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Projects Updates for key objective: No name

  2. F&S staff met with WEF Design Team leaders

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water Environment Federation (WEF)
    Green Infrastructure

    Xinyu Teng and Ryan Moeller met with F&S sustainable water experts to discuss potential projects for the WEF design challenge this coming spring.  

     

     

    Colleen Ruhter, P.E. provided the following resources following the meeting. 

     

    Thanks everyone for chatting today.

    Here are some great resources for you to look at to get some ideas for stormwater retrofits.

     

    https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/streetscape_elements_san_francisco.pdf

    https://artfulrainwaterdesign.psu.edu/about

    https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Grey-to-Green-ROW-Road-Right-Of-Way.pdf

    https://www.flowstobay.org/documents/municipalities/sustainable%20streets/San%20Mateo%20Guidebook.pdf

     

    The MD. Dept of the Env. (MDE) has some really good resources for calculating pollution removal based off of their standard design criteria.  If you guys decide you want to look into pollutant removal rates, I can help with that (as much as I can remember from the 7+ years ago that I worked in MD, anyway).

     

    If you’re looking for more straightforward quantification (such as volume treated), that should be easier to calculate. 

     

    Please let me know how I can help any further. 

     

    Thanks,

    ~Colleen

     

    COLLEEN RUHTER, P.E.
    Coordinator, Special Programs

  6. Levenick Fellows Behavior Change project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Changing Usage of Individuals
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    In Fall 2017, University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) Erica Myers and ACE Ph.D. Candidate Mateus Souza conducted a study to gauge whether detailed energy reports would influence student energy-saving behaviors. The project received funding through the Levenick iSEE Fellows Program, and ultimately determined that although similar experiments had proven effective in standard residential settings, the impact was negligible in residence halls where students do not directly pay for energy. On the other hand, simple nudges sent prior to winter break were effective in promoting the reduction of thermostat setpoints and energy consumption. Results from the study were later published at the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.

  7. note about planning document

    Associated Project(s): 
    Clean Energy Plan

    Morgan White: I was thinking about the comprehensive energy planning document, and I'd like it if we could start compiling some of the goals and scope for the proposed document. To get us started, I'd say, we need to establish the capacity/capability of each of the energy solutions we are pursuing and the associated costs and carbon footprint impacts. What else do we need to include in this envisioned document?

    Andy Stumpf: Besides the energy solutions, we need to consider how it will be integrated into the campus system. For example, Mike Larsen has mentioned in the past that geothermal systems are most adaptable to buildings with hot/cold water lines, but their efficiency would increase if they are tied into district chilled water systems that service several buildings… so decentralize chilled water production. Do we also want to consider solutions that are in the experimental/perfecting phases or technologies that are not previously considered (e.g., advanced energy storage, stormwater/wastewater hydropower, etc.)?

  8. 12/4 Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Food Literacy Project
    Increase Recycling through the WTS
    Vermicompost
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting

    Attached are the meeting minutes and chat log of the Zero Waste SWATeam on 12/4/2020. 

    The following were discussed:

    • SSC Letter of Support for Illini Union Shadowbox Recycling project
    • Vermicomposting
    • Composting
    • NASEM Circular Economy Conference
    • Food Literacy Project
    Attached Files: 

  9. 12/2 Transportation SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Encourage Telecommuting
    Commuter Program: Bus, Bike, and Hike

    Attached are the meeting minutes for the 12/2 Transportation SWATeam Meetings, as well as the Zoom chat file.

    Discussed were the following:

    • Telecommuting/Teleconferencing Policy and Commputer Program Intern 
    • EV Parking Department Dashboard Data
    • EV Task Force
    Attached Files: 

  11. Andrew Li will be getting an update for the small scale solar projects

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Power on Campus

    Andrew Li, Halie Collins, and Morgan White met today to launch a student-led project to get an update for all the small scale solar projects on campus.  Andrew will be reaching out to the project contacts over the next few months to get a status update and associated photos, links, etc. for each project.  He will then update the iCAP Portal accordingly.

