iSEE has issued a call for proposals to support interdisciplinary research projects related to sustainability, energy, and environment, as well as for its Campus as a Living Lab (CALL) program for projects related to Illinois Climate Action Plan goals.

The iSEE seed funds are available to promote research collaborations among faculty and scientists across campus that will improve their potential for attracting external support. Research teams working in any of the five thematic areas of interest to iSEE can use the funding to collect preliminary data or other information and to develop a strong proposal that can be submitted for external funding through the Institute in 2022-23.

A successful proposal will involve applicants from at least two different disciplines and two different departments and is limited to a maximum of $30,000 for a year. The deadline is Nov. 9, 2021.

See the attached file for the iQ Fall 2021 to read this article in its original form.

After more than a yearlong hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, Illini Lights Out (ILO) is back and better than ever.

The popular monthly event, which started in 2016, has averted the equivalent of more than 200 metric tons of carbon dioxide and saved campus more than $28,000.

iSEE Intern Jenna Schaefer scheduled four events for the Fall 2021 semester, and thus far the results speak for themselves.

At the official ILO relaunch in September, 86 Illinois students turned off 2,636 light bulbs in a dozen campus buildings for the weekend, saving 4,547.1 kilowatt hours of energy, 3.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and $382.41 in energy bills.

And on Oct. 22, more than 185 students turned off 3,266 bulbs in 23 campus buildings, saving more than 5,600 kWh, 4 metric tons of greenhouse gases, and nearly $475 for the weekend.

iSEE has ILOs planned for Nov. 12 and Dec. 3 — and Spring 2022 dates are in the works.

View a feature story and short video on ILO. Or, see the attached file for the iQ Fall 2021 to read this article in its original form.

Because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, iSEE transformed iSEE Congress Fall 2021, “Circular Food Systems,” into an online format. Congress became a series of one-hour Zoom webinars in October and November.

The eighth iSEE Congress returns to the topic of feeding the world: providing a safe, secure supply of food and fuel to an ever-increasing human population using agricultural practices that are ecologically sustainable and adaptable to climate change. Speakers were invited to offer cutting-edge thinking about advancing the sustainability of our agricultural and food systems. The sessions:

• Oct. 19: “21st Century Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture,” featuring Ken Cassman, the Robert B. Daugherty Emeritus Professor of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska; and Girish Chowdhary, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Computer Science at Illinois.
• Oct. 27: “Transforming Food Systems for a Circular Economy,” co-sponsored and co-hosted by the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) and endorsed by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). Speakers included Bruno Basso, MSU Foundation Professor of Crop Modeling and Land Use Sustainability, Michigan State University; James Jones, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Systems Modeling, University of Florida; Charles Rice, Distinguished Professor of Soil Microbiology, Kansas State University; and David Zilberman, Robinson Chair and Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Berkeley.
• Nov. 3: “How Can We Reduce Waste from Agricultural and Food Systems?” featuring Brian Roe, Van Buren Professor of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Ohio State University; and Tom Theis, Professor of Civil, Materials & Environmental Engineering and Director of the Institute for Environmental Science and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago.
• Nov. 9: “Turning Agricultural Waste into Usable Products,” featuring Thomas Trabold, Research Professor at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology; and Yuanhui Zhang, Founder Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Illinois.

More details on the Congress webpage. And, see the attached file for the iQ Fall 2021 to read this article in its original form.

Attached is the link to the UIUC's participation and the Illinois e-News Release. 

https://pathways.mste.illinois.edu/curriculum/energy

Illinois e-News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2021                                Contact: Kim Biggs
                                                              217-558-1536
                                                              Kim.Biggs@illinois.gov

Illinois EPA and University of Illinois at Introduce Online Curriculum Focusing on Energy

Annual Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest to Follow Unit

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education (MSTE) have again partnered to create a new online science curriculum unit for fifth and sixth grade educators: How does a bulb light? The unit helps students explore energy, electricity use, and power sources and how they relate to climate change. The Illinois EPA’s Annual Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest theme “Get Energized About Slowing Down Climate Change!” will follow the new curriculum.

Educators, parents, and caregivers are asked to introduce these topics using the newly developed free, online curriculum. The unit is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Following the unit, students are asked to create posters or written works for the Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest related to the theme’s focus. Entries must be submitted to the Illinois EPA by February 1, 2022. Additional information on the Contest can be found at: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/education/contest/Pages/default.aspx.

