You are here

Projects Updates for theme: all

  2. SSC Project Step 1 Approval

    Associated Project(s): 
    Rainwater Management Program

    Hi Betsy,

     

    On behalf of the SSC, I am glad to inform you that your Rainwater Managment Step 1 has been approved. I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations! 

     

    I've attached the necessary documents for your Step 2 application with a reminder that the deadline for it is on April 21. 

     

    The board had a few questions with regard to the budget and a more concrete timeline, which should be clarified once the Step 2 is turned in. I just wanted to give you a heads up on which sections to focus on. 

     

    Congratulations again and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. 

     

    Thank you,

     

    Liz Witek

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

    Hello Rainwater Management Plan team! The Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) accepted the Rainwater Management Plan grant Step 1 Application and requested the Step 2 application be completed by 4/21. I will need to submit it on Thursday 4/20 though because I am busy with Boneyard Creek Community Day (BCCD) planning activities on 4/21.

     

    Colleen and I have completed the Step2 application and am requesting that the team review it and provide comments to me this week. I plan to address all comments on Monday 4/17 because I will be out of the office in training on Tuesday and Wednesday and busy with BCCD on Friday.

     

    Brent, I was recommended to ask you to fill out the Budget and Timeline spreadsheet since you are the Planning designee for this effort, I attached a draft with what I know. I also included your name as the Financial Contact on the application. In the email below, SSC stated they have questions about the budget and a more concrete timeline which should be clarified on the spreadsheet. There are also questions under the application Financial Information section that Environmental Compliance cannot answer (highlighted yellow). If someone else in Capital needs to complete this spreadsheet and the application financial section please let me know today so I can ask for their assistance.  

     

    Thanks in advance for everyone’s help!

    Betsy

    Attached Files: 

  4. Building Energy Modeling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Models for Campus Facilities

    Hi Yun, Tom, and Joe,

     

    Here are the links for the original SWATeam recommendation, the iCAP Working Group assessment, the F&S response, and the link to the energy modeling page: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project-update/energy005-modeling-energy-code-compliance-successful.  The original recommendation is attached here, and the iWG assessment says, “We recommend that Facilities & Services assign a staff member from Capital Programs or Utilities and Energy Services (possibly from Design Review) to work with Dr. Yun Yi’s class to develop the related energy models, on a timeline that matches the academic course abilities.”

     

    This is the link directly to the Energy Modeling project page on the iCAP Portal:https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/energy-models-campus-facilities.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

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

    Hello All

     

    I like to follow up with our last discussion. 

    To check any update on the list of possible buildings for energy modeling next semester.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Yun,

     

    Apologies. This slipped off my radar for a bit. I will get those to you as soon as I can.

     

    Tom

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

    Yun,

     

    Here are some with interesting designs:

    1.       0409 – ECE – Chilled beam and dedicated outdoor air unit (DOAU). Energy recovery.

    2.       1517 – Design Ctr. – Passive chilled beam, variable air-volume (VAV), DOAU. Energy recovery.

    3.       1545 – Campus Instr. Fac. – Chilled radiant, hot radiant, and DOAU. Geothermal. Energy recovery.

     

    Here are some smaller ones that may be easier to complete/complete more:

    1.       0154 – Personnel Services Bldg. – Packaged chiller, steam perimeter heat, constant volume fan-coil units.

    2.       1528 – African Am. Cultural Ctr. – VAV.

    3.       1584 – RIPE Greenhouse – Packaged direct expansion (DX), geothermal.

     

    I hi-lighted the one with a complete native energy model on-hand (I modeled the building and performed several lifecycle cost analysis). Several of those have PDF energy files that could be used as a back-check or instructional piece if desired.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

     

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    Thanks for sharing a list with me. I am wondering if there is little more typical (education/office} buildings and with some meter data.

    Could you be able to recommend a few of the buildings in this criteria?

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

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

    Hi Yun,

     

    Most all of our buildings have metering at some level (minimum utility level). Some of the buildings we discussed and I was thinking of are:

     

    0339 – Temple Buell Hall – This one is big and has a complex initial design and re-commissioning history. Series-flow fan-powered VAV (original). Frankenstiened to VAV bu re-commissioning group.

