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Projects Updates for theme: Engagement

  5. Engagement iCAP Team Meeting

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

    On Monday, October 25, the Engagement iCAP Team met to synthesize the themes of sustainability engagement discussed at the team's previous meeting. The four major working themes include: Awareness & Purpose, Technology & Visibility, Culture & Practicality, and Connection & Relationships. Moving forward, the team will break into sub-committees to pursue each of these themes. Meeting minutes attached.

    Attached Files: 

  6. Pilot for National Green Infrastructure Certification Program for University Operations

    Associated Project(s): 
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
    Implement Resilient Landscape Strategy

    A SSC Fall Step 1 Application was submitted on October 15, 2021 to support F&S staff to receive National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) training. If funded, four F&S staff or designees will receive the NGICP training from Parkland College’s NGICP program between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

     

    National Green Infrastructure Certification Program ONLINE (https://parkland.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=course.classinformation&coursenumber=WBT-906)

    ID : 11479   

    « back to classes page

    Become certified. Be the solution. Be a leader in managing your natural water assets in a sustainable way. Help shape the future landscape of Illinois and beyond! Green infrastructure (GI) has become a critical component and the standard of comprehensive stormwater management. GI is a cost-effective approach to managing stormwater and requires skilled and certified individuals. Landscaping, city planning, public works, and stormwater managing can all benefit from the knowledge and skills to ensure GI projects are installed and maintained properly to support long-term performance and a positive impact on communities.

    Certification increases your competitiveness in the job market and provides a pathway to higher-paying positions. Benefits of certifying in NGICP:

    • Expansion of your skills and knowledge of building, inspecting, and maintaining GI systems
    • Greater awareness of GI career opportunities
    • Proof of your commitment to supporting sustainable performance of GI practices
    • Exposure to employers looking to hire skilled GI workers through the NGICP Certification Database


    In addition to online course work, you will meet for required LIVE online discussions 11:30 AM-1:30 PM CST, Thursdays, January 6-27. You must complete 100% of the online course modules and assignments to be eligible for the certification exam. No make-up sessions are available. 

    While Parkland College provides the NGICP training, EnviroCert International, Inc. (ECI) administers the computer-based certification exam at Prometric Testing Centers or through online remote proctoring. Registration for the exam will occur through ECI, visit their site for details. The fee for the NGICP exam is $150.

    Attached Files: 

  8. Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference

    Associated Project(s): 
    Rainwater Management
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) Climate Action Plan

    The 2021 biennial Champaign County Stormwater Partnership Green Infrastructure and Erosion Control Conference took place on October 20th.

    The following email provides some context and resources with more information about the event.

    The program and the media post for the conference are attached below.

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

    From: Liggett, Betsy Jo 
    Sent: Friday, September 03, 2021 9:59 AM
    To: Stillwell, Brett
    Cc: White, Morgan; Wilcoxen, David B; Ruhter, Colleen; Liggett, Betsy Jo
    Subject: Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference

     

    Good morning Brett!

    I wanted to share an upcoming conference opportunity with you and others in DIA. F&S Safety and Compliance is a member of the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership to help meet goals for our campus stormwater municipality permit. One of the permit Public Education and Outreach goals is to host a biennial stormwater conference. We have several speakers this year one of which is a member from Green Sports Alliance (GSA) who will speak about the GSA program and provide examples of what other organizations/universities have done to meet the program missions.  Green Sports Alliance

     

    Please share with others and join us October 20, 2021 for the free biennial Champaign County Stormwater Partnership Green Infrastructure and Erosion Control Conference. This year the conference will be virtual instead of at the iHotel and Conference Center, however Professional Development Hours are still available. Attendance is limited and you can register at the following link Champaign County Stormwater Conference - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY STORMWATER PARTNERSHIP (ccstormwater.org)

     

    Thank you!

    Betsy

    Attached Files: 

  9. TED Talk: Eco Edition - Sustainable Economy

    Associated Project(s): 
    TED Talk: Eco Edition Series [ARCHIVED]

    Join iSEE for our monthly "TED Talk: Eco-Edition" event! Participants will view a prerecorded TED Talk by Kate Raworth, “A healthy economy should be designed to thrive, not grow.” Afterward, iCAP Team Clerk Alexa Smith, a U of I senior, will lead a guided discussion on what makes a sustainable, beneficial economy. Sign up to learn, discuss and connect with peers on an important sustainability topic!

    October 19, 6 pm • Zoom

    Julie Wurth • Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

    TED Talk: Eco Edition - Sustainable Economy

  10. 2021 Campus Sustainability Celebration!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Facilitate campus-wide sustainability events
    Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP)
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan

    All are invited to the 2021 Campus Sustainability Celebration and appreciation event! Meet and network with your peer sustainability advocates and hear about exciting campus sustainability progress! Since the event is in person, please be prepared to wear a mask and show your Safer Illinois app or equivalent status. If you can't make it in person, watch the livestream on YouTube! >>>

    October 20, 1–4 pm • National Center for Supercomputing Applications lobby, 1205 W. Clark St., Urbana

    Julie Wurth • Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

    2021 Campus Sustainability Celebration!

  11. Solar Sites Open House

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Power on Campus
    Build a Culture of Sustainability

    UIUC SOLAR SITES OPEN HOUSE - October 15, 1:00-2:30 pm

    Ever wonder how far the university has come in solar energy use? Come out to the UIUC Solar Sites Open House hosted on Topia, an interactive online platform, to learn about different buildings and areas across campus that are producing solar energy! During the Open House, Morgan White will provide a guided tour to virtually visit ten locations on campus. Learn more about the amazing solar installations on campus!

