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Projects Updates for theme: all

  1. Coordinating Community Stormwater Management with Extension and Student Assistance

    Associated Project(s): 
    Build Resilience with Our Local Community
    Green Infrastructure
    City of Champaign Plans
    Rainwater Management Plans
    Support Regional Sustainability

    January 11, 2023

     

    A University team consisting of Brodie Dunn and Lisa Merrifield (Extension), Linda Derhak (DURP student), and Stacy Gloss met with Lacey Rains Lowe and Jeff Marino from the City of Champaign to talk about working together to coordinate rainwater management efforts. Champaign sees a gap in resources for commercial developers related to innovative stormwater management applications. The team identified stormwater utility fee incentives as a possible leverage point for developers, but current incentives do not seem to be sufficient. Linda will begin to inventory cities with stormwater utility fees for innovative practices for engaging commercial developers. Brodie will propose revisions to the approved plant and tree list for Champaign to encourage use of native and more beneficial non-native plant species. Lisa will reach out to planners from Urbana and Savoy and will schedule a meeting for mid-February to discuss progress and identify next steps.

  2. 2024 Campus Bike Plan update: collaboration with Department of Urban Planning

    Associated Project(s): 
    2014 Campus Bike Plan [ARCHIVED]
    2024 Campus Bike Plan
    Independent Student Projects

    Sarthak Prasad met with Marc Doussard, the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) Director, to talk about MUP capstone and how their students can assist with this project. Marc said they can bring this project to the class int he fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters and assist in the update.

    Bumsoo Lee also mentioned that he has an undergraduate student who is very interested in helping out with this project in the spring 2023 semester.

  4. Weekly Update: Shop re-open, Law school orientation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Last two weeks we’ve been closed so no sales/visit numbers. TBP members and I moved bikes from the warehouse, and I’ve been checking over the 30 or so new bikes for damage. Sarthak and I tabled at the Law School’s orientation last Thursday.

    This week we reopen. We’ll be open M/W/F 2 – 6p for the winter months and bump back to 5 days a week after spring break when the weather warms up.

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  5. Nathaniel Nevins to help with the Campus Bike Plan update

    Associated Project(s): 
    2014 Campus Bike Plan [ARCHIVED]
    2024 Campus Bike Plan
    Independent Student Projects

    Sarthak Prasad met with Nathaniel Nevins, high school senior, on Tuesday January 17, 2023. Nathaniel is going to help with the Campus Bike Plan update. He is going to read the 2014 Campus Bike Plan by February 15, 2023, and read both the progress reports for Campus Bike Plan by February 28, 2023. He is also going to suggest ideas for the update. Nathaniel will be volunteering over the spring semester. Following information was shared with him:

    Here is the link to the iCAP Portal: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/

    Here is the 2014 Campus Bike Plan: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/files/project/37/2014%20Campus%20Bicycle%20Plan.pdf

    Here is the 2022 report: Campus Bike Plan progress report FY22

    Here is the 2019 report: 2019 Report for 2014 Campus Bicycle Plan

  6. Resilience iCAP Team January Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Urban Biodiversity Master Plan

    Resilience iCAP Team had its first virtual meeting of the Spring 2023 semester on Tuesday, January 10th, at 10:30 AM. Cheryl Bicknell is the new Facilities & Services representative of the team. At the meeting, the Biodiversity Master Plan project student intern Gabriel Harper-Hagen gave a brief overview of the biodiversity plan and shared his progress through an extensive update document. Afterward, the team discussed its goals for this semester. 

    The full recording of the meeting can be found here

    Meeting minutes are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

  7. planning for the next bike plan

    Associated Project(s): 
    2014 Campus Bike Plan [ARCHIVED]
    2024 Campus Bike Plan

    Morgan and Sarthak discussed the timeline for the next Campus Bike Plan.  The 2014 plan was completed in 2014 and formally approved in March 2015 by Chancellor Wise, with an end date of 2024.  We should have the new plan approved before the end of December 2024.  It would be great to have it available to present during Sustainability Month October 2024, and get formal approval through the Sustainability Council and/or CCRC in November/December 2024.  Thus, the goal is to have a plan ready for routing for approval in summer 2024.

  10. Sustainability Literacy Assessment link access

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Literacy Assessment
    Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)

    The following is an email sent by Meredith Moore on Jan 12, 2023 to Elizabeth Murphy, Jennifer Fraterrigo, Morgan White, Daphne Hulse, and Anthony Mancuso:

    Hi all,

     

    I want to make sure you all have editable access to the Sustainability Literacy Assessment: https://forms.gle/aUyZjxKT7FF8b8fP7. There is no rush on getting this published (I recommend doing a pre- and post-assessment before spring 2025 to optimize AASHE STARS points).

