The Energy Team met on Tuesday, Dec. 10th, from 3:30 - 4:30 PM. We reviewed the occupant engagement program’s progress, discussed final steps for solar rooftop project proposals, and provided updates on energy efficiency recommendations. A potential pilot for risk-based lab optimization was introduced, and updates on funded energy projects and agrivoltaic solar construction were shared. The meeting minutes are attached!

Our next meeting is January 2025 (date TBD).

As expected, we were slow last week. We held an instructional course but did not get any attendees as it was cold and snowy—no surprise there! We will schedule more classes next semester.

We’re still low on kids’ bike donations and hovering around 50 or so. Have a meeting with IMC folks this week to discuss logistics.

As a late decision, the Bike Center will be the starting point for a community bike ride this coming Sunday, December 15th at 2p, which will hopefully get some folks aware of our space that may not have been otherwise.

The numbers:

Visitors: 25
Sales: $209
Memberships: 2 for $60
Tires/tubes: 5 for $39

The attached PDF contains performance metrics for ZipCar usage on campus for December 2024.

The Zero Waste Team met on November 11 at 1:30 PM. Attached are the meeting minutes. 

On Friday, November 22nd, the iCAP Engagement Team held its monthly meeting. The team discussed ways to engage the campus community more, specifically students, and shared updates on OneIllinois, Greener Campus, and Earth Month. We discussed the possibility of using social media to increase engagement or physical fliers and posters. We also welcomed a guest speaker from the Zero Waste Team who discussed Sustain Illinois, a magazine that outlines what is currently happening around campus as well as how the average person can become involved in sustainability in the community. We also discussed having in-person meetings and events next semester for the team and small ways we can all be more sustainable. One call to action was for staff and faculty to consider making their office spaces green-certified and brainstorming ways to reach the Greek life population. Our next meeting will be December 20th. 

A meeting was held with several involved individuals to discuss the progress and next steps for the Campus Lumber Project. Team members will submit an SSC Scope Change to cover the additional costs of electrical construction and to ensure efficient transportation of lumber

Next steps from Quinn Connolly:

As discussed today, here is the plan moving forward:

Quinn will work with Lowell on submitting an SSC Scope Change to cover the increased cost of the electrical setup

Justin, Ryan, and Issac will discuss the best course of action for storing, identifying, and transporting lumber from the south Lincoln facility to the mill site.

Justin and Lowell will work on a preferred tree species and dimensions list to include in the protocol document

Quinn will work with Morgan on setting up an open work order

Quinn will work on writing a protocol document for the Campus Lumber Project

This document will include:

• Procedures
• Contacts (not just individuals but departments and back up contacts)
• Tree specification information
• Other relevant information as we navigate making this happen!

Brent Lewis replied with additional information about peer universities with similar programs:

All,

In my meeting with the Association of University Landscape Architects, we talked about the different programs people had to use removed trees from campus.  Here are a few links to what people are doing.  Plenty of bowls, boards, pens, etc that they are selling for alumni.  I also see live edge boards for sale and other items that aren’t finished products. 

https://magazine.utah.edu/issues/summer-2021/scott-leech-woodworker/

https://www.pennstateelmscollection.com/

https://www.uvasawmilling.com/

https://www.canr.msu.edu/for/programs/swri

https://msusurplusstore.com/collections/msu-shadows-collection

Anyhow, just wanted to share for people to see what others are doing.  There are probably some good contacts in here for future reference as well.

The Land and Water team had their monthly October meeting on Friday, October 25th, at 9 am on Teams. The minutes and notes from the meeting are attached. 

This past week, Sarthak and I met with the students on the Transportation Team to discuss their various research projects for the rest of this semester and the upcoming semester. We met with Pun Siripun on Nov. 11th, at 12pm; Charles Okoli on Nov. 14th, 12pn; Sebastian Vega on Nov. 15th, at 11am; and Mitchell Bryant on Nov. 15th at 1pm.

The goal is to have each student conduct research on 30 or so universities in regards to various elements of transportation infrastructure, then present a final report on findings and recommendations for Illinois. The hope is that the schools are widespread, spanning from similar Midwest contexts as us to east and west coast.

Pun will be examining EV Charging available at other schools and whether extending that in Urbana Champaign would be economically feasible and environmentally beneficial.

Charles is reviewing Micro mobility. The goal is to promote micro mobility as alternative modes of transit, but to avoid enforcement costs and the safety of all (pedestrians and users). How have other schools done that well?

Sebastian is studying the commuter program at Illinois and how other universities have implemented it successfully. How did they incentivize it? How did they fund it?

Mitchell is researching the storage of micro mobility devices and how they can be expanded on campus. 

Looking forward to hearing about their research and their suggestions for Illinois!

These 2 units were delivered to Noyes 1st floor north and south entry ways 11/12/2024.