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Projects Updates for place: Materials Research Laboratory

  1. News about Library winning

    Libraries Win Energy Awards

    Jan 23, 2014

    The Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP) at Illinois awards building upgrades on campus in facilities which have produced top energy conservation results. Each year eight campus buildings receive ECIP awards in two separate categories. Those selected have demonstrated the greatest percentage of energy conservation over a one-year period.

    In 2013, three of eight awards went to Urbana campus libraries. The Undergraduate Library won 1st Place in the Occupant Action category; in the Energy Advancement category, the Main Library took 3rd Place while the Grainger Engineering Library took 4th Place. These libraries will work with the Utilities & Energy Services Division within Facilities & Services at the University to implement upgrades to their appearance or functionality.

    The Energy Advancement category is for campus buildings whose energy reduction is the result of central funding from a significant energy conservation project. The Occupant Action category is for those buildings which have not benefited from such projects in the last fiscal year.

    To learn more about the ECIP, please visit go.illinois.edu/ecip.

    (from Library News at http://www.library.illinois.edu/news/ECIP2013.html)

  2. FY13 ECIP Award Winners Announced

    Energy Advancement Category

    1. Atmospheric Sciences Building            53.3%
    2. Spurlock Museum                                      44.5%
    3. Main Library                                                 43.1%
    4. Grainger Engineering Libra                    41.3%

    Occupant Action Category

    1. Undergraduate Library                            35.2%
    2. Law Building                                                  35.1%
    3. Christopher Hall                                          30.6%
    4. Henry Administration Building             28.4%
  3. Explanation of calculations

    We take total energy usage by building (electricity, Steam, Nat Gas and Chilled Water) convert all of those to one common unit, MMBTU (million British Thermal Units) and after adjusting for the weather differences between years, compare each building's annual usage with the year before.  We then convert the change into a percentage and then rank all eligible buildings by percentage saved.  The top four in each category win first through fourth.     Having won in FY13 does not disqualify you from winning in the future.  The goal is to encourage individual contributions to saving energy.   Mike Marquissee

  4. Katie Kinley suggests CITES utilize rechargeable batteries

    Associated Project(s): 

    Katie Kinley, with the Student Sustainability Committee, expressed interest in getting the CITES department to use rechargeable batteries in their equipment, rather than single use batteries. Morgan Johnston provided her with a contact name to initiate the discussion.  It was also noted that CITES can receive SSC funding for projects, but we don't believe they have applied in the past.  

  5. note from Landon Hill

    Associated Project(s): 

    After discussions with senior management in the Division of Research Safety we have decided that we (DRS) will continue to recommend trash disposal of alkaline batteries until the campus decides to adopt an alternate policy. We do not receive that many questions regarding the proper disposal of alkaline batteries from campus and we have removed all but two references regarding the disposal of the alkaline batteries from the DRS website.

    This is an interesting study from MIT which you may already be aware of:  http://www.epbaeurope.net/documents/NEMA_alkalinelca2011.pdf

    Thanks.

    Landon Hill

    Division of Research Safety

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    217-333-2436

    landon@illinois.edu

  6. Battery Waste Reduction Efforts

    Associated Project(s): 

    The battery recycling program is being expanded to four locations across campus, for both rechargeable batteries and single-use alkaline batteries. Facilities & Services confirmed participation, developed a fact sheet and instructional kit for participating locations, and has committed to funding the program up to $10,000 each fiscal year. The containers for the program will be ordered in February. 

  7. Battery Recycling Progress

    Associated Project(s): 

    The battery recycling program is being expanded to four locations across campus, for both rechargeable batteries and single-use alkaline batteries. Facilities & Services confirmed participation, developed a fact sheet and instructional kit for participating locations, and has committed to funding the program up to $10,000 each fiscal year. The containers for the program will be ordered in February. 

  8. BLUE Battery Recycling info

    Battery Recycling

    Call2RecycleⓇ provides free collection boxes, pays for shipping, and accepts rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion, and Small Sealed Lead batteries less than 11 lbs in weight. The Physical Plant Service Building began the Call2RecycleⓇ rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling program in October 2005. Rechargeable batteries are considered hazardous waste and must be recycled or disposed of according to EPA regulations. Facilities & Services has saved approximately $7,000 in disposal costs in the last six years.

  9. Batteries Update

    Associated Project(s): 

    SECS recieved funding from SSC for single-use battery recycling at the Union. 

    Reportedly, "The old student program at the Union collected 1600 pounds of batteries from April 2010 to February 2011 before it was suspended."

    Attached Files: 

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