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Projects Updates for key objective: No name

  2. Trees and Carbon value

    Associated Project(s): 
    Increase Number of Trees

    Hi

    I love the planting of trees. However, in my Master Gardener training, there is a caution for them. The commercial process of tree production has a lot of carbon involved with it. The average commercially produced tree lives 12 years. It’s carbon emissions in it’s production and planting takes 30 years to make up. So that was my question in the discussion frame.

    Just something to consider.

    Best, Cheryl

  3. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - March 24, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • Fixed: projects pages metrics 2-∞ have no labels on Y-axis (e.g. Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts)
    • Changed iCAP Advocates to iCAP Clerks
    • Added descriptions of the statuses to the Projects by Project Status page, per Morgan's email
    • WIP: Metric Tracking and Metric Targets permissions - turns out to be a bit more complicated than I initially thought, but should be doable

    Discussion:

    • Daphne: Formally inquiring about whether this upcoming iSEE Seed Funding Project at the Waste Transfer Station should have its own project page on the iCAP Portal? This came about as I wanted to post on the portal that the seed funding had been approved, but I wasn’t sure where to house this information (& the updates that will come about during this project).
    • Should we show a "last updated" date on the projects?
      • Automatically show last time Project was updated?
      • Add field that is updated intentionally when a project's information has been reviewed & by whom?
      • Add a disclaimer about information being correct at the time it was entered?
      • Decided:
        • Remove user & date/time from search results
        • Add to bottom of project page, centered: "Project details last updated: _______" (greyed out a bit, italicized, don't draw attention)
    • 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?
    • 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:

    • Add last updated date on Project page:
      • Remove user & date/time from search results
      • Add to bottom of project page, centered: "Project details last updated on: _______. Project Updates for recent activity." (greyed out a bit, italicized, don't draw attention)
        • <div><p style="text-align: center; color: #667; font-size: 0.9em;">Project details last updated on 3/24/2023.<br>Check Project Updates for recent activity.</p></div>
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Add period (FY, monthly, etc.) somewhere in Metric info (not in accordion header, perhaps in legend?) (e.g. Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts)
    • Permissions:
      • Metric Tracking:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, iCAP Advocates
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
      • Metric Targets:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
    • 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

  4. suggestions for Clean Energy Planning

    Associated Project(s): 
    Clean Energy Plan

        --Your Information--

          Name: Damon McFall, PE, MBA

          Affiliation: Mechanical Science & Engineering Department

     

     

        --Suggestion Details--

          Subject / Project Name: Creating a Tasked Approach to 2050 Carbon

          Neutrality Objective

          Type: New Project

          Description:

          Project: Act 2050.

     

          As 2022 concludes, I sense the need to draft up my end of the

          year thoughts on iCAP and our approach. We cannot afford to think

          only of 2050 as our ultimate goal of net-zero carbon achievement.

          We must consider incremental plans, i.e. 2030 and 2040 with our

          stretch goal attaining victory by 2050. Please find my thoughts

          on addressing climate change at the University of Illinois and

          proposal for a new project that will involve a massive effort of

          bringing together respective parties in developing a

          comprehensive Act 2050 schedule to complement and build upon the

          Clean Energy Plan. The tasks below are to stimulate thought.

          However, they lack supporting detail and perhaps other factors

          not yet considered by the author. Such are welcomed to develop a

          framework of measurable action and allow for prudent planning of

          constrained resources. The seven broad concepts currently are: 1)

          source sustainably, 2) build smartly and well, 3) renovate

          strategically, 4) measure the relevant, 5) educate widely, 6)

          monitor and act astutely, and 7) world events. This could be a

          supplement provided to a hired holistically thinking firm that

          can organize the broad and diverse community to plan the entirety

          of a GHG emission zero campus and community.

