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Projects Updates for key objective: No name

  1. Fall iSEE Congress: Circular Food Systems.

    Associated Project(s): 

    The eighth iSEE Congress will return to the topic of feeding the world: providing a safe, secure supply of food and fuel to an ever-increasing human population using agricultural practices that are ecologically sustainable and adaptable to climate change. Influential speakers and panelists will offer cutting-edge thinking about advancing the sustainability of our agriculture and food systems. Visit the webpage for the latest details! Register now>>>

    Fall iSEE Congress: Circular Food Systems
    Oct. 26-27 | Illini Rooms A-C | Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St., Urbana

  2. Update on CEE Project Based Learning Course

    The attached project list is being considered by the nearly 200 CEE first year students for the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Project Based Learning class this year. The project idea list had been formed over several years and was last updated on August 23, 2021.

    This year, the CEE project based learning course transitioned to a requirement for all incoming CEE students and a permanent part of the curriculum.  It has 188 students, meets 4-6 on Mondays and Wednesdays in 0035 CIF, and is still team-taught by CEE faculty with F&S assistance. There are also some online students and a mirrored course that Dr. Art Schmidt is teaching for a partner school in China via Zoom.

  3. Engagement iCAP Team Final Summer Meeting

    The members of the Engagement iCAP Team met on Thursday, August 19 for their final meeting of the summer. At this meeting, members discussed three pending recommendations the team has been formulating throughout the summer--a sustainability section on the Illinois Homepage, sustainability sections of individual college websites, and uniform recycling signage for blue bins. Meeting minutes are attached below.

    Attached Files: 
  4. Robert O'Daniell's Involvement and ChargePoint Session

    Associated Project(s): 

    The following email from Robert O'Daniell to Morgan White describes some of O'Daniell's involvement with EVs on campus.

    The file attached below details one of O'Daniell's ChargePoint Sessions.

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

    From: Robert O'Daniell
    Sent: Friday, August 20, 2021 12:45 PM
    To: White, Morgan
    Subject: Prologue then a question or two.

     

    I’m reminded that the best way to advocate for yourself is to advocate for all subject to the condition. 

    I’m slowly talking to people as they charge their EV is public places. 

    .   .   .    . and trying a charger or two as I visit all the public charging places in the county 

    from me at UI B4. 

    Some thoughts as I proceed.   

    How many if any of the EV Charging task force drive PHEVs and how many drive  BEVs.

    I recall reading somewhere that you will come up with the survey questions for EV users on campus. I you think it might help, I would be happy to read those questions and reply with any questions I would want to answer if I received that survey.  

    If there is some part of the EV discussion that you think I might have the most to add, please let me know. 


    Robert K. O'Daniell
    Photographer Emeritus-News-Gazette

    Attached Files: 
  5. archived info - past project description additional information

    The following text was removed from this project description, with the update to the iCAP 2020:

    "The core component of co-curricular education and sustainability outreach is strong and effective communication; therefore these objectives center around communication. 

    1. Support and communicate about co-curricular student sustainability programs. 
    2. Strengthen and communicate about sustainability outreach programs.  Specifically, at least half of the full-time campus staff will be participating in the Certified Green Office Program by FY20.
    3. Organize and promote three major sustainability events on campus each year: Earth Week, Campus Sustainability Week, and the iSEE Congress."
  6. EV Task Force discussion

    Associated Project(s): 

    Pete Varney, Morgan White, Stacey DeLorenzo, Ria Kontou, and Yanfeng Ouyang met on August 12, 2021 to discuss the plans for EV Task Force, its objective, and its leadership. Please see attached the meeting notes.

    Also see attached the final report by the EV Charging Task Force and Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charging Implementation in 2018.