     

    Thanks,

    Meredith  

  11. Meeting with U of Vienna

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach

    Madhu Khanna, Jennifer Fraterrigo, Meredith Moore, and Morgan White met with Christoph Kecht and his team from the University of Vienna, which was the first climate neutral university in Austria.  We shared information about our UIUC iCAP programs and they shared information about their efforts and the attached report.

    Attached Files: 

  12. iWG Meeting Minutes 12-12-22

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Green Sports Alliance (GSA)
    Education iCAP Team
    Engagement iCAP Team

    The iWG met on 12-12-22 and discussed the following agenda. The meeting minutes are attached. 

    1. Brief introductions
    2. LW004 Monarchs Need Milkweed
      1. Jen to transmit to F&S
    3. Education008 Sustainability in Study Abroad
    4. Engagement003 Sustainability Ambassador Program  
    5. Engagement004 ADV498 Sustainability Campaign Partnership
    6. Engagement005 DIA and Green Sports Alliance

    Next meeting:

    1. ZW009 Project4Less Expansion (Jamie to talk with Alma)
    2. Res004 Student Support for Coordinated Rainwater Management Plan
    3. Energy010 Establishment of a Clean Energy Plan Conference Committee
    4. Energy011 Priority Technologies and Practices for a Clean Energy Plan
    Attached Files: 

  14. F&S Zero Waste Coordinator succeeding as primary coordinator for Dump and Run

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Daphne Hulse and Morgan White met on 1/9/23 to discuss the history of UIUC-University YMCA Dump and Run events. Daphne will succeed as the primary coordinator for these future events. Daphne will meet with Marc Alexander (YMCA's Dir of Development and Membership), one of the previous UIUC Dump and Run coordinators, on 1/19/23 to discuss best practices for event coordination.

  15. EV steering committee - Confirmed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Electric Vehicle (EV) Task Force

    On January 10, 2023, University of Illinois Parking department finalized the Electric Vehicle (EV) steering committee. This committee includes

    • Marty Paulins
    • Maria McMullen
    • Paul Slezak
    • Stacey DeLorenzo
    • Jim Brennan
    • Sarthak Prasad
    • Morgan White
    • Meredith Moore
    • Jen Fraterrigo
    • Ria Kontou
    • Brian Finet
    • Shawn Patterson
    • Dave Lancaster
    • Mary McElvain
    • Tyler Swanson
    • Steve Bainbridge
    • Yanfeng Ouyang
    • Kelly Jo Hoffman

  17. ISTC sends the revised proposal to F&S

    Associated Project(s): 
    Waste Stream Characterization Study Phase 3

    From: Scrogum, Joy Joann <jscrogum@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 5:39 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Samaras, Zach <zsamaras@illinois.edu>; Feher, Savannah <sfeher@illinois.edu>; Jacobson, Debra F <djacobso@illinois.edu>
    Subject: Revised proposal for UIUC waste audit

     

    Daphne, as promised based on our conversation yesterday, attached is a revised version of the proposal for the campus waste audit. The attached is the same as the previous version of the proposal except for the following changes:

    • Mention of “tiers” has been removed from the text. What had previously been described as “Tier I,” along with its associated activity zones and buildings, is now the exclusive focus of the proposal. Estimated total project costs are those previously shown for the Tier I option ($37,958).
    • The timeline has been shifted so that the project starts in the Fall 2023 semester, as requested. We’ve preserved the same total number of months (seven) for the project, so the timeline now begins in August 2023 and ends in February 2024. If/when you’ve applied for and received matching funds from SSC, we can revisit the timeline if needed to address any reporting deadlines associated with SSC funding.
    • Kealie Vogel has been removed from the list of ISTC personnel and staff bios. A placeholder (“TBD, Senior Scientific Specialist”) has been included instead for her forthcoming replacement.

     

    Please let me know if you have any questions or if additional adjustments are needed. If we can provide a letter of support or any other assistance to you as you prepare your application for SSC funds, we’re happy to help!