     

          1.     Source Sustainably.

          a.     Stay abreast of source utility providers and on-campus

          generation. How will these interplay and complement each other in

          joint master planning efforts?

          b.     Develop relationships with source utility providers and

          maintain awareness and encourage phased master planning documents

          (i.e. 2030, 2040, 2050) to be jointly developed and shared by

          campus and utility providers.

     

          2.     Build Smartly and WELL.

          a.     By 2023, abandon the net-zero growth policy while requiring

          all new projects and current projects to build/renovate to

          “net-zero ready”, or LEED Platinum (latest version).

          b.     By 2023, attend professional organizational meetings to

          encourage local professionals to educate themselves on "net-zero

          ready" building paradigm.

          c.     By 2023, chart and understand time related metrics (and cost)

          to deliver a capital project, especially with CDB participation

          as is anticipated unless P3 approach receives BOT approval.

          i.      This analysis should include the availability of labor at max

          capacity of union tradespersons to perform installations.

          Recently, at six large campus projects, the labor halls were

          empty. What does the educational and labor pipeline and trends

          forecast for tradespersons over next 30 years?

          ii.     Illinois State and University of Illinois Springfield

          construction projects will also be increasing as time approaches,

          thus perhaps drawing on regional labor pool.

          iii.    If we must address 100 buildings collectively, plus many in

          the surrounding community, we may be looking at 15-20 years of

          continuous construction at 100% labor availability (having all

          labor re-tooled to know latest tech and science of advancing

          systems).

          d.     Campus level technologies deployable now (2023) are to be

          considered in the proposed Clean Energy Plan and may include:

          steam, chilled water, solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, methane,

          renewable natural gas, hydrogen, and low temperature hot water,

          and other delivery systems. Appears the solution lies in

          optimizing the various potentials, various use types, and

          external utility provider sources of available technologies for

          the optimal benefit per investment.

          e.     Building level technologies deployable now (2023) are to be

          considered in the proposed Clean Energy Plan and may include:

          energy recovery wheels, heat pump, advanced sequences of

          operation, auto-fault detection and diagnostics, variable speed

          drives, digital controls, occupancy/vacancy sensors, LED

          lighting, heat recovery chillers, high efficiency boilers, low

          temp heating water systems, variable refrigerant technologies,

          and building envelope and comfort system continuous and

          re-commissioning.

          f.      Build so as to be maintainable afterwards with least effort

          and educated resources.

          g.     By 2025, make it mandatory to design to optimally reduce scope

          1 and 2 GHG emissions.

          h.     By 2025 and ongoing, reflect on and enable efficiencies in the

          capital project delivery process to reduce time in each action.

          i.      By 2026, hire only A/E’s and Construction Managers with

          experience in providing “net zero ready” and WELL buildings;

          must demonstrate continuous advancement in net-zero knowledge and

          application.

          j.      By 2027, decide what campus utility systems will be used to

          meet 2050 objective.

          k.     By 2027, create “Program Statement” language that includes

          provisions for mandatory meeting “net zero ready”, WELL

          Buildings, LEED Platinum buildings, and neutral GHG emission

          objectives and include as possible International Living Institute

          and Regeneration Design concepts to stretch towards

          net-positive.

          l.      By 2027, enable state and local government to require more

          stringent energy and greenhouse gas emissions policies for state

          and non-state funded capital projects.

          m.     By 2030, build to net-zero GHG emission levels while

          optimizing source production, energy use index, and human

          wellness per building use type.

     

          3.     Renovate Strategically.

          a.     By 2023, demolish as necessary during renovation to reduce

          release of embodied carbon.

          b.     By 2023, recycle as much as possible when demolishing.

          c.     By 2026 to 2041, design all systems of facilities to "GHG

          neutral or net-zero ready" for buildings campus determines to

          keep for next 30 years (campus needs to create a long-term vision

          and planning document to 2050 that address carbon neutrality).

          d.     By 2029 to 2049, execute phased construction of

          projects/utilities to achieve net-zero carbon metric, using 100%

          of available labor pool and plan on 20 years of continuous

          construction activity.

