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Projects Updates for theme: Engagement

  3. 2023 Competition Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    ReImagine Our Future

    Dear Friend of the Reimagine our Future student sustainability competition,

     

    We are writing to provide a brief update about Reimagine our Future.

     

    As you know, the aim of this competition is to harness the creativity and intelligence of undergraduate students, challenging them to develop ideas and solutions that will contribute to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and encouraging them to feel empowered as engaged problem-solvers.

     

    Registration is now open for the 2023 competition, and we have some exciting developments to report.

    Students from nine participating higher education institutions can enter the competition this year either as individuals or as members of teams. (Students from any higher education institution anywhere may be on a team that enters the competition provided that team is led by a student from a participating institution.) An up-to-date list of the participating institutions is here.

    This year we added two special awards for the best submission dealing with some aspect of climate change and for the submission that went furthest in implementation.

    Also, Mike Yao, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor with appointments in the College of Media and the Gies College of Business, will serve as a mentor to the winning entrants, irrespective of their home institution, as they attempt to develop and implement their proposal.

    The important dates for the 2023 competition are available here.

    If you are an advisor on student projects, you may receive – any time between now and November 19th - a request for advice from one or more students who are planning a submission in your area of expertise or interest.

    If you are a judge, we will ask for a few hours of your time during November 20-24 to help develop the list of finalists.

    Special thanks to those who are playing both roles!

    Our list of advisors and judges includes specialists from various universities, companies, and institutions and from many backgrounds, fields, and disciplines. This broad-ranging list encourages submissions from students in many areas.  We expect to continue to add to this list.

    Thank you again for your ongoing help with this sustainability competition and for bringing your unique background, skills, professional history and more to this project. If you have advice or suggestions about any aspect of the competition, please let us know.

     

    Yours sincerely,

    Leon Liebenberg (Teaching Professor, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, UIUC) 

    Warren Lavey (Adjunct Professor, College of Law, School of Earth, Society & Environment, and College of Medicine, UIUC) 

    Robert McKim (Emeritus Professor, Department of Religion, UIUC) 

     

    (Reimagine Our Future co-founders and coordinating committee)

  4. Sustainability LLC iCAP presentation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Living Learning Community (SLLC)

    On 08/16/2023, Morgan, Daphne, Sarthak, Quinn and Hrushikesh attended/ hosted Sustainability LLC iCAP presentation for the upcoming and aspiring undergraduate students to provide them information about all the aspects of iCAP and other entities. Additionally it was also a great mode of communication to connect with the young minds and get to know their vision regards the same cause.

  5. Coca-Cola bin updates for Welcome Celebration and Tailgate Recycling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Welcome Celebration Recycling
    Tailgate Recycling
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
    Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 8:51 AM
    To: Etchison, Thurman B <etchisn@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Welcome Celebration recycling update

     

    Hi Thurman,

     

    Quick update on the recycling efforts for this coming Friday – good news first: we should have a good turnout of student volunteers for this event.

     

    The complicated news: the 20 Coca-Cola bins did arrive just a few days ago, but they are unfortunately going to require some F&S modifications before they can be put to use. They’re extra sturdy (bolted down to the pallets) which is great for outdoor events, but they do not currently have any openings to put recycling in and dump it out (see picture below). We expect we’ll have to saw open the plastic top, and then they’ll be a useable bin. Coke finished designs on the wrap that will be placed over top of the bins (attached), so they have some messaging on them when we’re ready to put them to use.

     

    As a quick solution, we have 24-26 bottles/cans recycling bins that we can line with blue bags and put to use (picture below). It unfortunately won’t have the great messaging that the Coke bins would have, but we will have the volunteers there to help manage. Not as sturdy as our new bins will be, but I expect better than the bins that were used last year that blew around. F&S will be bringing these over to Lot 31 on Friday when they’re bringing the tables and chairs, so our volunteers can line these with blue bags and place them nearby the trash bins.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

    https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

    Attached Files: 

  8. 8/3 Meeting to discuss location at Hope Village

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Solar Decathlon

    Illinois Solar Decathlon President Rachel Chen met with Marty Smith to discuss the possibility of having the current next solar decathlon home built at the hope village project. Marty discussed possibilities for a separated subdivision of homes. But the more likely option would be to construct a library or community building than a single family home. Either of these options would be more likely during the next building cycle for solar decathlon.

