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Projects Updates for theme: all

  2. CRTs and microwaves

    Associated Project(s): 
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)

    The old CRT TV’s and CRT monitors are routinely sent to the Surplus warehouses for disposal.  The University utilizes the State of Illinois contracted e-waste recyclers and items are sent directly vs. sent to Springfield.  FYI – starting October 1, 2016, the State and their e-waste recyclers started charging the University for the e-waste of CRT TV’s and CRT monitors.   But, based on a review of alternative paths for these e-waste items, the State e-waste recyclers continue to be the most cost-effective means of disposal of these items at this time.  UIUC can and should continue to let units know those CRT’s should be sent to surplus for processing using the standard equipment disposal request process through FABweb. 

    Because there is no longer a market for the leaded CRT glass, it’s very difficult for collectors and recyclers to sell all of the components of CRTs at this point, so fewer and fewer companies are willing to take them. See the Champaign County Electronics Recycling Guide at http://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/Brochure_Electronics%20Recycling%20Reuse%20Options_113016.pdf. Goodwill accepts CRTs from residents, but there’s no reason to take them there when they can be processed through the electronics recycling system the university has in place; that way they can also be easily/efficiently counted as part of the total amount of electronics that the university is recycling.

    Fully functional microwaves will be sent to Surplus as well, while the broken microwaves will be sent to Twin-City Recycling after the Surplus Coordinator issues a scrap ticket to the unit, after the unit has submitted a disposal request through Fabweb.

  6. Information Letter for Proposed Roadway Lighting Improvements Program

    Associated Project(s): 
    LED Campus
    LED Exterior Lights

    On May 11, 2017, the Public Works Department of City of Urbana issued a letter to the residents informing them about the construction of new street lighting that is planned for Illinois Street, Gregory Street, and Oregon Street and is scheduled to start this spring. The project is expected to end in late October 2017. The new streetlights will resemble the streetlights currently on Goodwin Avenue adjacent to the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts except the lamp will be a LED lamp instead of a metal halide lamp as is installed on Goodwin Avenue.  

    The proposed roadway lighting improvements are located along Oregon Street from Mathews Avenue to Lincoln Avenue, Gregory Street from Oregon Street to Illinois Street, and Illinois Street from Goodwin Avenue to Lincoln Avenue in the City of Urbana. The City of Urbana will oversee the construction of this project, which is presently being competitively bid.

    The project is expected to run from June through October.  Work will commence on Gregory Street, then move to Illinois Street, and finish on Oregon Street.

    Attached Files: 

  10. ENVS 301 students' presentations

    Associated Project(s): 
    Encourage Course Development or Modification
    Independent Student Projects
    Reduce Foodwaste
    Explore Options for 100 Percent Clean Campus Energy
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

    Attached are the presentations prepared by the students in ENVS 301. The course syllabus is also attached.

    Attached Files: 

  11. ECBS SWATeam meeting minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illini Lights Out
    Building-Level Energy Usage Report
    Green Lab Program
    Eco-Olympics
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    On the agenda at the ECBS SWATeam meeting:

    1) Status of our recommendations to iWG;

    2) Review of Illini Lights Out over the past year;

    3) Any final thoughts, recommendations for Eco-Olympics;

    4) Progress on building energy standards;

    5) Updates on the revolving loan fund (RLF) projects;

    6) Turning off computers.  Change in policy, at least at F&S.  Implications for Certified Green Office Program? 

    7) Building level energy consumption report summary;

    8) Good-byes and thanks to departing members.

    Attached Files: 

  12. Building level energy consumption report

    Associated Project(s): 
    Building-Level Energy Usage Report
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    The report is about behavior change messaging, which lets the occupants of each building see their consumption changes over time and it will motivate them to conserve energy. The goal of the report is to display “past-current-new” patterns of energy conservation change. The result will be a paper with recommendations how to motivate people to be more sustainable.