    0209 – Speech and Hearing – AHUs replaced recently and a small/medium sized building. VAV.

    0075 – Children’s Research Ctr. - AHUs replaced recently and a small/medium sized building. Constant volume re-heat.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    Many thanks for the additional list. Sorry for the confusion, I meant real-time meter or sub-meter buildings that students can look into more detail.

    However, these buildings are good candidates for the class.

    I am wondering if F&S can share a building list that has some kind of information on building age, energy consumption, and buildings that have some type of energy model simulation outcome or results. 

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

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

    Hello Everyone,

     

    Hope everyone had a nice winter break. Sorry for the delay.

    The class went well and I have EnergyPlus models and reports from the students that I can share with you.

    I'd like to ask my TA to review the students' models to ensure they were done correctly before sending them to you.

    I hope you can wait a few more weeks, but I can send you the reports if you'd like to see them.

     

    Best

    Yun

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    Sorry for the delay. I thought that after getting tenured, I would have more time to work on the project, but I was wrong.

    Anyway, thanks for waiting. I have all the calibrated and reviewed DesignBuilder files and reports in the following folder.

    If you'd like, I can convert the DB file to an EPW file for your convenience.


    lease let me know if you'd like to discuss the outcome of the report.

    I'm happy to talk about the next group of buildings that we can model.

     

    Best

    Yun

  6. Illinois State Geological Survey Presentation 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Geothermal on Campus
    Geothermal at the Campus Instructional Facility (CIF)
    Sustainability Reports and Presentations
    Integrating Groundwater Resources and Geothermal Energy for Water-Energy Security and Resilience

    Presentation regarding the integrating groundwater and geothermal resources and applications on the UIUC campus.

    Attached Files: 

  7. 4-7-23 Housing + F&S meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Agenda:

    1. Alterations to the proposed locations for 20’ containers

    1. Removing 1 container at IKE.

    2. Determining if planters can be moved at PAR/FAR.

    1. Considering the parking lot (F-17) for

    2. Quotes for 5 20-foot containers (includes delivery and pick up)

    1. MI-BOX: $1,795

    2. StowAway: $1,499

    3. Paid with a P-Card? Still determining

    3. Advertisements

    1. 200 paper-sized advertisements for residence hall bulletins

    2. Advertisements for Housing’s digital boards - who should this be sent to?

    4. Banner

    1. Rough draft statement - any suggestions?

    2. Keep it evergreen - no dates, no company names, so it can be reused for future years. QR code can change information easily.

    3. Include University Housing and F&S logos at the bottom

    4. QR codes links to basic description of Dump & Run’s purpose (zero iCAP objective connection), comprehensive list of accepted items, info on bike donation to Campus Bike Center.

    1. Hosted on F&S website.

    5. Gaylords

    1. How many pallet/gaylords fit in a 20’ container?

    2. Does F&S have gaylords to contribute?

    3. Goodwill can contribute gaylords (take full, bring empty to replace).

    6. LAR, Busey-Evans

    1. How many boxes will be needed in these lobbies?

    2. F&S takes full boxes to PPSB Truck Bay, Goodwill, Salt & Light pick up from there.

    7. Volunteers

    1. 2 volunteers per storage unit

    2. Advertised to:

    1. Junior League of Champaign-Urbana

    2. Champaign County Forest Preserve

    3. Champaign County Master Naturalists

    4. Rotary Club of Champaign

    8. Food Donations

    1. Wesley Food Pantry wanting to discuss logistics.

     

     

    2023-04-07 recording of the meeting here in google drive.

     

  8. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - April 28, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • Fixed map marker popup formatting on Theme pages (e.g. Energy theme map)
    • Permissions:
      • Metric Tracking:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, iCAP Clerks
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Clerks
      • Metric Targets:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Clerks
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Clerks
    • Metric search/display (DEV):
      • Search text
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
        • Need to figure out how to display/search this... a metric can link to many projects, each with its own Primary Theme, so perhaps we should show each of them for the metric, a la the card collection we created for SSC?