  9. iSEE and F&S zero waste agree to return funding back to the SSC

    Associated Project(s): 
    Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) [ARCHIVED]

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 9:22 AM
    To: Green, Eric William <ewgreen@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Post Landfill Action Network Membership

     

    Hi Eric,

     

    I’ve heard back from the previous zero waste coordinator. She was the student who worked with Meredith on the SSC application. One of the major features of a PLAN membership was access to pre-made flyers and event kits, which Meredith and Syd decided could already be handled by F&S/iSEE when the need arose. I think we can go ahead with returning the remaining funds to SSC.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

    https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

     

     

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
    Sent: Friday, July 21, 2023 9:16 AM
    To: Green, Eric William <ewgreen@illinois.edu>
    Subject: RE: Post Landfill Action Network Membership

     

    Hi Eric,


    Thanks for reaching out! I have not used this resource since arriving in the position…I’m asking a predecessor of mine if they ever used the resource/thought it was useful. Based on their response, I think that will help inform the decision. I’ll follow up on this!

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

    https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

     

     

     

    From: Green, Eric William <ewgreen@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:57 AM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Post Landfill Action Network Membership

     

    Hi Daphne,

    A couple of years ago, a student and Meredith applied for SSC funding to pay for membership to the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN). I believe that this was done before you were hired. Since Meredith and the student have both left the University (and the funding agreement is coming to a close), iSEE is considering returning the remaining funds to the SSC. I wasn’t sure if you used this resource at all (maybe Meredith handed it off to you when you started), but please let me know if you do (or if you would like to). We can apply for a scope change to keep the funds, but I just wanted to check if that was necessary.

     

    Cheers,

    Eric Green
    Senior Academic Program Instructor/Advisor

    Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    1101 W. Peabody, Urbana, Suite 386 (NSRC)

    217.244.0728 | ewgreen@illinois.edu

    sustainability.illinois.edu

     

    facebook     Twitter for Email Signature     Instagram for Email Signature     Youtube for email signature

     

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    Please consider the environment before printing out an email. Thank you! 

  11. 7-24-23 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Tailgate Recycling
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Reduce Single-Use Plastics
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    On July 24, 2023 UIUC sustainability representatives met and discussed the following:

    Attendance: Bryan Johnson, Pete Varney, Julie Wurth, Steve Breitwieser, Marty Kaufmann, Daphne Hulse

    1. Football
      1. Tailgating
        1. Operation
          1. F&S staples recycling information + map to blue bags
          2. Parking supervisors will hand out the blue bags
          3. 2 dumpsters placed (Lot 31, Lot 32). Blue bags collected here
          4. Grange Grove/entrances to Memorial Stadium: Coca-Cola bins to collect loose bottles and cans
        2. Plan for one of the earlier games (Sep)
        3. Assess how first game went, revise for a later game (Oct/Nov)
        4. Post-season: assess, revise for next season
      2. Communication
        1. DIA gameday emails will include messaging about tailgate recycling
        2. Game script will call out hydration stations
        3. F&S – send campus-wide announcement (as was done for Dump and Run)?
        4. iSEE – newsletter?
      3. To do
        1. F&S scope out where the 2 dumpsters could be placed, confirm with DIA
        2. Determine placement of Coca-Cola bins: DIA recommends the 20 Coca-Cola bins are placed in Grange Grove/on the way into the stadium (portal 1 and 2)
        3. Staff recycling dumpsters to prevent them from becoming trash sites
          1. F&S may have a tent that can be used – check with Safety & Compliance
          2. iSEE does not have a tent
          3. F&S – print banners to hang on dumpsters?
            1. Green dumpster will be marked, ask Shawn Patterson
    2. Welcome Week Lunch
      1. 7 student volunteers gathered + 2 F&S staff
    3. Volunteer / giveaway t-shirts
      1. 200 green volunteer shirts – for Welcome Week, Tailgating, and other small events that may arise
      2. 300 orange giveaway shirts – for Tailgate Recycling
        1. Incentivize tailgaters to drop off their blue recycling bags
    4. Coca-Cola bins
      1. Metal framing is expected to arrive Friday 8/11
      2. Wrap renderings are being finalized, discussing on Wednesday with Jake
    5. iSEE – hydration station map live
      1. https://sustainability.illinois.edu/be-orange-go-green-cut-plastic-use-with-a-refillable-bottle/
      2. iSEE developing a video highlighting campus hydration stations for new student convocation

     

    Attached Files: 