     

          4.     Measure the Relevant.

          a.     By 2023, maintain accurate, trended, and normalized energy

          consumption data on all facilities.

          b.     By 2025, create and perform a 5-year rotating plan to perform

          Level 2 Energy Audits on top 100 GHG emitting facilities by

          ASHRAE.

          c.     By 2025, know and track annually Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3

          emissions as developed by the EPA for each facility on campus.

     

          5.     Educate Widely.

          a.     By 2024, if research is underway that may impact carbon

          neutrality objectives, inform campus with expected year of

          commercially available and UL listed products.

          b.     By 2024, communicate widely the project concept to occupation

          length of time, availability of labor resources, availability of

          vendor resources, etc.

          i.      As an example, the LUMEB facility took 8 years from concept to

          occupancy. This transpired over COVID-19, but before supply chain

          challenges.

          ii.     One can expect supply chain shortages for relevant technology

          and design/installation expertise to increase as we approach 2050

          on a global scale.

          c.     By 2025 to 2040, incentivize education of entire building

          industry on net-zero approaches.

          d.     By 2026 (upon receipt of master plan), share plan with and

          have mandatory workshops for any parties who participate in the

          design, construction, and maintenance of a new facility on

          campus, including many representatives and authorities at campus

          facilities and services. They provide utility provisions, energy

          certifications, and sustainable measures as approved by State of

          Illinois and in harmony with their independently crafted building

          standards, existing infrastructure, and internal master planning

          efforts.

          e.     By 2026, report to campus and others the annual scope

          emissions mentioned above for each facility.

          f.      By 2026, enable all chairs, heads, and business associates to

          understand the fiscal impact expected and provide time to

          allocate/determine funding resources.

          g.     By 2026, enable education of latest technology and

          improvements in a continuous fashion year after year to labor

          pool (update materials minimally once per year), i.e. A2L low

          flammability refrigerant.

     

          6.     Monitor and Act Astutely.

          a.     Now… be aware of governmental, political and scientific

          organizations programs and effects, educate widely!

          i.      Now... COP, Paris Agreement, etc.

          b.     Now… be aware of global companies and efforts or lack

          thereof to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

          c.     Now… know dynamic vendor supply chain constraints,

          understand “early bird gets the worm” strategy, and update

          general project timelines.

          d.     Now…plan to abandon steam generation at campus level and

          move to building level as required as efficiently as possible,

          begin migration.

          e.     Now… assess and track dynamic public opinion as we approach

          2030 and each following year successfully, reviewing as to

          impact; calculate loss or gain of tuition and research revenue

          based on progress to net-zero carbon.

          f.      By 2026, be aware of campus scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions

          per EPA on annual basis and act to maintain momentum as

          required.

     

          7.     World Events.

          a.     Plan for and consider probability of effect on timescale

          and perhaps necessity to exert more effort due to war, civil

          unrest, pandemic, or like events.

     

          Pros / Cons:

          Pros - provides a proposal of actual tasks required to achieve

          carbon neutrality by 2050 by our campus and surrounding

          community, seeking to provide a platform for discussion of a

          comprehensive and holistic view of the complex and dynamic forces

          that will minimally affect the end objective.

          Cons - This suggestion is of one mind. The suggestions above may

          already be in motion, but not broadly communicated in a unified

          fashion. Broader and inclusive discussion with respective parties

          to be affected by this cultural evolution (everyone) need to be

          involved in the discussion and provide their independent thoughts

          towards enabling the community at large and state to achieve the

          2050 objective.