     

    Best wishes,

    Joy

     

    Joy Scrogum
    Assistant Scientist, Sustainability
    LEED Green Associate | Sustainability Excellence Professional (SEP)
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Prairie Research Institute
    Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC)
    Champaign, IL 61820
     

    Attached Files: 

  18. Electric vehicle steering committee

    Associated Project(s): 
    Electric Vehicle (EV) Task Force

    Below is an email exchange between Maria McMullen and Marty Paulins:

    Dear Colleagues,

     

    Parking is in the process of forming a steering committee to develop university standards and policies regarding electric vehicle charging stations on the UIUC campus.  We will be partnering with Desman Consulting to develop the document and recommendations.  You are receiving this email because we would like you to serve on the steering committee.  We have worked with various divisions within F&S to identify individuals who have expressed interest, and who have in-depth knowledge of university infrastructure and systems.  Please let us know if you want to serve on this committee by next Friday, October 14, and we will set-up a time to meet in the next couple of weeks.

     

    Thank you,

     

    Marty

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

     

    Good morning,

     

    Thank you for agreeing to serve on the EV steering committee. You should have received an invitation to a folder in Box containing the parking study done by Desman. I have also attached it to this email. Please review this document and provide your feedback.

     

    Warmly,

     

    Maria S. McMullen

    Attached Files: 

  19. 1-9-23 Internal Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola

    On January 9, UIUC sustainability representatives met and discussed the following:

    Attendees: Shawn Patterson, Aaron Finder, Pete Varney, Bryan Johnson, Marty Kaufmann, Meredith Moore, Steve Breitwieser, Jen Fraterrigo, Thurman Etchison, Daphne Hulse, Julie Wurth, Tony Mancuso

    Agenda:

    Spring 2023 Overview:

    • Don’t Waste Campaign

      • “Don’t Waste Wednesdays”

          • Split contribution: iSEE, F&S, Housing/Dining, Illini Union, DIA each take one Wednesday per month

          • Task: units share initiatives/success stories on their social media platforms

          • Purpose: establish a shared social media presence around waste initiatives/sustainability

            • Concept of waste can be applied in many contexts: Illini Lights Out (energy waste), Grind2Energy (food waste)

    • Meeting cadence with Coca-Cola:

      • Once a month, end of the month, Tues-Thurs, early afternoon

      • Can increase the meeting frequency ahead of events

    • Big Ten men’s basketball game: next zero waste basketball event:

      • Target date: February 23 (Northwestern) or March 2 (Michigan)

      • F&S: Daphne to lead coordination/execution, F&S CR&C to assist with publicity

      • iSEE: tap into student volunteer network (75-100), assist with publicity

        • Jen: ahead of the game, strategize with Coca-Cola + Daphne on metric tracking (beyond diversion rate). What else can be measured?

      • DIA: venue logistics

      • Coca-Cola: digital/physical signage, giveaway items, t-shirts (tap into sustainability funds, ~$3k used last semester for shirts)

    • On the horizon

      • iCAP Zero Waste Team: creating a football tailgate recycling roadmap for fall 2023

    Discussion:

    • Determining the revenue of water bottles sold at Athletic events:
      • Athletic kiosks should have transactional knowledge of what is sold.
        • Marty can figure out how sustainability can communicate for purchasing data,
    • For Athletics social media for the Don't Waste Wednesdays campaign, Leigh McGuirk oversees it.
    • To host another zero waste game in spring, we need to be cognizant of the Orange Krush, Krush Cancer event which will be one of the Big Ten games.
    • Athletics can support us doing the recycling event at least on the operational side,
      • We probably cannot have the extent of support as we did the first time: Orange Krush area/t-shirt toss won't happen.
    • Think about sorting after the fact - can we get that recovery rate, or is the lift too high?
    • Athletics stance on bringing in reusable cups: you can bring a clear plastic water bottle (empty) into the facility.
      • Seems like its an issue of communication. tim knox had said its 50/50 possibility of getting it in. it’s because they really rely on their door security which can be interpreted in different ways (supposed to be clear, and unsealed. some people brought vodka in).
      • Incentivize bringing it in, but it depends on how much athletics can get that message out on top of everything else.
      • The clear bag policy is sent out when you purchase a ticket from athletics (SFC), but its a question of whether people actually read through it.

  20. Mayoral Proclamation for February 4 2023 as Mudpuppy Day

    Associated Project(s): 
    Land Conservation Foundation

    On January 9, the Mayor of Monticello, Larry Stoner, declared through a mayoral proclamation, that February 4, 2023 is officially Mudpuppy Day in Monticello: 

    "WHEREAS the mudpuppy, a state threatened species, is found in the waters of the Sangamon River near Monticello; and 

    WHEREAS the presence of the mudpuppy is a sign of a healthy river; 

    WHEREAS the Land Conservation Foundation's annual Mudpuppy Festival invites the community to celebrate this remarkable creature and the waters where it lives." 

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