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Projects Updates for place: National Soybean Research Center

  1. SSC funds Wastewater Elimination & Scale Up Restoration

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI) is a student-led organization that works to promote the development of renewable energy production at UIUC and to educate the campus community about the advantages of biodiesel. Their primary focus is the production of biodiesel and soap from a feedstock of used vegetable oil obtained from the University Dining Halls. In the past, biodiesel produced by IBI was utilized by University Garage and Carpool Services. With the addition of a glass-lined 400 gallon batch biodiesel reactor and relocation to the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, IBI will be able to continue to do so. The funding from this project will be allow for the purchase of this reactor, which will enable IBI to increase its production capacity and recycle larger quantities of used vegetable oil.

    Attached Files: 

  2. Freezer Challenge 2019 - update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge

    F&S coordination of the 2019 Freezer Challenge is making progress, gaining momentum and is half way to meeting last year’s participation of 45 labs. Designed to engage, educate and motivate efficient lab sample management thereby increasing energy efficiency and reducing consumption, this competition ends May 1st at midnight.  

  3. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Styrecycle: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling program [ARCHIVED]

    Hi Pete and Shawn--

    This week's zero waste activities were

    • Email to put David Akins of the School of Art and Design in touch with Morgan to move forward with relocating the EPS densifier to Art and Design. She will coordinate with him, Joe Pickowitz, and BK Sharma to set up a time for Mr. Akins to see the densifier.
    • Emailed Julija Sakutyte of the PWR SWATeam to get me, Morgan, and Sara Portillo of Kimberly-Clark on an upcoming PWR SWATeam agenda to discuss the glove recycling program. Currently, it looks like it could be May before everyone's schedules align.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  4. Freezer Challenge 2019 Register and Participate

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge
    Click here to see this online
     
     
     
     


    University of Illinois 2019 International Freezer Challenge Participation


    Register NOW! (click here), history, recognitions, accomplishments & 2019 Goals
     


    U of I Won 1st place internationally
    Top four laboratory teams scoring the highest point totals during the 2018 Freezer Challenge  
    Top four laboratory teams scoring the highest point totals during the 2018 Freezer Challenge  
     

    Being the best at reducing the energy required for laboratory cold-storage and implementing sample management best-practices earned the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign first place in the 2018 International Freezer Challenge, leading our peers and joining first place organizations in multiple categories.... read more


      2018 award currently on display at IGB in the CABBI lab area
      The 2018 International Freezer Challenge award on display, in the CABBI lab area at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
     
    Worldwide recognition

    The University of Illinois research community has received international recognition from a number of organizations and media publications.


    top achievement totals from 2018  
    In 2018, 45 Labs made this BIG of an impact, join us to help change the world!  
     
    Highlights from lab efforts in 2018

    Researchers rallied to apply best practices in sample-storage management, reducing their lab's carbon footprint and submitting their efforts for recognition in the International Freezer Challenge. Particpating researchers were awarded a certificate for demonstrating leadership in Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Laboratory Practices. Register to receive your lab's 2019 scoresheet! (sample scoresheet attached)


      mygreenlabs freezer challenge video
      Take the Challenge Today!
     
    Goals for 2019 competition: DOUBLE-UP!

    This year's goal is to DOUBLE last year’s:

    - Participation of researchers from 45 labs  to 90 labs

    - Energy reduction of an estimated 720 kWh/day to 1500 kWh/day

    CHILL-UP TO DOUBLE-UP, DOUBLE THE LABS & DOUBLE THE WIN!!!
     


    Illinois can win again! Only one organization (the CDC) has won twice in their division. Illinois can join them in 2019!


      FreezerChallengeUI website
      Visit website for more details! (click image)
     

    Join us and submit your scoresheet by midnight, May 1 to achieve world class results!

    For help getting started contact:
    Paul Foote at gfoote2@illinois.edu
    217-244-1048
    Think Globally-Act Locally
    		 
     
     

  5. 2018 International Freezer Challenge - 1st place internationally

    Associated Project(s): 
    Freezer Challenge

    We Won 1st place internationally in the Institutional category for last year’s efforts!

    My Green Labs and I2SL hosted the 2018 International Freezer Challenge see category winners here

    Place Photo here

    Worldwide recognition published through these media outlets:

    Lab Manager Magazine, Cold Storage March 2019

    Published article with participants quoted for expert advice here  

    Nature Magazine feature published in Oct. 2018 (see attached PDF)

    S-Labs highlights our achievements in their short-listed profiles here (PDF of short list attached)

    ISEE and Facilities & Services published news releases U of I Wins Freezer Challenge & 2018 International Freezer Challenge Champions

    Highlights from lab efforts in 2018

    Achievements from researchers in the 2018 competition!

    # of labs submitted score sheets

    45

    # of freezers/ refrigerators impacted

    323

    # of units defrosted and/or cleaned coils

    198

    # of units retired due to no longer needed

    16

    # of units replaced with a more efficient model

    9

    # of units that were cleaned out and/or removed samples

    162

    # of units where you updated or created new  inventories

    143

    # of samples moved from colder to warmer storage 

    14065

    # of units created a searchable digital inventory

    100

    # of units containing a Barcoded inventory

    27

    # of units shared among research groups

    103

    # of researchers that registered labs

    60

    # of individual labs registered

    58


    Goal for this year is to DOUBLE last year’s participation of 45 labs in 17 buildings and energy reduction, which totaled an estimated 720 kWh/day from October 2017 through June 2018. The annual total of 262,800 kWh of electricity saved during the competition is the approximate equivalent of the yearly energy used by 25 typical U.S. homes.