  13. All Sports are Water Sports

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Water Conservation [ARCHIVED]
       

     

    PLAYTOZERO.GSALOGO.png

     

    Play to Zero Playbook

    TwitterInstagramLinkedInWebsiteYouTube

     

    1ST WATER PLAYBOOK FOR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

    WaterKickoff-9900000000079e3c.png

    Dear Colleagues,

    We are excited to present the first-ever Playbook on Water for Sports & Entertainment Venues. This playbook will set the stage for why water matters and how venues can become driving forces for water protection and restoration. Through sharing lessons learned and practical approaches to reduction, reclamation, reuse and replenishment; we, together, can help ensure our communities become more resilient to growing impacts from climate and other stressors.

    Access to clean and affordable water is essential to the sports industry and our collective health and well-being.... The impact to our communities and fans is critical to address. 

    It's clear that more investment, more assistance and more leadership from individuals, policymakers, businesses and increasingly from the members of the Green Sports Alliance, is needed to protect our essential water resources. Sports and entertainment venues have an opportunity to be good water stewards and lead by example.

    I hope that this playbook provides you with the inspiration, resources and examples necessary to start your own journey to ensuring water remains safe, reliable and accessible for all of our communities.

    - Roger McClendon, Executive Director of Green Sports Alliance [READ THE FULL LETTER FROM ROGER HERE]

     

     

     

    Photocollageofwatersports-9900000000079e3c.png

    This playbook focuses on four key strategies across drinking water, wastewater and stormwater management:

    Strategy 1: Understand your Water Baseline

    Strategy 2: Water Efficiency

    Strategy 3: Water Reuse

    Strategy 4: Water Replenishment & Ecosystem Stewardship

    Each strategy provides a baseline knowledge and resources for you to further explore the concepts presented and a corresponding Green Sports Alliance member case study designed to share lessons learned, best practices and tips for your future success.

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    YOUR WATER JOURNEY: FIVE STEPS FOR STARTING AND PROGRESSING ON YOUR PATH TO WATER STEWARDSHIP

    #1 Commit ➡️ #2 Learn ➡️ #3 Plan ➡️ #4 Three E's ➡️ #5 Celebrate 🎉

     

    DuneIvesQuote-9900000000079e3c.png

     

     

     

     

    Thank you to our Playbook Contributors!

    Dune Ives, Lead Author | CEO of Movements That Matter and GSA Board Member

    Green Sports Alliance Corporate Members | Stantec and Xylem, Inc.

    A special thanks to our Water Playbook Editorial Board Members, Green Sports Alliance Leadership/Staff and our Graphic Design/Copy Editing Team! 

    TeaserVenuePlaybook-9900000000079e3c.png

  14. 6-28-23 External Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Tailgate Recycling
    Reduce Single-Use Plastics
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    Attendance: Jake Slager, Shawn Patterson, Thurman Etchison, Jen Fraterrigo, Steve Breitwieser, Travis Tate, Shreya Mahajan, Daphne Hulse

    Coke Updates:

    • Jake is now officially solely focused on colleges and universities
    • RVAT totes
      • Nothing charged for totes or for transportation
      • Chloroplast wrap and cut-outs are about $150 each x 20 = $3,000 (probably does not include transportation)
      • Keep these recycling only
      • 2-3 weeks lead time for wrap
      • Coca-Cola has the rendering for royal blue. Can make tweaks and changes
      • Couple $100 to edit or change the wrap design
      • Daphne’s to-do: Update QR code for new website
      • Make sure bins have clear messaging just for “bottles and cans”
      • These bins would be used for tailgating near to Memorial Stadium, ideally

    Reusable Cups/Bottles

    • Coke is supportive of reusable cups
      • Yeti sponsors for reusable cups
    • Making an effort to push sustainability early in the college processes
      • Encourage use of reusable bottles
      • Use tap water from filler stations
      • Cut back on waste
      • Where there are purchases, ensure that the recycling bin is used
      • Ohio State’s effort with reusable bottles has been mixed success (MyCup program)
      • Indiana did something similar. It was costly and mixed results there, too
        • Jake will get more plugged in on these programs at different schools

    Athletics

      • 100th year of Memorial Stadium
        • Ohio State did something similar with their 100th year
        • Sustainability can be incorporated in here, too

    Engagement opportunities

      • GoGreen - Eric Green - not a large sample size
        • Jake talked with David Watson, who is in contact with Eric
        • Shreya’s experience as a student: without the incentive behind it, it’s not going to encourage students to regularly use it
      • Looking into Rockwire Illinois App to see how we can encourage plastic reduction

    Welcome Week

    • T-shirts
      • Mid July get the quantities for the welcome week
      • Orange shirt may fit well with giveaway items for tailgating

    Bigger Conversations

    • Path forward - Be Orange Go Green, Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste, Don’t Waste
      • How do we differentiate, make it clear to the public what is what?
      • Is tailgating a fighting illini, fighting waste event?