  7. Kane County Solar PV Concerns

    Associated Project(s): 

    Kane County Department of Environment and Water Resources, Management Coordinator, Ivy Klee reached out to get some information about solar panels. Specifically, they are proposing a solar project that is across some residential homes. The residents of those houses have growing concerns about living across from an eight acre solar field due to potential radiation. Ivy wants to know if this is a legitimate concern and if there is any research on this subject. Professor and Director at the Grainger Center of Electric Machinery and Electromechanics, Philip Klein, explained that any electromagnetic radiation stems from inverters and wiring, not from the panels themselves. Certified residential inverters must meet FCC Class B limits (similarly to air conditioners and other residential appliances). The only potential concern is communications interference which has only been an issue when solar farms have been installed very close to aircraft navigation radars or military radars. For more information visit: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/67440.pdf

    Other information was shared regarding solar PV by Mechanical Engineering Emeritus Professor, Ty Newell:

    -As homes electrify (heat pumps for comfort conditioning, heat pumps for water heating and heat pumps for clothes drying), along with EVs (Electric Vehicles), all solar energy (including wind) converted to electricity for powering our homes, buildings and vehicles is released back into the environment at exactly the same amount that was temporarily diverted to keep our food preserved, buildings comfortable, and providing transportation....unlike fossil (stored solar energy) that is an additional release of energy to the environment (along with a lot of other stuff)

    -Every dollar removed from fossil fuel related electricity production creates 10 times more jobs in manufacturing and construction for building heat pumps, constructing solar and wind fields, and improving our buildings (~0.2to 0.3jobs per million$ of revenue for fossil fuel industry, similar to investment banks and health insurance companies versus 2-4jobs per million$ of revenue for jobs in manufacturing and construction...Fortune 500 data)

    -Improving home and building efficiency will create a surplus of electric energy for a seamless transition to EV transportation

    -EVs require about 200square feet of solar array (size of a garage car space) for 10-12,000 miles of driving per year

    -The coal industry employs fewer people (less than 8000) in Illinois than the Univ of Illinois graduate each year.....clean energy and sustainable living technologies will provide those jobs

     

     

  8. Commuter Program Meeting (8/11/21)

    On Wednesday, August 12, 2021, Stacey DeLorenzo, Sarthak Prasad, Morgan White, and Avery Maloto met to discuss the Commuter Program.

    During the call, the group discussed program logistics, next steps for outreach, and more.

    See the attached file to read the meeting notes.

  9. iCAP Portal Updates

    From: Maloto, Avery (FandS) <fandsamaloto2 at mx.uillinois.edu>
    Sent: Monday, July 19, 2021 1:15 PM
    To: Johnson, Bryan Lloyd <blj at illinois.edu>
    Cc: White, Morgan <mbwhite at illinois.edu>
    Subject: [Follow-Up] iCAP Portal Update(s)

     

    Hi Bryan! 

     

    I would like to offer a gentle reminder for the iCAP Portal content updates. We would appreciate receiving this information as soon as possible as it allows us to keep the public updated with university & community initiatives.  

     

    Right now, I am missing updates for the following project(s): 

    • Food Purchases from Local Sources
    • Orchard Downs Community Gardens
    • SDRP Lighting 

     

    Please let me know if there is any information or assistance that I can provide to complete these! 

     

    Best, 

    Avery 

  10. iWG Meeting 7-22-21

    The iCAP Working Group met on 7-22-21. Attached are the meeting minutes. The agenda was as follows: 

    1. Introductions
    2. Energy006
      1. Update on Freezer Challenge (Paul Foote) ~4 min
      2. Update on Greener Labs Inventory Toolkit (Morgan White) ~4 min
      3. Energy Team introduce the recommendation (Bill Rose, Andy Stumpf) ~8 min
      4. Group discussion ~10 min
    3. Energy007
      1. Overview of Energy Management Plan (Rob Roman) ~6 min
      2. Energy Team introduce the recommendation (Bill Rose, Andy Stumpf) ~8 min
      3. Group discussion ~45 min
        1. Should the scope only utilize existing technology?
        2. Do we want project-specific preliminary costs or prorated estimates based on historical costs?
        3. Does this document need stakeholder engagement?
        4. This is for meeting the 2050 iCAP goal.
        5. Should this document include net-zero space aspects or should it utilize an anticipated growth percentage?
        6. How does deferred maintenance interact with this plan?
        7. What scenarios would we like to see? For example, what if every new building on campus had to be net-zero energy?
    4. Overview of vision for iCAP Teams this academic year (Meredith Moore) ~5 min
      1. Enhanced interaction about the iCAP
      2. Standard recommendations from topical teams – encourage small-scale recommendations that will get to more campus units/groups
      3. Active participation at Campus Sustainability Celebration – afternoon of 10/20/21
      4. Increase connections with other groups – Student Affairs, SSLC, etc.
    Attached Files: 
  11. Crop Sciences/ACES - Agronomy Days!