    We can repeat the WIN; so far, the CDC is the only group to win twice in their division.

    Join us

     

    Thank you

    Paul Foote

    Think Globally- Act Locally

  10. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Styrecycle: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling program [ARCHIVED]

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    Zero waste activity for the past week was an exchange of emails with Fab Lab to see if they could make use of the EPS densifier. They appreciated the offer but declined it for lack of space. They suggested Arch Annex1 may have use for it, and Morgan has also given me other suggestions, which I plan to pursue this week.

    Best regards

    Marya Ryan

  11. SSC funds Energy Shaft at the Energy Farm

    Associated Project(s): 
    Geothermal on Campus
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This student-led project will involve the design, construction, and installation of an energy geo-structure for heating the UIUC Energy Farm, located near the southeast corner of Race Street and Curtis Road on the South Farms. This project has great potential in exploring and utilizing geothermal energy, a renewable energy alternative to fossil fuels. An energy shaft is a new technology designed to access the shallow geothermal energy (relatively constant ground temperature in the upper 30 m of the subsurface). The objective of the project is to determine the feasibility of using drilled shafts that are already being used to support structures on campus also as a geothermal heat-exchange element. Geothermal heat exchangers (closed absorber pipes) can be incorporated into underground infrastructure, e.g., drilled shafts, through which water is circulated to withdraw shallow geothermal heat (~55 °F) and transport it to the surface for structure heating or cooling.

    Attached Files: 

  13. SSC funds Red Oak Rain Garden Sidewalks

    Associated Project(s): 
    Red Oak Rain Garden
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    Located just south of Allen Hall/LAR and west of McKinley Health Center, the Red Oak Rain Garden solves local flooding issues while providing an outdoor space for the UIUC community. This SSC grant provides support for sidewalk modifications and additions, expanding pedestrian and cyclist transportation while strengthening flood control. The project team will also install benches to encourage community members to use the space throughout the year. For outreach, the project team will host a ribbon cutting event that celebrates the upgraded rain garden. Similarly, individuals can follow the rain garden @RainGardenUIUC on all social media platforms. 

    Attached Files: 

  16. Meeting Minutes for iWG February, 2019

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC)
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Internal price on carbon [ARCHIVED]
    Reduce Emissions from Transportation

    These are the meeting minutes from February 7, 2019.

    Attached Files: 

  17. 18F Semesterly Report - Beginning bike maintenance classes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Campus Bike Center

     

    Simon taught 15 sessions with around 100 attendants total, over the 15 weeks. The sessions were Mondays from at 6:30. The sessions began on 9/5/2017 and concluded at the end of the fall semester.

     

    The manager of the Campus Bike Center, Jake Benjamin, will help us seek another qualified student to teach the class this spring.

     

    Attached Files: 

  18. SSC Funds Hillel Micro Grant

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    Illini Hillel Center for Jewish Life on Campus (the Center) has been working toward creating a more sustainable Center for the last few years. Starting with a student driven initiative to purchase and install a filtered, reusable water bottle filler, the Center has been working to improve its environmental impact in more ways. We would like to prepare a locally sourced Sabbath dinner for our community, using that time together to educate the community about our sustainability initiatives.

    Attached Files: 

  20. Final Report submitted to SSC - Speech and Hearing Solar

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Speech and Hearing Rooftop Solar PVs

     

    This project was originally proposed by Mechanical Engineering students for Abbott Power Plant in spring 2016.  At that time, the SSC members did not want to support solar on the co-generation power plant because it uses fossil fuels.  They asked if we could use it on a different campus roof, and we considered all the large or medium campus roofs.

     

    The SSC asked us to identify a building that could have solar added, so I reached out to Applied Health Sciences in 2016 for approval to use the Speech and Hearing Sciences Building.  Since that time, Kristine Chalifoux confirmed that the roof is strong enough for solar panels, due to a previous change in the insulation materials.  Brian Finet completed design drawings for installing solar on the full available roof, and the Architecture Review Committee confirmed the building is allowed to have solar added.  

     

    After the engineering design work, the remaining funds were about $35K.  This fall, we received a construction estimate from Jeff Holt for upgrading the electrical system to handle a 70 kW solar PV array.  It would cost about $42K if done in conjunction with your capital project, just to get the wiring up to the roof and ready to punch through and install panels later.  Rather than ask the SSC for additional funding and an extension, I am returning the remaining dollars and putting this project on indefinite hold. 

     

    The overall campus goals for on-campus solar generation are listed in the 2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), which will be updated for 2020.  The current objective is to generate 25,000 MWh/year of on-campus solar, and we are currently at about 7,000 MWh/year.  Per the direction received from Chancellor Jones, we are working on a second large-scale solar farm to meet the goal, rather than several smaller-scale projects. 

     

    The second solar farm is planned to be about 12,000 kW in name-plate capacity, significantly more than the 70 kW rooftop array for Speech and Hearing.  Rooftop solar is still an option, and several departments continue to install them at the building scale. The design drawings are posted online through the iCAP Portal, at https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/speech-and-hearing-rooftop-solar-pvs, for future use.

     

    Attached Files: 

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