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Projects Updates for theme: all

  1. Update from Eric

    Associated Project(s): 
    Broaden Sustainability Education

    Below is an update from Eric Green:

     

    We plan to have some educational pieces included in the sustainability literacy asessment being sent out this summer. The team has investigated and abandoned the idea of creating an ACE-IT/FYCARE type program as well as integration into the 100/101 courses. However, the sustainability gen. ed. should also help with this objective.

     

  2. Aquaponics Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bevier Café’s - Aquaponics System Demonstration Unit
    Illini Urban Farmers Hydroponics System

    Below is an update from Carter Phillips:

     

    The aquaponics system is still running strong and providing product to be served by our students at the Bevier Café.  In the last year we have been working on the Illini Urban Farmer RSO taking over production and maintenance of the system. This allows for a unique learning experience for any student interested in aquaponics and urban farming.

  5. Update from Betsy

    Associated Project(s): 
    Rainwater Management Plans

    Below is an update from Betsy Richardson:

    I am not on the icap resilience team committee however when the Farnsworth consultant is ready to share information with the surrounding cities MS4 leaders I will invite the consultant to the quarterly MS4 stormwater meeting (tentatively this fall or winter). I will also invite someone from the icap resilience team to the meeting, if anyone on this email knows the correct resilience team contact, please let me know. The city of Champaign, Urbana and the village of Savoy already have stormwater master plans so our hope from this collaboration is to share information and to attempt to align some of our stormwater goals.

  7. Weekly Update: Abandoned bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Shortened week with Memorial Day. Otherwise, business as usual. Subpar donations are still trickling in, so we’re able to continue to pass those along to Habitat. Took a week break on the barn bikes but will be ramping that back up this week. I believe the tagging of abandoned bikes on campus has begun, so we’ll likely get calls/emails about that in the coming weeks.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 28
    Sales: $656
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $365
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $60
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $55

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  9. Weekly update: Bike donations

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Last week, with the Bike Project, we were able to donate 20 or so bikes to a nonprofit church group that will send the bikes overseas. These were all bikes that would’ve otherwise been in the scrap yard, so it’s less work for us and helps keep more bikes out of the waste stream—a win-win! We continue to donate kids bikes to Habitat for Humanity as we do not have the storage space to keep those until our winter giveaway.

    Got a couple more new hires on board and learning the ropes.

    This week is business as usual as we try to replenish our sales stock.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 28
    Sales: $656.00
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $$365
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $60
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Tires/tubes: 5 for $55

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  11. Bird Strike Survey Website

    Associated Project(s): 
    Preventing window-strike bird fatalities with energy efficient window decals

    Help document bird collisions with windows

    Millions of birds die annually from striking buildings, a global conservation issue. The U. of I. bird strike survey aims to document and prevent bird strikes. If you're a student, staff or faculty member at U. of I. interested in documenting strikes, contact jmokeefe@illinois.edu or vandoren@illinois.edu. We'll provide a phone-based app and protocol. Learn about the student-led effort here.

  13. Weekly Update: Summer hours

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, First week of M/W/F was fine in terms of meeting demand. Not a lot of people in, but we did steadily sell bikes to summer session folk. Had one person start a build-a-bike. Interviewed a potential student staff hire, and will have a few returning staff starting this week.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 38
    Sales: $1,307
    Bikes (refurb): 5 for $800
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Tires/tubes: 6 for $57

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  14. Recycling Bin Update 04/01/24

    Associated Project(s): 
    Outdoor Recycling Bin Update

    Hi Todd & Mark,

    I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to reach out & reconnect on the topic of the black, metal outdoor bins. I believe we have 18 identified locations approved by Brent Lewis ready to be installed as soon as the shops are able (locations attached) – these all require concrete poured. We then have  ~56 more stored primarily in the Buenting Barn that we have not yet identified locations for, but will very shortly. Some of them will require concrete and others will not. We have WO# 10814481 for this project.  Pete is hoping to have the whole process wrapped up by June 30, 2024. I just wanted to put this back up on the radar and get a sense of whether we will be able to get these all installed by summer?

    I will be in contact soon regarding the locations of the remaining bins.

    Thank you!
    Daphne

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

    Good morning Daphne,  Mark forwarded your email to me.  When you send the lists of locations out, please be sure to copy all that are on this email.

    In response to your question below of completion by June 30 that is not possible.  Also, without knowing all of the locations it is difficult to give you an answer as to what the completion timeframe would be.  Below are the two scenarios depending on the proposed locations of the bins.

    Installing the bins on existing concrete:

     1.   Ironworkers can go to the site with the bins/post with two guys and install the anchors and the bins in 2-3 crew hours (4-6 hours total with two guys).

    Installing the bins on newly placed concrete:

     1.  This process will begin with the labor supervisor going to the site and marking the location.  1-2 hours
     2.  The utility marking crew would then be notified, and they have a 48 hour window to locate utilities.  1-2 hours
     3.  Laborers and operators go to the site and dig out the spot and place rock. 3-4 crew hours
     4.  Cement finishers form and pour the concrete and it needs to cure for at least 48 hours.  3-4 crew hours
     5.  Ironworkers can install the anchors and the bin once concrete has cured. 2-3 crew hours

    Depending on how closely the locations are to each other they may prepare 2 or 3 at once and rotate through those with the different steps above.  However, that is not always possible.

    I hope this helps to see how the two differ in time needed and to see how it really gets involved when the location requires new concrete.

    Please let me know if you have any questions.



       Thank you,

     [Illinois]
      Tim Mininger
       Maintenance Program & Project Coordinator

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

    Hi all,

    I am sharing out 11 more locations which have been approved by Brent & Stacey. Please see attached, and please let me know if I can provide any additional information. I will continue to send out locations as I receive approval.

    Thank you,
    Daphne

    Justin, 

     

    You can have Burzin work on this when he comes in, if you like.

     

    Thanks

    Chad

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

    Hi all,

     

    We have completed all outdoor bin location proposals. With all the photos it is a large document, so I have placed it on a shared Box. Please let me know if any of these locations need further clarification.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

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

    Daphne and Tim,

     

    Once the additional bin locations are approved for installation let us know and we will get them added/updated in GIS.

     

    Tim,

    As your team completes installs let us know and we will collect “as-installed” location plus an image for GIS.

     

    Daphne,

    We’ve added the dual bins installed to date along with an image to GIS…(sample below)

     

     

    Attached Files: 

  16. 05/03/24 Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Grind2Energy

    Hi Daphne,

     

    Have you had any discussion with Housing dining about piloting composting in their catering operations?

     

    I believe we could encourage them to lead a pilot for that.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan 

     

    ==================

     

    Hi Morgan,

     

    I just spoke with Thurman today during our final iCAP ZW team meeting, and he has informed me that Dining will be moving their catering operations from Housing Food Stores to Florida Avenue Residence Hall while HFS undergoes construction. For that year, they will use FAR’s existing Grind2Energy. When they move Catering back to HFS, they intend to have a sixth Grind2Energy installed there and ready to use.

     

    Thank you,

    Daphne

  18. 05/13/24 Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Increase Recycling Rates

    We are using the blue bags in all the buildings. That is the expectation but it is possible a few here and there use black bags in containers as we had some complaints on the size didn’t fit.  

    Thanks 

    Mark Kuehl

     

    Hi Mark,


    Do you know what the status of the colored bag transition is across the residence halls? E.g., how many have transitioned so far?

    Thank you,
    Daphne

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