    The data for FY08-FY2016 was used.  The scope of the project are 175 buildings at the UIUC campus. Then the pilot project was about the Lincoln Hall. After Lincoln Hall, the work was started with the Soybean National Laboratory and the Illini Union.

     

    Attached Files: 

  13. Revolving Loan Fund projects approved

    Associated Project(s): 
    Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
    Retrocommissioning (RCx)
    LED Exterior Lights
    LED Campus
    Occupancy and Daylight Sensors
    Steam System Maintenance
    Building Maintenance Department Projects

    The Revolving Loan Fund selection committee has approved funding for all the viable RLF projects.  See attached image for list.

    Attached Files: 

  14. program update

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

    STYRECYCLE: During the spring 2017 semester, student volunteers collected more than 500 pounds of expanded polystyrene for recycling — bringing their total collected to nearly 900 pounds. In addition, this program is saying goodbye to a founding member and longtime leader. Thank you to Marco Tijoe for your two years of steering the ship!

  15. IBI update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI)

    ILLINOIS BIODIESEL INITIATIVE: This past semester, students produced 100 gallons of biodiesel fuel and 2 gallons of soap from waste vegetable oil. The soap-making subgroup is refining its soap recipe for use at campus dining halls, and the diesel subgroup is improving the production process to make higher-quality fuels.

  16. FY17 summary

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illini Lights Out

    During seven Friday evening “Illini Lights Out” events in the 2016-17 academic year, teams of student volunteers switched off more than 11,000 fixtures and closed windows in campus buildings around the Main Quad at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. One bulb at a time, this small action taken by more than 200 students saved campus about $3,400 in energy costs — not to mention lengthened the lifespan of several thousand lightbulbs.

  18. New York Times article on EVs

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

    New York Times article on electric vehicles (EVs):

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/04/automobiles/wheels/plug-in-electric-hybrid-automobiles.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FElectric%20and%20Hybrid%20Vehicles&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection.

  19. Phase Two Rates - UC Solar

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Urbana-Champaign
    Participate in Regional Green Teams

    The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has accepted the Solar Urbana-Champaign Advisory Committee’s recommendation and contracted with New Prairie Construction to install solar arrays for the second round of our group buy program.  MREA and New Prairie Construction have agreed to an amended fee schedule whereby New Prairie will be providing a rebate which will be paid to program participants who sign a contract for services by August 31, 2017 according to the following schedule: $.03/watt if the program reaches 50-150 kW of total capacity; $.06/watt for 150-250 kW; $.09/watt for installed capacity in excess of 250 kW. 

    Please keep an eye on solarurbanachampaign.com for more info.

  20. Weekly Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    C-U Bike to Work Day

    All, last week we totaled 99 visitors to the Campus Bike Center (I blame the rain). Our sales were at $1,104. We sold one Build-a-Bike; three refurbished bikes for $570; five memberships for $150; $102  in tires/tubes; and $93 in locks.

    Beyond the numbers, last week was a doozy! We had Bike To Work Day on Tuesday and it was a great success. While I haven’t heard any official numbers, I estimated about 50 or so people at our station. There were 400 official registrants online as of 6am the morning of BTWD. And of course, the chilly and windy weather probably kept a few people home. Lorenzo, a CBC staffer, was interviewed for a Fox Illinois news piece during the event.

    On Wednesday we had a CBC staff meeting/pizza party. 7/8ths of the CBC student staffers were able to make it and we had a  good discussion and reflection on the experiences of working at the Campus Bike Center and how we can improve looking towards the future of the Center.


    On a sad note, Friday I got news that staffer extraordinaire Logan will not be able to work at the CBC this summer, as he’s taking a job up in Minnesota. I will have to scramble a bit to find his replacement (an impossible task, given his skills and familiarity with the Center).

    This week I will be interviewing for summer help, building bikes, checking on our Housing donation racks, and juggling all the weird finals scheduling mess that throws off everyone’s normal shifts for working here.

    Sincerely,

    • Jake Benjamin
      Campus Bike Center Manager

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