     

     

     

     

    The results of this submission may be viewed at:

    https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/node/338/submission/173

     

    _______________________________________________

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  5. Considerations for clean thermal energy

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Clean Thermal Energy
    Solar Thermal at ARC
    Biomass Boiler at the Energy Farm
    Geothermal on Campus
    Grind2Energy

    There are a few examples of clean thermal energy in use on campus at this time. These include:

    • the solar thermal panels on the Activities Rec Center, heating the three swimming pools
    • the biomass boiler at the Energy Farm, heating the two story greenhouse on south Race Street
    • geothermal installations providing heating and cooling at the Fruit Farm Admin Building, the RIPE greenhouse, the Campus Instructional Facility, a few buildings at Allerton Park, the solar decathlon Gable Home at the Energy Farm, and a few rooms in the Hydrosystems Building
    • a wood-fired stove heating some maintenance buildings at Allerton Park

    We could expand these types of energy systems...

    • Additional geothermal installations are being planned for various places around campus, including a geothermal battery system at the Energy Farm.  The other geothermal locations in planning discussions now include the South Campus Center for Interdisciplinary Learning, a future greenhouse for CABBI, and the Doris Christopher Kelley Illinois Extension Building in the Arboretum.
    • The biomass boiler at the Energy Farm was designed with the anticipation of future expansion.
    • Solar thermal is a great option for our area of the planet, but it is not easy to integrate it in our existing energy enterprise.

    Another option for clean thermal energy is biogas, which UIUC contributes to locally through the Grind2Energy system, which takes food waste from the dining halls to the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD).  UCSD puts it through their anaerobic digester which captures the methane (a very strong greenhouse gas).  Currently, that captured methane is used to run an electrical generator, which provides power to the UCSD facility.  An alternative would be to upgrade the methane to pipeline quality and use the biogas a Abbott Power Plant on campus.  This is an expensive option that would require a lot of coordination and funding.

    Another strong option is a micronuclear reactor, which is being studies by the Grainger College of Engineering faculty and researchers.  This system could be integrated with the existing steam distribution system and provide ghg-free energy to campus.

     

  6. F&S adjusts procedures to align with WELL building standards at Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Cleaning Products and Practices

    Amy – in preparation for the Damon’s WELL certification please conduct an inventory of all our chemicals in the building that are needed and remove anything that isn’t needed. We may need to see if we can swap out anything for a green certified chemical, but we do have to have SDS printed and on site for the certification.

     

    We also need up-to-date and complete job sheets for the building.

     

    Pete W Varney
    DIRECTOR
    Transportation & Building Services
    Facilities & Services
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
     

  7. Daily Illini Article: How can students support waste management on campus?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Increase Recycling Rates
    Project4less
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola

    How can students support waste management on campus?

    https://dailyillini.com/life_and_culture-stories/2023/03/17/students-was...

    By Lily Perez, Contributing Writer
    March 17, 2023

    Have you ever placed something in a recycling bin and wondered what happens next? Does it actually get recycled, or does it just get tossed in the landfill without ever being sorted out?

    Students said it can be hard to be committed to sustainability when resources to do so are not always clear.

    Adeline Hoegberg, junior in FAA, said she does not have a lot of knowledge about where the trash on campus is taken or how big of a difference the University is making with their waste management systems.

    “I’ve heard that all of the recycling would just end up in the normal trash,” Hoegberg said.

    The Waste Transfer Station in Champaign filters out around 30% of the trash that comes in, but still sends around 50 pounds to the landfill each day. This is not taking into account busier times like holidays and move-in days for students.

    The Waste Transfer Station is located just off of St. Mary’s Road in Champaign and takes in trash from all various places on campus. This includes instructional facilities, University Housing, Illini Union and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

    Daphne Hulse works as the Facilities & Services zero waste coordinator, a new position focused on decreasing the amount of waste that goes through the University. Hulse works on various outreach projects, including hosting tours of the Waste Transfer Station.

    “These tours are a really unique opportunity to illuminate to the broader campus community what goes on after you put something in the bin,” Hulse said.

    Adam Soper, senior in FAA, recalled seeing several recycling places on campus but, like many other students, hasn’t heard of the Waste Transfer Station on campus.

