Illinois ranked #44 in the Princeton Review's Top 50 Green Colleges list in 2022.

Top 50 Green Colleges | The Princeton Review

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Below is a snippet from Kathy's #Mailbag, from August 19th, 2022, published in the News-Gazette regarding the foliage on the University's main quad. Brent Lewis and Ryan Welch of UI Facilities and Services were featured and shared information on the history and approach to plantings on campus. 

The article can also be found at: https://www.news-gazette.com/toms-mailbag/kathys-mailbag-aug-19-2022/article_ae9f4d54-6f93-5a24-8551-e533204bf577.html

Younger trees on the UI Quad

"As I walked through the University of Illinois’ Main Quad recently, I noticed that most of the trees did not seem as old as I would expect. What is the history of the trees on the quad? Have there always been trees there? When were the current batch of trees planted?"

A short history, courtesy of grounds superintendent Ryan Welch and landscape architect Brent Lewis, both with UI Facilities & Services:

In 1929, the Board of Trustees took the advice of renowned landscape architect Ferruccio Vitale, who warned that planting a wide variety of trees on the Quad “would tend to minimize the impressiveness and the serenity of the planting design.”

Elm trees were a traditional choice that did well in local conditions. “No tree is more majestic nor better adapted in form and in scale to form the setting of the University's new buildings,” Vitale said. So the walkways on the Quad were lined with elms sometime around 1930. Over the years, they were lost to Dutch elm disease and phloem necrosis (elm yellows). The last elm trees were removed in 1956. 

The elms were replaced with thornless honey locusts. This tree was selected for its large mature size; light, dappled shade produced by the lacy foliage; tolerance to a wide range of soil conditions and drought; and yellow fall color. Only six honey locusts remain on the main quad from the 1956 planting.

A variety of native oak trees replaced trees that were removed. Most of the recent plantings include chinquapin, swamp white and bur oak.

The university’s current strategy is to diversify the tree plantings with native species and avoid overplanting any one type of tree. Welch and Lewis note that the current diversity of plantings on campus is “very high and is on par with most arboretums.”

Diversifying the campus’ tree inventory turned out to be a wise decision. Between 2015 and 2020, more than 500 of the UI’s ash trees – about 3% of the campus’ tree inventory – were removed due to the damage caused and risk posed by the emerald ash borer. The wide variety of trees on campus meant that the loss of even 500 ash trees did not leave large swaths of the campus looking barren.

Plant geeks may view the campus’ tree plan and get to the tree inventory database at http://go.fs.illinois.edu/tree.

The following is an email conversation between Anthony Spurlock and Ryan Hinz:

Good afternoon, RATIO has received review comments from the GBCI regarding the Design Submission for Demirjian Park Stadium.  They have reviewed the Renewable Energy Production Credit and have the following comments.

4. The uploaded documentation appears to be a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from the campus solar array “Solar Farm 2.0.” However, in order to qualify for this credit, the corresponding annual energy generation of the solar array must also be allocated to this project in addition to the RECs.

Provide a signed letter allocating the corresponding portion of the annual energy generation of the campus solar array exclusively to this project.

To obtain these 3 crucial points is it possible for the University to generate such a letter?  If not is there a narrative that can be provided that describes how energy generation is allocated from the solar array on campus we could submit for consideration?

Attached are the items that were uploaded with this credit form.

Thank you for your consideration.

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The Onsite Solar Generation document address the percentage (.35%), but you need this to say we are allocating it to the project?

Regards,

Tony

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Yes if possible.  A reference to the Onsite Solar Generation Document would also be helpful.

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Ryan,

See the proposed redlined changes at the bottom of the document.  Will this satisfy the requirements?

Regards,

Tony

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Yes Tony I believe this language satisfies their request.  Will you be sending me a signed final copy?

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Ryan,

See attached.

Regards,

Tony

Champaign County Bike to Work Day 2022 Registration is Open

Register for Bike to Work Day 2022, happening Wednesday, September 14th from 7-10 am!  (A rain date is scheduled for Friday, September 16th from 7-10 am.)

The 12th annual Champaign County Bike to Work Day is organized by the Champaign County Bike Month Planning Team, and is presented by major sponsors MTD, Bike at Illinois, and Carle.

There are 16 welcome stations this year, in Champaign, Urbana, on the U of I campus, Savoy, Mahomet, St. Joseph, and Rantoul!  Use this map to find the location that works best for you.

Register for the event at the most convenient location to you and come meet us and other bicyclists in the community to celebrate Bike to Work Day!  Grab a snack, get a free T-shirt, and consider making a donation to support bicycling in Champaign County!

​The 15th annual Light the Night bicycle light giveaway event is the next evening (Thursday, September 15, 2022) from 4-7 pm.  Lights will be available at three campus locations, and you must bring your bike to receive the lights.

Announcements are also posted at www.cubikemonth.org/ and the C-U Bike Month Facebook event.

See the included link to view the newsletter from the Office of Coroporate Relations.

Work Order (WO 10994256) created for Bike to Work Day event on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 from 7 - 10 am. for Public Functions to place Tables, Chairs, Recycling bins, Trash bins, Hand Sanitizing stations at the following locations:

1. Alma Mater Plaza - 4 Tables, 8 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
2. Campus Bike Center (Basketball Court Next To 51 E Gregory Dr, Champaign) - 4 Tables, 8 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
3. DRES (Intersection of Stadium And Oak) - 2 Tables, 4 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
4. Uni High (Stoughton St. And Mathews Ave.) - 4 Tables, 8 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
5. CRCE - 4 Tables, 8 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
6. Research Park (SE Corner of Intersection of First and St Mary's) - 2 Tables, 4 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
7. National Soybean Research Center (Pennsylvania and Dorner) - 2 Tables, 4 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
8. Orchard Downs (Near Front Office) - 2 Tables, 4 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station
9. Vet Med NW Drive Entrance On Lincoln Ave (Lincoln At Japan House West Side MTD Stop) - 2 Tables, 4 Chairs, 1 Trash, 1 Recycling Bin, 1 Hand Sanitizing Station

Please set up at all these locations by 6:30 am on September 14, 2022. You can bring everything back after the event ends at 10 am (so by 10:15 you can start removing these). I am confirming the exact location for Research Park and Vet Med locations.