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  1. Resolution to Speech and Hearing Rooftop Solar

    Associated Project(s): 
    Speech and Hearing Rooftop Solar PVs

    The proposed project for a solar array at the Speech and Hearing building was deemed canceled due to the design study which found the roof unable to hold the solar array, as well as an informal shade assessment which found that the panels would not get all day sun due to the existing buildings.

    Please see below a conversation between Morgan White, Jen Frattergio, and Paul Foote regarding this project:

    On January 26, 2024 Paul said:

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

    Hello Jen,

    I hope you are having an enjoyable Friday!

     

    I have a quick question, Marth, Aman and I did a quick assessment of the Speech and Hearing bldg. for rooftop solar array and found it to be a poor source for solar insolation due to the Psychology bldg.. shadowing over it for the morning hours and

    HMV9pe+i1PbPVspCsESS5ODdpXH36pOTz2CcPDDoWICqUgAqo3IEXAD3cWIMBAQAOw== 

     

     

    then there are some trees that block summer sun to the north and west as well.

     

    v6WGGhQWOsW9bRDbv08HvCD7RjSBokHjJ3ryw0BChiCAtACRpCHdd4xLdgBdbvkSz5rStTEb1agB3hIArP8hwUpZcQchbu+WBQ7Bz2dngLhy8ewD2VBgQZYsBfKgSmijF3+ghW5gMY0gxSAA1FICVKI7I1AzWmuYNHGTHMUR6Xl2c6ucjq9bDrlRtEMCAA7

     

    We are tasked with submitting an IL Green Fund (SSC) application for this project and I am wondering if there is a reason this location was chosen and/or can we select another location that may produce higher outputs from the sola array?

     

    Here is the charge language: Develop and submit an application to IL Green Fund (SSC) for rooftop Solar on Speech and Hearing Sciences Building in collaboration with stakeholders.

     

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

     

    Jen forwarded the inquiry to Morgan White and Stacey DeLorenzo:

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

    Hi Morgan and Stacey,

     

    See below for a question from Paul and the Energy Team.

     

    Morgan, you had suggested the team apply for funding from the IL Green Fund (SSC) for rooftop solar on the Speech and Hearing Sciences Building. What was the reasoning behind this recommendation? Is a tool used or an analysis done to identify suitable buildings for installations?

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

    Morgan replied:

     

    Hi Jen,

     

    Just to close the loop on this old question from 1.5 years ago…  There was an analysis of large roofs that could potentially be retrofitted with solar.  Many of the large roofs are made with gypsum board which is not strong enough for panels, and the remainder would require a structural analysis.  Someone said the Speech and Hearing Sciences Building was retrofitted with a different lower-weight type of insulation which should make it viable to handle the weight of solar panels.  We did an in-house assessment with F&S Design Services, and it was found that the roof could hold the weight of the panels.  Then the Student Sustainability Committee funded a full design, which was completed and is on the iCAP Portal / in F&S records.  The iCAP Energy Team pointed out that the new high-rises around the facility block a lot of the sunlight, so the project was essentially cancelled.  I think it would still be helpful to do a shade study for the building, and potentially it could have a green roof on it.  It is very visible from the Hub (one of the highrises nearby), so it could be a visible sign of our climate action.

     

     

     

  2. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,
    We’ve been working through some old stock of used parts that are too rusty/damaged to be worth keeping and scrapping them—mostly wheels and a few frames. Getting our stock of sale bikes up into the 20s, which is good but won’t be close to meeting demand. We have almost the same number of bikes available for our Build-a-Bike program, so hopefully folks will take advantage of that when our refurbished bikes sell out.

    Last Friday morning F&S workers were finishing up repairing the outdoor bike pump—news I’m happy to report. On Friday, we also sold the kid’s bikes we had refurbished. In the high bike season, probably good to have a few of those fixed up, something we can quickly remedy this week.

    This evening is the Bike Project Monthly Member Meeting, which I will attend. 

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 19
    Sales: $611.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $175
    Memberships: 8 for $240
    Tires/tubes: 16 for $129

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  3. 2025 Bike Month Planning Meeting #3

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night
    C-U Bike to Work Day

    Today, members of the planning team attended the third meeting for Bike Month 2025. The team discussed sponsorships and advertising for Bike to Work Day as well as location and purchasing details for Light the Night. Attached is a document with agenda items and a document with roles & responsibilities.

    Attached Files: 

  6. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    Pretty slow week, except for the last hour on Friday—fittingly enough. We’re working through scrapping the remaining low-quality bikes that are only good for the occasional component here and there.

    We had staff in on Tue/Thurs to help ramp up for sale production and we’ve made some headway there. We’ll continue the trend this week. Total for sale bikes is, I think, 15-20 with more in the queue.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 15
    Sales: $316
    Membership: 1  for $30
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $129

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

     

  7. Bicycle Ambassador & Bike Buddy Program Form Responses

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bicycle Ambassador Program
    Learn How to Ride a Bicycle and Bike Rodeo

    Emily is continuing to work on researching bicycle ambassador and bike buddy programs. As of July 18th, the form Emily sent out to various universities, municipalities, and organizations, on June 27th, has received 11 responses. Only 2 responses are from groups with bicycle ambassador programs and 2 from bike buddy programs. On July 17th, Emily interviewed a research specialist at the New Jersey Bike and Pedestrian Resource Center at Rutgers University about their former New Jersey Ambassadors in Motion Program. The call was very informational especially when it came to learning about the biggest successes from the program and the challenges that forced it to disband. Emily and the research specialist also discussed other bike programs and bike infrastructure at the university that were relevant to the New Jersey Ambassadors in Motion Program.  