    Discussion:

    • Question about a TODO: "Collections page: Add image upload option". At a previous meeting we had this TODO, but what was the context? Was it to have a thumbnail for each Collection? Or a banner image?
    • Should we link to "Take Action" project from homepage?
    • Archiving projects
      • Add "Archived" checkbox?
      • Add "Archived" to Visibility options?
      • Add "Archived" to Project Status options? (probably not - this mixes the status of the project itself with whether we still want it to show up on the site)
      • Remove from nested listings, still publicly available?

    TODO:

    • Header: remove "at" between UI and UC
    • Show "no content" message under Metric Chart when no tracking records exist
    • Look into Collection embedding again, à la Drawdown Solutions Library Sammy had found ("Filter by sector or area of action" section)
    • SSC project categories:
      • Education and Justice
      • Energy
      • Food and Waste
      • Transportation and Infrastructure
      • Land, Air, and Water
    • Metric search/display:
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
      • Most recent updates as of: (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
      • (Internal only) Last updated before (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Fancy project layout mockups - keep tweaking #3 to improve contrast
    • Discuss metrics
      • Metrics with lots of data
      • Consider how to handle old metrics that no longer track new data. Archive somehow?
      • Fun with math (e.g. combining multiple metrics)
      • Calculated Metrics on Dev site

  9. SECS divestment application to SSC

    Associated Project(s): 
    Fossil Fuels Divestment - Support Letter

    Hi Madhu and Ehab,

     

    FYI, Students for Environmental Concerns is requesting Student Sustainability Committee funding ($1,000.00) to develop a database of U of I investments, in relationship to divestment. 

     

    Madhu, this is sponsored by Yu-Feng Lin at PRI, but I don’t think he is aware of the history in these discussions.  Perhaps you would like to reach out to Yu-Feng, or touch base with Susan Martinis?  (I don’t know if small scale projects come through iSEE for funding approvals or only larger budget projects.)

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

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

    Just circling back on this – I did discuss this with Susan and will be meeting with Yu-Feng and Praveen Kumar to give them the background on this.

    Thanks

    Madhu

  12. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - April 7, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • Added last updated date on Project page
    • Project page:
      • Changed "Project History" heading to "Recent Project Updates"
      • Changed "View all project progress »" more link to "View all project updates »"
    • Removed user & date/time from search results
    • Added tracking date type (FY, monthly, etc.) to legend (e.g. Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts)

    Discussion:

    • Map marker popup display question (e.g. Energy theme map)
      iCAP Portal map marker popup screenshot
    • Question about a TODO: "Collections page: Add image upload option". At a previous meeting we had this TODO, but what was the context? Was it to have a thumbnail for each Collection? Or a banner image?
    • Should we link to "Take Action" project from homepage?
    • Archiving projects
      • Add "Archived" checkbox?
      • Add "Archived" to Visibility options?
      • Add "Archived" to Project Status options? (probably not - this mixes the status of the project itself with whether we still want it to show up on the site)
      • Remove from nested listings, still publicly available?

    TODO:

    • Metric search/display:
      • Search text
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
      • Most recent updates as of: (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
      • (Internal only) Last updated before (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Permissions:
      • Metric Tracking:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, iCAP Advocates
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
      • Metric Targets:
        • Add/update: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
        • Delete: iCAP Admins, iCAP Moderators, NOT iCAP Advocates
    • Fancy project layout mockups - keep tweaking #3 to improve contrast
    • Discuss metrics
      • Metrics with lots of data
      • Consider how to handle old metrics that no longer track new data. Archive somehow?
      • Fun with math (e.g. combining multiple metrics)
      • Calculated Metrics on Dev site

  13. Reminder: Environmentally Preferable Procurement (EPP) follow-up

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Procurement
    Adopt Environmental Indicators to Guide Purchasing Standards

    Hi all,

     

    This is a friendly reminder that we are scheduled to meet to discuss EPP tomorrow (Thursday) from 2 – 3 PM via Zoom (link below). Looking forward to speaking with you all then!

