility options?
      • Add "Archived" to Project Status options? (probably not - this mixes the status of the project itself with whether we still want it to show up on the site)
      • Remove from nested listings, still publicly available?

    TODO:

    • Morgan reports general slowness
    • Main map:
      • Start with only Campus Tour locations shown (for now, start with Reporting Progress theme)
      • Filter by Theme or Collection
      • See CSU's campus map (Sustainability section) for inspiration
      • Smaller markers
      • Remove businesses layer
      • Campus boundary, like ArcGIS Bicycle Map
    • Loading message on page unload shows up sometimes in browser page history (e.g. view iCAP Portal PDF from About page, then click "back")
    • Homepage has extra padding on right side on mobile
    • SSC project embedding: add category filtering options
    • (long term goal) look into importing information from another source, e.g. SSC students without iCAP Portal access can put together info in a structured format for automatic import into iCAP Portal
    • Look into Collection embedding again, à la Drawdown Solutions Library Sammy had found ("Filter by sector or area of action" section)
    • Metric search/display:
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
      • Most recent updates as of: (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
      • (Internal only) Last updated before (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Fancy project layout mockups - keep tweaking #3 to improve contrast
    • Discuss metrics
      • Metrics with lots of data
      • Consider how to handle old metrics that no longer track new data. Archive somehow?
      • Fun with math (e.g. combining multiple metrics)
      • Calculated Metrics on Dev site
    Attached Files: 

  18. 7-24-23 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Tailgate Recycling
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Reduce Single-Use Plastics
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    On July 24, 2023 UIUC sustainability representatives met and discussed the following:

    Attendance: Bryan Johnson, Pete Varney, Julie Wurth, Steve Breitwieser, Marty Kaufmann, Daphne Hulse

    1. Football
      1. Tailgating
        1. Operation
          1. F&S staples recycling information + map to blue bags
          2. Parking supervisors will hand out the blue bags
          3. 2 dumpsters placed (Lot 31, Lot 32). Blue bags collected here
          4. Grange Grove/entrances to Memorial Stadium: Coca-Cola bins to collect loose bottles and cans
        2. Plan for one of the earlier games (Sep)
        3. Assess how first game went, revise for a later game (Oct/Nov)
        4. Post-season: assess, revise for next season
      2. Communication
        1. DIA gameday emails will include messaging about tailgate recycling
        2. Game script will call out hydration stations
        3. F&S – send campus-wide announcement (as was done for Dump and Run)?
        4. iSEE – newsletter?
      3. To do
        1. F&S scope out where the 2 dumpsters could be placed, confirm with DIA
        2. Determine placement of Coca-Cola bins: DIA recommends the 20 Coca-Cola bins are placed in Grange Grove/on the way into the stadium (portal 1 and 2)
        3. Staff recycling dumpsters to prevent them from becoming trash sites
          1. F&S may have a tent that can be used – check with Safety & Compliance
          2. iSEE does not have a tent
          3. F&S – print banners to hang on dumpsters?
            1. Green dumpster will be marked, ask Shawn Patterson
    2. Welcome Week Lunch
      1. 7 student volunteers gathered + 2 F&S staff
    3. Volunteer / giveaway t-shirts
      1. 200 green volunteer shirts – for Welcome Week, Tailgating, and other small events that may arise
      2. 300 orange giveaway shirts – for Tailgate Recycling
        1. Incentivize tailgaters to drop off their blue recycling bags
    4. Coca-Cola bins
      1. Metal framing is expected to arrive Friday 8/11
      2. Wrap renderings are being finalized, discussing on Wednesday with Jake
    5. iSEE – hydration station map live
      1. https://sustainability.illinois.edu/be-orange-go-green-cut-plastic-use-with-a-refillable-bottle/
      2. iSEE developing a video highlighting campus hydration stations for new student convocation

     

    Attached Files: 

  20. archived info - previous project description

    Associated Project(s): 
    Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) with Second Nature

    The 2015 iCAP, chapter 8, objective 1 is, "By the end of FY16, conduct a Request for Proposals process for verified carbon offsets — and undertake the first campus purchase of offsets." iSEE is developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for purchasing carbon credits, aka carbon offsets.

    iSEE is developing the technical specifications for a Request for Bids (RFB) for purchasing carbon credits, aka carbon offsets in FY17. These will be used both to replace the carbon credits sold from calendar year 2016, and as a starting inventory for the Virtual Storeroom.

    During this process, iSEE will develop detailed specifications for carbon offsets to ensure that all purchased offsets are additional (in the sense that they enable reductions beyond business-as-usual), measurable, conservative (to ensure reductions are not overstated), permanent, independently verified, trackable, and transparent. The 2015 iCAP intended to have an RFP done by the end of FY16, and the current schedule will have the purchase completed by the end of FY17.

    Background

    Because campus sells carbon credits through the Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) at Second Nature, we need to replace those boutique carbon credits with carbon offsets.  By the end of FY17, we will buy 103,000 carbon offsets (equivalent to 103,000 tons of greenhouse gasses not being released into the atmosphere) to replace those sold from calendar year 2016.

    Additionally, in the same RFB, we will purchase 10,000 additional carbon offsets which will be used to set up a new virtual storeroom to allow campus units to voluntarily offset their carbon emissions, for example from air travel to scholarly meetings.

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