    This event will take place online from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 15, 2021, at https://topia.io/uiuc-solar-sites.*

    *Chrome browser on desktop or laptop required.

  12. FY22 Sustainability Sub-Council Charge Letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Council

    Interim Director for iSEE, Madhu Khanna, released the formal charge letter for the FY22 Sustainability Sub-Council. In this document, Khanna outlines the members' official campus sustainability duties for the academic year. 

    See the attached file to read the formal FY22 Sustainability Sub-Council Charge Letter!

    Attached Files: 

  13. Engagement iCAP Team Meeting

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

    The Engagement iCAP Team met on Tuesday, October 12 for an ideation session for recommendations for the upcoming semester. New members Kathy Adams, Sonali Kumar and Kavya Mula were introduced to the team along with Shibu Kar, the team's new co-chair! Meeting minutes are attached with a link to the recommendation ideation powerpoint.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Weekly Update: Green Quad Day; Abandoned bicycles

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

    All, Slower week, which was welcome. Sold a couple bikes and were able to get a handle on the influx of drop off repairs. The Green Quad Day event that was supposed to happen on Thursday was rescheduled to Tuesday, so we’ll staff for that event and hobnob with the larger sustainability community.

    I’ll make a run out to the abandoned bike emporium this week, too, and see if there’s anything worth our time. Was planning that for last week but it didn’t happen.

    We’ve got a couple bikes in the shop build queue, but I’ll grab a few from Urbana unless we get more donations this week.

    The numbers:


    Visitors: 35
    Sales: $850.50
    Bike (refurb): 3 for $490
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $20

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  16. ECEB Energy Kiosks

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Net-Zero Energy Building
    Campus Sustainability Month

    In the atrium of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building (ECEB), there are two kiosks where people can sign various pledges related to decreasing energy use. Two solar-powered phone chargers will be raffled off to those who have signed the pledge during Campus Sustainability Month, October 2021.

    Nearly 20% of energy is unnecessarily wasted each day; very simple steps exist to reduce that number, such as turning off the lights when you leave a room or unplugging devices and cords when we aren’t using them. Other examples include replacing inefficient appliances (like lightbulbs!), which can also save money! Signing the pledge to be more conscious of your energy is a great step toward leading a more sustainable life. Here are a few other ways to learn more and get involved with sustainability on campus:

    If you have any questions about energy consumption or sustainability in general, feel free to reach out to campus sustainability staff at sustainability@illinois.edu. 

  17. New iSEE Greener Campus Certifications

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

    Congratulations to the newest recipients of our Green Office, Event and Chapter certifications! 

    Green Chapter Gold Certification:

    Zeta Psi-October 2021

     

    Green Office Gold Certification:

    iSEE (Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment)-October 2021

     

    Event Certifications:

    American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers General Meetings-Certified September 2021

    iSEE Campus Sustainability Trash Cleanup-Certified September 2021

    iSEE Campus Sustainability Celebration-Certified September 2021

    SECS (Students for Environmental Concerns) Divestment Teach-In-Certified September 2021

    iSEE Illini Lights Out-Certified October 2021

     

    Keep up the great work!

     

  19. SECS rep met with F&S staff about a green roof

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Roofs on Campus
    Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS)

    Alec Van Patten met with Brent Lewis, Betsy Liggett, and Morgan White to discuss the SECS' idea to get a new green roof on campus.  F&S staff shared some lessons learned from other green roof installations, and suggested some potential locations.  These include:

    • Newmark Civil Engineering Lab - first floor roof by the bridge
    • Nick Holonyak Micro & NanoTechnology Lab - closed picnic balcony on the north side
    • National Soybean Research Center - gravel roof by iSEE conference room
    • Turner Hall - the north entryway and offices
    • Future Arboretum Building - longer term and influential
    • The SECS team should review Google Maps and look at roofs they are interested in, if they want to consider other options.

    We also mentioned the ECE green wall, which needs help getting refurbished.  It most likely needs better watering and possibly needs a review of the soil quality.

    For the funding, the SECS is likely going to request SSC funding in the spring semester.  Brent says they can request pricing info from LiveRoof.com to get an estimated budget.

    Once a location is selected, Alec will email this group to move into the preliminary approval stage.

  20. iCAP Portal project entries

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

    We would prefer to keep the ability to add new projects to a very limited few people.  Instead of giving Liz access to add a project, let’s get a quick process to add them upon her request. 

    1)      Please email me, Meredith, and Sarthak with a short project description, and the proposed new iCAP Project location in the hierarchy. 

    2)      Meredith and/or I will confirm the placement in the hierarchy.

    3)      Sarthak will add a blank private project as a placeholder and email you.

    4)      Liz or anyone in the SSC with access will fill in the project information and change it to public.

      ~Morgan

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