     

    Thanks,

    Meredith

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

    Good morning,

     

    Here is the current draft I’ve put together for the EPP Guide. I’ll be ready to discuss at our meeting this afternoon.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Aaron M Finder

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

    Good morning,

     

    I wanted to follow up to make sure this stays on everyone radar. Does anyone have anything to add to the attachment?

     

    Thank you,

     

    Aaron M Finder

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

    Hi Aaron,

     

    Thank you for following up on the EPP Guide last month. I am wondering what the current status is - are you still looking for feedback from us?

     

    Thanks,

    Meredith

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

    Hi Meredith,

     

    Syd was able to send over some comments but I am awaiting a responses from the others on this thread. If anyone has any recommendation for improvements or wants to forward this document to other UIUC stakeholders for their input, that would be appreciated. To ensure we maintain progress, could everyone have their comments in by 6/30/2022?

     

    Thanks,

     

    Aaron M Finder

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

    Hi all,

     

    Thanks for including me. I attached my comments. As I am joining this conversation late, you may have already discussed some of the issues that I raise. Generally, I think we could provide more specific criteria in some places. The UC System has a very detailed document that we could consult for guidance. I am not advocating for the stringent guidelines they use, but putting this out there as a nice resource:

     

    Happy to chat about this if desired.

     

    Thanks,

    Jen

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

     

    Hi Aaron,

     

    Can you provide a status update on the procurement document please?

     

    Thanks,

    Jen

     -------------------------

    Hi Jennifer,

     

    To date, I have only received comments from you and Pete’s former intern. I was hoping to receive more input from F&S as they will be the department most impacted. If F&S does not have further comment, we can work towards finalizing the document.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Aaron M Finder

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

    Hi Aaron and Jen,

     

    Please see the attached EPP document with additional comments from F&S.

     

    Thank you,


    Daphne

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

    Hi Morgan,

     

    Putting this back on the radar! This was the most recent document we have with our EPP guidelines, sent to Aaron Finder. Where should we go from here?

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

    Attached Files: 

  14. 4-4-23 Green Food Truck Meeting with Matt Riggs

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Food Truck Certification

    Attendance: Matt Riggs, Shreya Mahajan, Dominika Szal, Daphne Hulse

    Agenda:

    • Overview of the team's proposed interview questions for food trucks. Matt Riggs provided feedback:

      • Some food trucks share a commissary → might be useful to look into their commissary

        • Map out where the commissaries are

      • When food leaves truck, truck owners are not responsible for how its disposed (really falls on place its being consumed).

        • The truck has little incentive to fix this because it’s not their problem when it comes to how their food and containers are disposed.

      • Food trucks tend to place food in plastic bags, clam shells.

      • Ways to incentivize the proposition of sustainability:

        • Green Food Stamp, Sam's Club.

        • An effective cost analysis of changing from unsustainable materials (plastics, Styrofoam) to more sustainable (paper, cardboard). (must do before we start approaching the trucks. Look at Gordon's Food Service (this is where they buy their materials, likely).

        • Make sure to address their concerns when they bring up whether the alternative material is flimsy or keeps heat in effectively.

      • Matt thinks that food truck owners may not have a good idea of how recycling works.

      • Start off with what we want to achieve (sustainability for “to-go, take out, food truck” businesses)

        • Then go into cost analysis sheet with sustainability score.

        • “Would you be interested in joining a pilot program where we can feature your truck on a list?”

      • Meet the owners at their trucks, buy from them, and discuss during a less busy time of day.

  15. Geen Research Commitee 1st meeting

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

    April 5, 2023 Green Research Committee (Kick Off) Meeting 1

    Present: Lisa Moore, Daphne Hulse, Stephanie Hess, Jeremy Neighbors, Jennifer Fraterrigo, Chad Stevens, Shari Effert-Fanta, Sabrina Summers, Morgan White, Mitchell Bryant, Timothy Mies, Maisie Kingren, Paul Foote, Patty Jones, Susan Martinis, Madhu Khanna

    Absent: Ehab Kamarah

    Charge:

    • Look at what others do.
      • Makes it less onerous.
      • Check in with our peer institutions
    • Check in with our iCAP.
    • Structure what we come up with in short- and long-term goals. We have a tight timeline and a broad objective overall.

