Maintain or reduce the campus gross square footage relative to the FY10 baseline.

The 2010 iCAP committed the campus to enacting a 'no net increase in space' policy applicable to all space controlled by campus. Such a policy enables greenhouse gas emission reductions through restricting additional gross square feet of campus buildings, which is directly related to the peak energy demand for campus utilities. In addition to limiting future energy expenditures, there will also be a reduction in the use of resources for construction materials and processes, and a reduction of transportation emissions associated with urban sprawl.

A net zero growth space policy has been approved by the Provost’s Non-Instructional Space Task Force.  The campus should target formal adoption of this policy and incorporation into the Campus Administrative Manual before the end of FY15. According to this policy, when buildings are demolished or leases are vacated (post-2010), their gross square footage would be added to a “square footage bank” held by the Provost’s office. The Provost may “retire” this square footage in order to effect a gradual reduction in campus gross square footage, or may make allocations of this square footage to offset individual projects that would otherwise increase gross square footage. Such an allocation from the bank would represent a negative square footage contribution to the project to enable it to result in no increase in gross square footage.

Modern building standards typically require more square footage for accessibility and mechanical needs. Nevertheless, campus could prevent the need for increases in square footage by judiciously examining existing and new space requirements at a departmental level. Campus could also consider best practices from other campuses, such as a space marketplace that provides rewards for space reduction and enables efficient space swaps. The campus could develop a standardized reporting system that measures utilization of classrooms, classroom laboratories, conference rooms, and meeting rooms based on variables such as time and day of the week, average percent fill, facilities demand, etc. Campus administrators could then identify underutilized spaces and reassign them for other purposes. A comprehensive space audit of the campus could also be considered.

Tracy,

Here is an update and overview from our conversation this morning.

1.        We will start by auditing BIF on the week of October 5-9.  Kari Cooperider is our contact.  Everything is in place at this venue.  Bin mapping has already been done.  We will pick up most of the material from both dumpsters on a daily basis.  You may not have to empty these all week but we will let you know if it is needed.  We will also weigh all the recycling totes on site before you pick up that material, but not remove anything from the totes.  Everything removed from the dumpsters will be taken to ISTC for sorting and then dropped off at the WTS the next morning. 

2.       The Illini Union will be audited the week of October 12-17.  Dave Guth and David Parker are our contacts.  They are working to have Area provide them with a roll off for that week.  Bin mapping has been done.  They are already looking to purchase new bins and change signage.  We will capture 400 pounds of material and take it to ISTC for sorting.  Afterward that material will be taken back to the Union.  The compactor will only be used in the case overflow is needed.  We will coordinate the collection of samples to prior to the Area pickups.  

3.       LAR will be audited the week of October 19-23.  Contacts are Michael Wassom (BSW Supervisor) and Brenda Welch (Dining Supervisor) .  For this week you will provide a 20 yard roll off and place it at the loading dock next to the compactor.  The compactor will not be used during this week.  For this week LAR will place everything in liners and place them in the 20 yard roll off.  We will be pulling out 40 bags per day but there will most likely still need to be pickups depending on how much material is left over.    We will call you when that is needed and to coordinate our samples being picked up prior.  Bin mapping has already been done.

4.       RAL is also scheduled for October 19-23.  Our contacts are Wes Riggsby and Ron Eggett.  For this audit they have agreed to use liners for that week.  They are also going to try and direct any waste from the Chemical Life Sciences building to the dumpsters on the other side of their building.  Because RAL has a deep dumpster, you have agreed to replace it with a 20 yard roll off.  We will be picking up 40 bags per day and taking them to the ISTC for sorting.  That material will be taken to the WTS the next morning.  We believe that some pickups may be needed but we will call you if that is the case. 

The materials will be collected and then sorted behind ISTC.  To accommodate student workers, the timing of the sorts will be from 3pm -7pm each day.  Surveys will also be done on each building. 

Cheers,

Bart

NEW CHEMICAL FUME HOODS: In response to our ongoing focus on energy conservation programs and increased interest by campus units, F&S has completed a draft of revised ventilation facility standards that incorporates criteria for the use of high-efficiency chemical fume hoods (HE-CFH). These units have air flow requirements that are different from standard fume hoods and can decrease operating expenses related to air handling and overall energy consumption. In creating the draft, F&S conducted an in-depth engineering study, including surveying equipment manufacturers and installers, as well as other universities. 

The Architecture Review Committee (ARC) got an inquiry about the possiblity of mounting solar vertically on south-facing walls (without windows).  This could be a sheer flush-mounted solar PV array immediately against the wall.  The PVs would not produce as much energy as a roof-top array, but there could be fewer issues with rooftop penetrations, etc.  The ARC noted that there is not a specific policy about this idea yet, and they would willing to work with the idea on installation on a case by case, building by building basis, at least until there is a comprehensive policy in place.

For a given capacity of PV modules, a vertical wall will harvest 78% of the energy that a flat roof would, and 67% of the energy that could be harvested at a 40 degree tilt. While this is not ideal, the costs may be lower and the maintenance and roof loading concerns would not pertain.  Two possible candidates are the south wall of NSRC (which has no windows in the "central" part) and the south facade of the Tryon Festival Theater in Krannert, which is actually somewhat tilted.

<post edited on 7/15/2024, added "Vertical Solar Panels on MEB" project, mbwhite>

see file

Several SWATeam recommendations were discussed.  Also, an update from the Sustainability Council was provided:

"Review of Council Meeting/Status of iCAP Approval - The Sustainability Council meeting went very well with lots of good discussion. There were not too many serious objections to the iCAP. They would like to see financial information, such as cost-benefit analysis on projects. This information will be included in the study for accelerating our carbon neutrality date. The cover letter from the Chancellor affirming our commitment will include language about the current fiscal climate in Illinois. The Chancellor was keen to be able to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. Other concerns were in regard to the net zero space item and they suggested a space audit be included in the iCAP."