    “I know all the dorms have dedicated recycling bins,” Soper said. “But I’m not necessarily sure where those get dumped to.”

    Another program that Hulse is facilitating in collaboration with Coca-Cola and the DIA is the “Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste” campaign. This campaign has students volunteer at basketball games to encourage recycling at sporting events. The last zero waste basketball game was March 2 and had 100 volunteers.

    “(We’re) creating that general awareness for sustainability in an audience with not just students but townies, out of state folks and athletic rivals,” Hulse said.

    Despite these programs, it can be hard for students to recycle on campus and even more so on their own where businesses and residencies don’t provide recycling services. Along with a lack of opportunity, some students feel that recycling doesn’t have a huge impact.

    “I’m under the strong feeling that you can’t solely rely on us recycling,” Hoegberg said. “It’s more about the corporations if you really want to fix things.”

    Soper said he would most likely not see discernible difference in a world without recycling.

    “It wouldn’t be a whole lot different because the recycling practices aren’t widespread enough to be making a huge impact on the scale that we’d be able to really see,” Soper said.

    Hulse recognizes that sustainability can seem isolating at times but encourages students to join organizations and communities that bring collective action. She highlighted the RSO Project4Less, whose members package leftover food in good condition and ship it out to food assistance programs in the surrounding area.

    “The human connection component of climate change is so important,” Hulse said. “I think we often feel stuck by ‘what can I do as an individual’ in this global planetary crisis.”

    Aside from joining sustainability-focused communities, Hulse also recommends learning what people can about what’s happening in the community and leading by example.  

    “We know reduce, reuse, recycle. But what about at the start of all of that, refuse,” Hulse said. “What could you refuse in your day-to-day life and start small. For example, I know students really enjoy coffee and many, many, many places around campus will take your reusable cup.”

    Hulse was particularly inspired by her mother who showed her that small habits, like using reusable bags at the grocery store, can make a big change. Hulse encourages students to look for that positive influence around them and wants students to be that influence in their own sustainability journey.

    “A community that is pursuing zero waste imperfectly is far better than a few individuals doing it perfectly,” Hulse said.

    lilygp2@dailyillini.com

     

  10. 3-2-23 Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste Diversion Breakdown

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)

    A breakdown of the materials collected on 3/2:

    • Arena:
      • 220 lbs aluminum
      • 300 lbs plastic
      • TOTAL: 520 lbs from the arena
    • Recycling bins around the concourse:
      • 120 lbs aluminum
      • 200 lbs plastic
      • TOTAL: 320 lbs from the recycling bins
    • Pulled from the waste stream (came from the compactor below the facility):
      • 440 lbs of mixed materials (paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic) that the sort workers pulled at the Waste Transfer Station

     

    TOTAL: 1,280 pounds of recyclables

    340 pounds of aluminum

    500 pounds of plastic

    440 pounds of mixed material (paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic)

     

    • Diversion rate
      • 4,540 total waste collected that night (trash + recycling)
      • 1,280 of this total waste was recycled that night
      • 1280/4540 = 28% diverted

  11. 3-2-23 Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste Results

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)

    Good afternoon,

     

    Thank you for volunteering at the Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste event last Thursday! You were among ~100 other student volunteers who signed up and helped initiate recycling within State Farm Center. The community-level work you have done to raise awareness for sustainability is invaluable.

     

    During this event, you helped divert 1,280 pounds of recyclable material away from the landfill! In total, 28% of the materials consumed at this event were diverted away from the landfill. We are incredibly impressed with this number. What a feat!

     

    As a part of our improvement process for future events, we invite you to complete this anonymous Google Form survey.

     

    Are you interested in joining other sustainability initiatives on campus?