    Discussion:

    • Two graduate students joined, which is very valuable to us.
    • Deadline to show ideas and progress and present to Ehab, Madhu, and Susan, by May. Jeremy & Stephanie will give this update and summarize what is discussed now and a general timeline going forward.
    • Morgan’s been thinking about this for 7 or 8 years, and is excited to see it come to fruition. The core is that researchers are making huge changes and breakthroughs to address climate change but we’re still buying plastic and throwing it away, leaving fume hoods open, etc. How to integrate it into research without jeopardizing the research itself, is the question to explore.
    • Messaging must be very cautious to balance safety with sustainability.
    • Opportunity to review the iCAP 2020 or 2015 objectives to identify how it applies today.
    • Green Research as opposed to Green Labs: allows us to be more broad in our approach.
    • Paul Foote spent a year just doing a Green Labs Program so he has tremendous experience and background knowledge on the subject. Don’t reinvent the wheel. I2SL, My Green Lab are good resources to look at.
    • Mitchell: Not a lot of knowledge about how to dispose of waste safely (information deficit), so he sees a lot of improper disposal as a student. A lot of opportunity for energy reduction in labs. Concerted effort across campus is necessary, but can we add the carrot (incentive) as well?
    • Tim: ACES, South Farms, see inconsistency with how waste is disposed of. Some go through Waste Transfer, others go through Area Disposal. Researchers want to do the right thing, but most people are strapped on time “how do I do it versus how do I have time in the day?” Growth chamber: big refrigerator with a lot of light bulbs. Remove the heat from lamps. Some people don’t turn them off - maintenance or researchers just forgetting. Think of a way to incentivize this? Support the researchers as much as possible.
    • Mitchell thinks is very much falls on the individual to ensure they are following the right instructors (don’t pour stains down the sink, etc.).
    • On Stephanie’s mind is a culture change for safety. How can they improve the culture of safety on campus? There is simultaneously a sustainability culture we need to grow, too.

    How to accomplish this:

    • The charge letter had three different goals:
      • Break into three groups and each would tackle one of those before the next meeting.
        • On-site wet and dry research labs, off-site UIUC research labs, agriculture land and field sites
        • Develop a program whereby groups and departments can qualify for a Green Lab or Green Research certification. Contribute to the iCAP goals.
        • Outline a framework to recommend building-specific plans for safe energy conservation
    • Sub-teams in Teams is how we will communicate among our teams.
    • Cadence of meetings?
      • Big meeting once per month, small groups on the week between (each team has a delegate for scheduling meetings for their group)
      • October deliverables - so we have until the end of September to work
    • Resources to carry this out
      • Anything that will require funding we will need to state, justify, estimate cost, expected impact from the investment.
    • Consider reward packages for research groups.
      • Rewarding research groups will be key, according to Donald Stevens
    • Paul will put together a sheet of how funding in the past has worked, for projects he’s been involved with. Give the group an idea of how we can tap into funds.
    • Stephanie: think about connections you have, things you can tap into.
      • Ex: TV screens in lab settings for safety communication. Interest from researchers for this, especially if they can get it for free. A way to communicate without needing paper. Where can we ask for favors?
    • Jen’s concern: how can we get voices from other researchers on campus and oversee labs: find opportunities and barriers?
      • Paul: successful programs have Green Ambassadors who can be a voice for the labs and can brainstorm together what will work for different labs.
      • Group agrees that more faculty PIs should be included in the conversation.
    • Donald & Morgan discussion on zero growth space policy - Capital - comes from Deferred Maintenance than any sort of energy-related issue.
    • Mitchell Bryant: attending a seminar tomorrow on this topic and will post his notes in Teams

  18. Weekly Update: Earth Month, Nice weather

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Happy Earth Month! Weather is picking up in the next week or two, so we’ll see how that impacts visit numbers. Still working our way through the warehouse bikes and our for sale bikes are hovering around 20. Other than that, business as usual.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 36

    Sales: $612.75
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $360
    Membership: 3 for $90

    Tires/tubes: 6 for $35.75

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

Pages