    Crop Sciences/ACES is committed to sustainability and works hard to ensure our land is responsibly managed! They are hosting a series of Agronomy Days; events are free and open to the public though registration is encouraged to reserve your space. Agronomy Day field events will begin on July 22 and run through August 19; tours are held each Thursday from 9 AM - 12 PM. 

    Click here for more information and to register: http://agronomyday.cropsciences.illinois.edu/

  12. July 2021 Project Progress Update

    Associated Project(s): 

    The following project updates were provided by Allen Parrish on July 30, 2021:

    • The air seeder is ordered and should arrive in the next couple of weeks.
    • Cover crop seed plates are ordered to use a planter for cover crop seeding.
    • Several types of seeded have been done (7.5, 15, 30, and surface broadcasting.)
    • Seed orders are currently in the process of being placed.
    • The Animal Science Building will be getting the first fields planted after the harvest silage in late August 2021 / early September 2021.
    • An estimate for acereage planted can be provided in November 2021.
  13. Brainstorming incentive ideas for Commuter Program: Meeting between Sarthak and Avery on July 27

    Sarthak and Avery met on July 27 for a brainstorming session to discuss potential incentives for the Commuter Program: Bus, Bike, and Hike. Please see attached the meeting notes as well as a draft document for the Commuter Program with description and potential incentives. Here is a link to view the meeting recording (recording started 30 minutes in to the meeting): https://uofi.app.box.com/file/839557013310

  14. 2021 – ECEB is 100% Solar Powered!

    Associated Project(s): 

    ECEB solar panels have been generating power since April 2020. Building energy use is offset by the ECEB solar panel production and, since February when a contract between F&S and ECE has been in place, the excess energy use not offset by the ECEB solar panels is being replaced through solar renewable energy credits (SRECS) from Solar Farm2. These credits are being paid for by the ECE Power and Energy group.

  15. Current Count of Green Infrastructure

    Associated Project(s): 

    From: White, Morgan <mbwhite at illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, July 23, 2021 4:46 PM
    To: Lewis, Brent C <bcl at illinois.edu>; Liggett, Betsy Jo <bliggett at illinois.edu>
    Cc: Moore, Meredith Kaye <mkm0078 at illinois.edu>
    Subject: current count of green infrastructure

     

    Hi Brent and Betsy,

     

    In the Green Infrastructure Project list at \\Fandsu360\Sustainability\iCAP Projects\04 Land and Water Projects\Green Infrastructure Project List, I count 39 GSI installations constructed on campus (skipping the one Rain Barrel location).

     

    Do you concur that it is the right number for our annual count in the iCAP Portal metrics?

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan 

     

    ======================================

    MORGAN B. WHITE
    Associate Director of F&S for Sustainability

     

    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    1501 S Oak Street (MC-800) | Champaign, IL 61820
    217.333.2668 | mbwhite at illinois.edu
    fs.illinois.edu/services/sustainability


    https://webtools.illinois.edu/webservices/js/ds/signature_logo.png

     

    The response to this email concluded that the current count of green infrastructure is accurate as the list was recently updated. 

  16. Engagement SWATeam Meeting

    Representatives of the Engagement SWATeam met on July 19 to discuss 2 working recommendations: one related to recycling bin signage (having consistent & effective signage in residential halls and offices) and one related to increasing the visibility of the iCAP on university websites. Meeting minutes are attached.

    Attached Files: 

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