    • Browse through the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) Teams, and reach out to those you are interested in attending.
    • Sign up for a tour of the university’s Waste Transfer Station and learn about what happens after trash and recycling are thrown in the bin.
    • Sign the Use the Bin pledge and commit to always using the recycling bin. We’re working towards our 10,000-signature goal!
    • Sign up for the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment’s (iSEE) Illini Lights Out event coming up on Friday, March 24 from 5:30-7:00pm.
    • Attend the 2023 iSEE Congress: Addressing Crises of Planetary Scale
    • Join iSEE, Volunteer Illini Projects (VIP), Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS), and Facilities & Services on Thursday, April 18 for Earth Month Trash Pickup!

     

    Thank you,


    Daphne

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

  13. Check in about C2P2

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

    Hello,

     

    I'm the Carbon Offset Fellow with Second Nature. I would like to check in with someone from UIUC about your participation in the C2P2 program. We are preparing to contract with an accredited third-party verifier to seek verification of all credits between July 1 2020 and Dec 31, 2022, and for the revalidation of UIUC's project crediting period. The cost for this for UIUC is significant and will require site visits by the third-party verifier.  I need confirmation from someone on your team that you do want us to contract these services on your behalf. 

     

    My cell phone number is 828 582 5039. Email is also a good way to reach me. 

     

    Thank you for your attention to this. I look forward to your reply!

    Meredith

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

    Hi Morgan,

     

    Is this something you would like me to assist with?

     

    Thanks,

    Jen

  14. Zero Waste iCAP Meeting 3/10/2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Tailgate Recycling
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting
    Grind2Energy

    On January 30th, the Zero Waste iCAP team met to discuss final thoughts on the finished tailgate recycling recommendation, the feasibility of a large scale composting program on campus, and current work with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). 

    Meeting minutes are attached.

    Attached Files: 

  15. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - March 10, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • Removed RSS Feeds from listings (e.g. Project Updates for collection: Geothermal Projects)
    • Q: Can we limit access to menu selection for Projects to only certain users - e.g. iCAP Admins?
      • A: Yes! it turns out we'd already done that :-) iCAP Admins and iCAP Moderators can update the menu system, but iCAP Advocates cannot.
    • Implemented new search indexing algorithm to make search less rigid:
      • Will now find different versions of equivalent words (e.g. plurals and singular treated as the same word)
      • Omitting an apostrophe when searching will find versions of that word which include an apostrophe
      • Note: doesn't seem to understand that "bikes" and "bicycles" are equivalent, though - I can look into whether I can add in certain equivalent words. Are there others we'd like to see?

    Discussion:

    • Discussion item from Stacy:

      • I would like to add to the agenda a brainstorm for ways we might be able to make a Project Page for Sustainability Experiential Learning projects.

         

        This idea is the basis of the Resilience Team economic analysis recommendation that  iWG passed. Members of the iCAP Education team are working with me.

         

        The project is basically like this:

         

        1. A needed project is identified by a community organization (e.g. life cycle analysis of a green technology for a new building),
        2. A Capstone class is identified (Eric Green’s Captstone) interested in experiential learning projects.
        3. A faculty mentor is named (Eric Green or other expert)
        4. Student teams form to work on the experiential learning project during their capstone class.
        5. Students work on the project, learn from it, deliver value to the “community client”

      • Anna Mehl from the Education iCAP Team and I are currently information gathering and brainstorming ways to create a page where we can provide information about future sustainability experiential learning projects.

         

        Some programs that are similar include:

         

        1. https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/community-impact/community-academic-partnerships/community-academic-scholars
          h+Ei8znOnSbFwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==
        2. https://sustainability.uic.edu/student-experience/sustainability-internship-programs/

      • Those websites are not set up the same way as the iCAP portal. What can we do? What can’t we do? Is the iCAP portal appropriate for this project – should we look for a different home?