  12. Engagement SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    Engagement iCAP Team

    The Engagement SWATeam members met on November 20 with Eric Green (Education SWATeam) to discuss first-year sustainability education recommendations. Topics discussed included working recommendations for a sustainability module in college 100-level courses, a mandatory sustainability training, and a sustainability general education requirement, all of which are currently being investigated by the Education SWATeam. Additionally, discussion of successful sustainability engagement principles led to a forming of two sub-teams to work towards recommendations within our committee:

    1) Led by co-chair Ann Witmer: Creating a roadmap of current sustainability-focused projects that are going on and connections we can utilize to make future recommendations more effective 

    2) Led by co-chair Robert McKim: Creating a sustainability 100 for individual colleges or one-size fits all model 

    Meeting minutes are also attached below.

    Attached Files: 

  13. eweek announcement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Funding for Sustainability

    CEOS Mini-Talks on the Economics of Sustainability

    Please join the Center for the Economics of Sustainability (CEOS) for its 2nd Mini-Talks webinar! Talks will focus on organic famland, conservation tillage, food waste, and consumer preferences with regards to local brewing and local hops. Register by November 30: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/122-mini-talks-on-the-economics-of-sustainability-tickets-129242601099. We hope to see you there!

    December 2, 12–1 pm

    Caroline Helton • Center for the Economics of Sustainability

  14. 11/18 Transportation SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Encourage Telecommuting

    Attached are the meeting minutes and chat from the Zero Waste SWATeam meeting on 11/18.

    Discussed were the following topics:

    • Establishing a telecommuting/teleconferencing policy.
    • Discussing working with an interdisciplinary health intern in IHR to tackle research/application of teleconferencing/telecommuting policy and commuter program.
    • Establishing an EV Task Force through the Parking Department to re-assess campus EV needs.
    Attached Files: 

  16. Congratulations to two gold certified offices!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Certified Greener Campus Programs

    Congratulations to the Department of Chemistry Administrative Office (September) and Department of Communications (October) for recently acheiving gold certification! These two offices were featured in the iSEE newsletter and at the October 2020 Campus Sustainability Celebration! 

    Department of Chemistry Administrative Office feature

    Department of Communications feature

  18. 11/13 Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Vermicompost
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting
    Food Literacy Project
    Develop Sustainable Purchasing Policies
    Grind2Energy

    Attached are the meeting minutes and chat from the Zero Waste SWATeam meeting on 11/13.

    Discussed were the following topics:

    • Update: Adopt-a-highway/Clean-up Program
    • Composting Partnership: Alex Poltorak of Urban Canopy
    • Student Project: Vermiculture Composting
    • Grind2Energy Additional Scope
    • Food Literacy Project
    • Update: Clean Plate Program
    • Purchasing Sustainability Update

  19. 11/13 Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting
    Food Literacy Project
    Develop Sustainable Purchasing Policies
    Grind2Energy

    Attached are the meeting minutes and chat from the Zero Waste SWATeam meeting on 11/13.

    Discussed were the following topics:

    • Update: Adopt-a-highway/Clean-up Program
    • Composting Partnership
    • Student Project: Vermicompost
    • Novel Scope Addition: Grind2Energy
    • Update: Food Literacy Project
    • Update: Clean Plate Program
    • Update: Sustainability within Purchasing (Website & Protocols)
    Attached Files: 

  20. Engagement Team Meeting 3

    Associated Project(s): 
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach

    The Engagement SWATeam met on Friday, November 6 to formulate and condense potential recommendations in addressing Chapter 7 Objectives. Below are a list of current proposed objectives and the associated meeting minutes:

    • New ways to support student environmental organizations
    • Using Sustainability Training (https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/1_poty17ok) as a way to get feedback from students, staff, and faculty about their views on sustainability on our campus and to promote engagement
    • Creating sustainability-focused GivePulse channel
    • Routine and regular (quarterly) Massmail by campus leaders at all levels in support of sustainability initiatives
    • Ensure all professionally focused degree programs provide students with an understanding of the consequences of climate change and the goal of living sustainably, as these matters pertain to the profession in question
    • Sustainability book of the month 
    Attached Files: 

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