     

  16. 6-26-23 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    On June 26, UIUC sustainability representatives met to discuss the following:

    Attendance: Shawn Patterson, Marty Kaufmann, Thurman Etchison, Bryan Johnson, Shreya Mahajan, Naveen Reddy, Daphne Hulse

    1. Tailgating / Welcome Week

      1. Coca-Cola ordered 20 recycling bins (metal frame)

        1. Cost will come from the wraps, Jake gathering a quote

      2. Welcome Week Dining - planning meetings that zero waste could join?

        1. Moved to Grange Grove for this year

        2. Thursday, 13th at 9am next meeting (N end)

        3. Consider t-shirts for volunteers

    2. Housing Insider Newsletter

      1. Housing marketing team willing to consider sustainability submissions for consideration in their newsletters, but likely not every edition

      2. Next steps from here? Think about Eweek, iNews, GradLinks as places to include sustainability information, get the larger population thinking about sustainability

    3. Plastic waste reduction

      1. Gathering information, exploring strategies used by peer schools

      2. Aim - engaging/lighthearted

    4. Wednesday 6/28 - meeting with Coca-Cola

      1. Discuss cost of wrap for 20 bins

      2. Assess where we are at with the shared budget

      3. Discuss volunteer shirts for tailgating & explore giveaway items/incentives

      4. Discuss volunteer shirts for Welcome Week

      5. Anything else to add to the agenda for Wednesday?

  17. 4 new EVs and new EV charging stations installed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Decrease Emissions from UI Fleet
    Develop Scenarios for Converting the UI Fleet to Renewable Fuels
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    F&S has received 4 new Ford F-150 Lightnings all electric trucks, bringing the total to 6 Ford Lightnings and 1 Ford e-Transit cargo van for F&S fleet.

    We have also installed another level-2 Ford dual point smart chargers on the south side of PPSB and we are working on the installation on another one. We have 2 more chargers to install. The Charging Stations installations are being done using the SSC funding.

  18. 6-12-23 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    On June 12, UIUC sustainability representatives met to discuss the following:

    Attendance: Shreya Mahajan, Thurman Etchison, Marty Kaufmann, Julie Wurth, Steve Breitwieser, Jen Fraterrigo, Bryan Johnson, Daphne Hulse

    In progress: iCAP Zero Waste Recommendations

    • ZW010: Tailgate Recycling:
      • Transmitted to Josh Whitman – approved.
      • Next steps:
        • Meet with iSEE/DIA POC to finalize plans for fall.
        • Meet with Jake Slager to discuss incentives for the event.
        • Meet with relevant groups for after-game pickup (Grange Grove, Stadium seats)
    • ZW011: Recycling Bins at State Farm Center:
      • Transmitted to Josh Whitman and Tim Knox.

    In progress: Welcome Week 2023

    • Friday, August 18: Welcome Celebration Lunch in Lot 31. 1 hour – 1 hour 15 minutes.
    • Planning a recycling-focused event with the help of outdoor recycling bins from Coca-Cola and student volunteers.
    • Proposed bin: RVAT
      • Length x width x height = 47” x 39” x 40.5” (interior framing). Cannot be collapsed for storage.
      • Wrapping with Don’t Waste messaging can be collapsed for storage.
      • Transported via pallets.
      • Can be used for other outdoor purposes (recycling near Memorial Stadium entrances)
      • Cost: wraps. Jake is working on an estimate based on the quantity available.
    • Students from SECS, SSLC, Project4Less, SSC on campus over the summer
    • Next steps:
      • Where could we store these? How many could we store?

    Exploring: Housing Insider Newsletter - Sustainability Highlight

    • Conceptually similar to “Don’t Waste Wednesdays” approach – sustainability initiatives across different campus units.
    • Housing Marketing Team to determine what is feasible.
      • Chris Axtmen-Barker
    • Dining – plan for advertising sustainability initiatives in the upcoming academic year?