      • Outcomes/Decisions:
        1. Has been discussed before, there are challenges to implementing it
        2. Not proceeding with this on iCAP Portal at this time, maybe later?
        3. See Independent Student Projects for an example of a similar attempt on iCAP Portal - see Project Background and associated Project Updates
    • Should we show a "last updated" date on the projects?
      • Automatically show last time Project was updated?
      • Add field that is updated intentionally when a project's information has been reviewed & by whom?
      • Add a disclaimer about information being correct at the time it was entered?
    • 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?
    • 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:

    • Projects pages metrics 2-∞ have no labels on Y-axis (e.g. Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts)
    • Permissions:
      • Metric Tracking:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, iCAP Advocates
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
      • Metric Targets:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
    • Change iCAP Advocates to iCAP Clerks
    • 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. N-G Mailbag question: UI's sources of electricity

    Associated Project(s): 
    Stop Burning Coal at Abbott Power Plant
    Use Clean Power

    A representative from the News-Gazette reached out to Steve Breitwieser with questions regarding Abbot Power Plant:

    Please also see the attached spreadsheet with data on steam supplied buildings.

    Hi Kathy,

     

    Abbott Power Plant generates all district heating and almost 275,000

    megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity each year using a high-efficiency

    cogeneration process, which simultaneously produces both steam and

    electricity. When the campus load for heat is highest during the

    winter months, the plant, along with the two utility-scale solar

    farms, provides almost all the electricity that the campus needs,

    with the remainder coming from wind energy that is imported onto the

    campus grid. Throughout the year, Abbott's sustainable cogeneration

    process supplies approximately

    85 percent of the total energy demand (steam and electricity) for the

    Urbana campus, which includes almost 50 percent of the overall electricity usage. The electricity not generated at Abbott, from

     on-site solar arrays, or acquired through a wind power purchase

    agreement is purchased through Prairieland Energy, a corporation

    solely owned by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. More

    information about utilities production is available at https://fs.illinois.edu/services/utilities-energy/production.

     

     Happy Holidays!

     Steve B.

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

    Hi, Steve. As I'm assembling this week's column, I have several

     follow-up

     questions:

     

     Can you clarify what's meant by "district heating"?

     

     Does most of the steam generated by the cogeneration process end up

     heating some of the older buildings on campus? (I spent 20+ years in

     Mumford Hall and remember the sounds the pipes made at certain times of year.)

     

    Any idea of approximately what percentage of the campus' interior spaces are still heated with ssssssteam heat?

     

    I took a look at the website you mentioned, and have a couple of questions

     about that: What does  UES stand for?   And the website says, "During low

    campus demand for both heat and air conditioning, Abbott typically

     burns natural gas. During the winter months, when the campus heat load

     is highest, a combination of both coal and natural gas is necessary."

    Is that information still accurate? (I thought the coal scrubbers were

    no longer in use on campus...?)

     

     

    If it's not possible to get answers to me this week, that's OK; I can hold the item for next week.

     

    Thank you,

    KR

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

     Hi Kathy,

     

     I'll follow up on these in greater detail when everyone returns next week.

     

     UES is the acronym for the Utilities & Energy Services division that is within Facilities & Services. District heating is referencing the process used to distribute steam from Abbott to campus facilities through underground pipes.

     

    Steve B.

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

    Mike/Dave,

     

    There were a couple of follow of questions to this media inquiry from the NG before the break.  Can you help clarify the highlighted sections by Wednesday with any additional information? For the interior spaces question, let me know if you can explain that more precisely – on our website we say “More than 250 campus buildings use the steam produced at Abbott for their heating.” The UMP also indicates: From discussions with U of I staff, approximately 85% of the campus condensate is returned to APP (if that would be something to note from a process standpoint along with an explanation like below).

     

    Abbott uses gas turbines, natural gas-fired boilers, and coal fired boilers, recovering reject heat from electric generation to help produce steam. The plant pipes steam underground across campus to provide buildings with space heating, domestic hot water, sterilization, and more. Once used, the steam condenses into water and returns to the plant where it is recycled and reused.