“Educators and students have faced numerous challenges as they have adapted to hybrid, remote, and in-classroom learning. It is our hope these virtual opportunities allow students to continue to grow their knowledge of the environment and the importance of protecting it,” said Illinois EPA Director John Kim. “This year’s unit is especially relevant to current events related to climate change, and we are excited to see it translated to pieces of art and written work for the upcoming Contest.”

How does a bulb light? will help students investigate the everyday phenomenon of an electric light turning on. Students will observe two strings of LED lights turn on, one being powered by battery and the other by plugging into a wall outlet. Students will record their observations and “wonderings,” which will drive the flow of the unit as students plan and carry out their own investigations to answer their questions. This will include investigating electricity production and delivery, when and how to conserve, and recent and future changes in the energy system, including changes in transportation energy demands. The curriculum is available online to teachers and parents at https://pathways.mste.illinois.edu/curriculum/energy. 

Illinois EPA is proud to again partner with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Office of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education to expand the Environmental Pathways curriculum. Earlier units developed through this partnership include “Where does my food go?” and “Why is the pond green?,” which can be found at: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/education/Pages/pathways.aspx.

Information about all of Illinois EPA’s environmental education programs can be found at: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/education/Pages/default.aspx, or by contacting Kristi Morris, Environmental Education Coordinator for the Illinois EPA by email at Kristi.Morris@illinois.gov.

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Dhruv and Ali provided the following answers to Sterling with SafeTraces:

Q1: Please provide PDFs of the full floor plan layout drawings for the entire building. Be sure to include 
square footage for each room and common areas. It is also very important to identify operable windows, if any? 

A1: Floor plans with room areas attached. 
Following files are attached for floor plans 
B0300-01-11X17 Astronomy Building-(1st floor plan)-2021 
B0300-02-11X17 Astronomy Building-(2nd Floor plan)-2021 
(current/anticipated occupancy assumptions would be helpful) 

 

Q2: What are the Astronomy Building's normal hours of operation?

A2: Monday to Friday (0800 hrs-1700 hrs.). Saturday and Sunday the building is locked. 

Q3: What is the air filtration rating for the spaces?

A3: MERV :: HEPA Filters at AHU, currently MERV-13. 

 

Q4: What is the Make/Model, age, specs and replacement/upgrade history of the existing HVAC system?

A4: Original AHU from 1990, Trane Model 41A, Serial K89H24684. Original AHU equipment schedule attached. AHU controls originally pneumatic, upgraded to DDC (Siemens) in 2016 to allow occupancy schedules to be implemented. Zone level (VAVs) are still pneumatic.  I believe the fume hoods are only energized when in use.  Heating in the building is hot water radiators and hot water VAV reheat (no heating coil at AHU) fed from hot water boilers. 30% glycol cooling coil in AHU, fed from air cooled chiller on site. 

Q5: What is the Make/Model and full specifications of the portable air purifiers expected to be used or are being used in the building? 

A5: I don’t believe any portable air purifiers are currently in use. 

 

Q6: Please identify all HVAC zones in the drawings. (Note: This is a command, not a question)

A6: See zone map drawings Paul sent previously. Please review the attached file 
CC-0300_09_V-700_RCX-Astronomy Building-Zones plan-AHU-EFU-2017 

 

Q7: How many air-changes per hour is the HVAC system currently providing?

A7: Will vary from room to room based on VAV damper position, ceiling height, etc. Based on a peak airflow of AHU (21,200 CFM), overall building area, and typical ceiling height (9’-0”), we’d have about 11.3 air changes per hour at peak load. 

 

Q8: What are the basic assumptions for outside air intake to aid in dilution/ventilation for all interior spaces? 

A8: AHU has a minimum OA position, and runs based on an occupancy schedule. We’ve temporarily changed our AHUs to run in occupied mode from 6AM to midnight for most of our units due to COVID-19 precautions. Unit is also sized for economizer when OA conditions allow. 

Q9: What are the weather assumptions for heating and cooling the interior spaces along with outdoor temperature and humidity estimates?

A9: I’m not positive what conditions the original designers used in 1990, but see page 2 of the “HVAC Systems” attachment from our facilities standards for our typical OA design conditions.