    Completed: Water Bottle Station Inventory

    • Encourage campus community to use reusable bottles across the locations identified.
    • Inventoried state-supported, McKinley, Illini Union/Bookstore, DIA, Housing, KCPA facilities.
    • Clarifying fancy vs simple bottle filler stations in the legend:
      • Include pictures where we post
    Attached Files: 

  19. Green Research Committe 3rd meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Research Committee
    Green Lab Program

    June 6, 2023 Green Research Committee Meeting 3

    Present: Shari Effert-Fanta, Paul Foote, Jennifer Fraterrigo, Stephanie Hess, Daphne Hulse, Tim Mies, Lisa Moore, Jeremy Neighbors, Chad Stevens, Sabrina Summers

    Absent: Mitchell Bryant, Maisie Kingren, Morgan White

    Charge 1

    • Consolidated information document, provided by Jeremy
      • Walkthrough the document
      • We should be aiming to staff a Green Research Director
        • And then staff underneath the director
          • Could be student workers or full-time employees
      • Short term goals
      • Long term goals
    • Chemical inventory - Stephanie
      • Central inventory funded by campus
      • Stuck out to Susan Martinis as an opportunity worth exploring
    • Engagement role out - Jen
      • Integrate it with the annual lab meetings with DRS staff to ensure safety compliance
        • A great point in time to evaluate opportunities with sustainability each year
        • Allows opportunity for face time with green research. Especially considering how busy PIs are
      • Lab audits - Stephanie
        • Are already quite long - DRS has a year-long timeline to get these done
        • Can sprinkle in sustainability opportunities here and can combine safety and sustainability (shut the sash)
      • Lunch & Learns are great in theory but maybe are not going to show strong attendance in practice
    • Where does this green research live? What does it tie into? - Jeremy
      • OVCRI, iSEE?
      • October timeline is best according to Susan, Madhu, and Ehab because spring is when budgeting takes place. Allows them to go and ask for funding
      • Extension is possible but the timeline for budgeting is improved if we can get it in by October
      • Chem inventory is digestible as we can save a lot of money if chemicals are better managed
        • Burden would be on the researchers to manage what comes in and out
        • Could argue for a person to do this, but Stephanie thinks it is more wise to ask campus to pursue purchasing a software and then researchers input the information
        • DRS does not have staffing or funds currently to do such a program
    • Funding Inventory software - Stephanie shared document

    Charge 2

    • Comprehensive certification program - Paul
      • My Green Lab already has an existing certification program
        • Flat rate for certifying a bulk number of labs (at Vancouver University, 50 labs certified for $10,000).
        • 160-170 topics that are over viewed
        • On a sliding scale (3 tiers)
        • Do a first round assessment and then come back in 6-12 months to reassess
        • Right now it does not extend beyond labs - not fieldwork or farms
          • Could still apply a lot of the stuff but we may need to do our own version of it for our labs
        • Need to be careful of the line between green labs and green research
          • Some labs are disadvantaged by the building itself
          • Want to be careful of not handcuffing researchers to achieve sustainability; they are doing important work
          • Think about behavior-based (recycling) rather than mechanical-based opportunities
        • Rewarding labs based on safety, too
          • Some only work with ethanol
          • Some work with 8,000 chemicals
          • May not be able to be audit-based for this reason
      • Could create our own that is more robust and custom to what we do at the university
      • Chad thinks the chemical inventory could tie into this portion well. Forcing the labs to take a look at what chemicals they have before purchasing more (if they are above the fire safety limit)
      • In Paul’s observations, PIs that are not included in the creation/design process mean very few labs will actually sign up
      • Opportunities to reward many:
        • Most occupant engaged building
        • Most improved building
        • Most energy saved building

    Charge 3

    • Really a facilities question, Tim is thinking.
    • Not on the researcher to be responsible for that
    • Funds are already strapped
    • Charge 3 is about how we prioritize funding for these.
    • Where do transportation costs fall?
      • Behavior-based changes like with carpooling
      • Cutting down airfare (zoom meetings)
      • Transportation of presenting research
        • Incentivize behaviors)
      • Electric vehicles
        • F&S sustainable transportation is tackling this topic currently - electric vehicles within the university fleet
        • Increasing charging infrastructure on campus
        • Figuring out how labs fit into this

    Homework

    • Leave comments and suggestions on the two documents presented today

     

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