     

     

    I could respond to the fuel item with what we have said previously…

     

    When the campus load for heat is highest during the winter months, natural gas and coal are utilized to meet the significant energy demand. The coal-fired

    boilers are also a part of research efforts, primarily related to carbon capture technology. Additionally, maintaining fuel flexibility provides the university operational reliability and the ability to respond to market factors for purchased utilities.

     

    Thanks for helping out with some more detail on this one.

    Steve B.

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

    Mark/Dave,

     

    Do you guys or maybe steam distribution know approximately what percentage of campus buildings are still on steam heat?

     

    Thanks

    David Hardin

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

    I have not seen a list. We will ask Steam.

     

    When time allows maybe we could add a column to note the steam yes or no. Hmmmmm Elizabeth stated Keith Erickson had a list and she recalls some sort of building database that listed utilities per building such as steam,  electricity from Abbot or Ameren, gas etc. It would be nice to find this.

     

    Dave

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

    Mike/Frank,

     

    Are you guys aware of the list/database Dave referenced below and if so where it is located?

     

    Thanks

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

    David,

     

    I would think that EBS would provide a list of building that are served with steam, based on the meters in EBS.

     

    Tony and/or Kate,

     

    Can you clarify/confirm how many buildings on campus are served with steam from EBS?  The email string below indicates that the Util. Master Plant said over 250 buildings are served by steam from Abbott. Is that still the case?

     

    Mike Larson

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

    According to EBS, there are 175 active steam meters. Some buildings have multiple meters so there would be fewer buildings than that.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Kate Brewster

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

    Anthony should be able to run a query that will give us an exact number from our last billing cycle.

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

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

    As of our last EBS billing the count is 147.  I have attached the file that supports this number for your reference.

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

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

    Attached Files: 

  18. Advantages of hot water versus steam within buildings

    Associated Project(s): 
    Steam System Maintenance
    Use Clean Power

    Below is an email exchange between Jim Sims and Tom Keller:

    Mike or Tom,

     

    The EMT is discussing the advantages of converting building heating systems from steam to hot water with steam distribution. Would one of you be able to clarify this benefit?

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jim

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

    Jim,

     

    Hot water is more efficient than steam because it is easier to control. This also adds comfort to the occupants. Steam can be easier to leak and it is hotter, so there are some small safety concerns. Steam tends to be a bit noisier than hot water. Hot water can be easier to maintain than steam.

     

    There are quite a few other reasons. This is why hot water heating systems have become the industry standard.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

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

     

    EMT,

     

    I asked Tom Keller and Mike Halm to provide some feedback regarding the advantages of hot water versus steam within buildings. Please see Tom Keller’s response below for our information. Please let me know if we would like for Tom would like to further explain “quite a few other reasons” or his primary benefits listed below.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jim

  19. Sarthak's work at New Employee Orientation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Appropriately Staff Sustainable Transportation Efforts
    Appropriately Staff Zero Waste Efforts

    Attached is a Transportation Demand Management presentation created for Employee Orientation.

    Below is an email exchange between Morgan White and Sarthak Prasad on Sarthak's involvement in employee orientation:

    Hi Sarthak,

     

    Can you please provide a short statement here about what you for New Employee Orientation, including slides, topics, and time commitment.  We are looking to increase the F&S presence in new employee orientation, and I shared that you are already involved.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

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

    Hi Morgan,

     

    Please see attached the slides that I use for the IHR New Employee Orientation. It is a 30-45 minute commitment for me per month, including travel time. These orientations are held on the first Monday of every month, and I talk for about 15-20 minutes. The orientations are usually at the Conference Center, but sometimes they have it virtually.

     

    I will be updating the slides for next month’s orientation to include It’s Your MTD and Commuter Program information. I have been attending these since fall 2021.

     

    I had also worked on slides for Sustainability on campus, but you had asked me to wait before you reviewed it. Thank you,

    Sarthak 

    Attached Files: 

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