    While the form is open until July 25th, the current information that has been gathered can be useful for understanding potential events, applications, and procedures that students are responsive to in order to implement a bike buddy and bike ambassador program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

    Attached is a pdf of notes from the call and another pdf of notes from the form.

    Attached Files: 

  10. Intro Meeting: Campus Locations for Indigenous Plants Demonstration

    Associated Project(s): 
    Indigenous Underplanting Demonstration

    Following are Sarthak Prasad's notes from the introductory meeting on 7/16/2025.

    Attended By: Eliana Brown, Layne Knoche, Andrea Wagner, Madelyn Craft, Ashley Belle, Justin Vozzo, Sarthak Prasad, Stirling Lemme

    • Introductions happened
    • Lumpkin Family Foundation
      • Greater C-U project
    • Demo area on campus showing benefit of having native plants under established trees especially around ROW
      • Carbon sequestration
      • Some additional support of mature trees
    • On the ground implementation
    • Community Outreach
    • Tree Management stepping stone
      • Making changes around the south quad area
      • Developing areas - underplanting similar to RORG
      • There is evidence in improving tree health with these plantings
    • Even as a small area as a demo area

     

    • What support are you they expecting?
      • Similar to RORG
        • Ryan and his crew for mulch
        • Support for coordination with the specific trees
        • Coordinating work orders
        • Additioanl treatments to the trees if necessary
        • To establish it - we would need of Ryan's group to kill the grass (herbicide application - maybe 2)
        • Application in August and September (1 month apart)
        • Areas that are not sidewalk bound - F&S uses a edge trencher
      • Check with county master gardener - arborists,
      • Low maintenance plantings
        • So that it is easy for implementation
    • Providing materials to the people in the community

     Location

     Stay away from the main stretch on the quad

    • What is the scale?
      • One tree - 200 sq ft garden?
      • South Quad?
    • The foundation may be supportive of a larger scale project if there is sufficient/appropriate maintenance support available
      • We don’t want a difficult maintenance
      • Smaller spaces preferred
    • Kirby Ave - South side strip between First and Oak
      • Very high visibility
      • Very high traffic
      • Salt
      • So there may be a chance that this area might fail -
      • Outside of scope - too big of an area
    • Different native species around different trees in the same area-
      • Several small pockets of areas

     

    • Architecture Building area - opposite to the Main Library - Preferred (First preference)
      • Gregory Dr
      • We want to have people from the community to be able to see and access this area - this area is a bit restrictive
    • Trees around Krannert Center (Second preference)
      • Really great for Community
    • West side of Armory
      • Construction upcoming - so don’t use this area 

     

    Timeline

    • Letter of intent due at the end of this month
    • Letter of support
      • No need for the location
    • Grants start -
      • October would be the start planning
        • For a year
        • Opportunity for multiple years - if you do a good job
      • We need the location for the application

     

    • Application deadline  - September 5
    • When do we plant?
      • Planning over the winter -
      • Spring 2026 (May) or Fall 2026 (September) planting
    • When do we get the ARC approval?
      • August meeting

     

    Funding

    • Average grant allocation - $25k and max is $50k.
      • Would campus kick in some money?
        • SSC money

    Maintenance

    • MOU

     

    To-do

    • Letter of Support - due at the application process

  11. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    To my mind, a bit of a slow week. Sold some bikes and prepped more for B-a-B/sale bikes.

    This week I’ll be bringing staff in extra hours to help build more bikes for the inevitable Beginning Of Semester rush. We’re still hovering around 20 for sale now but are building a good inventory of fully-prepped B-a-Bs for when we sell out of our refurbed bikes. We are paring down our inventory of old/bad wheels that are taking up valuable space and creating safety hazards, which will make way for our more valuable and useful parts/bikes.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 16
    Sales: $499
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $200
    Memberships: 6 for $180

    Tires/tubes: 12 for $78

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center
     

  13. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - August 8, 2025

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Agenda

    • Discuss items remaining from last meeting

    Discussion

    • Discuss metric naming convention (see Discussion about Metrics - May 19, 2025)
      • Discuss at a future meeting
    • Finalize plans for removing national research programs from Projects listing
      • Not being kept up-to-date in the way we'd originally hoped
      • Who (if anyone) should we talk to before removing the national research programs?
      • Don't need to prioritize removing them before the site migration
    • Discuss 2025 Objectives dashboard (add in September, start displaying in October) - see "Adding Key Objectives" private file under Sustainability iCAP Portal project
      • Discuss at a future meeting
    • New iCAP Team (Sustainable Buildings) being formed - discuss what that looks like on the iCAP Portal
      • Miriam votes for making Sustainable Buildings a theme; Sarthak agrees
      • Didn't finish discussion - morphed into discussion of navigation menu options in new Illinois theme
    • New website main nav menu
      • Objectives, Projects, Metrics, About, SSC Projects?

    TODOs

    • Keep graph updates on todo list
    • At next meeting, discuss new site:
      • Main navigation menu
      • Information structure
      • Section naming
      • Content editing
    • Michael will set up a new sandbox for the group to test out the new system

  14. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - July 11, 2025

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Agenda

    • Michael's updates
      • Stripped out HTML from ALL project update teasers (homepage, Project pages, Theme pages, Place pages, Collection pages, Key Objective pages)
      • Added expand/collapse to Recommendations listing on Project pages for listings with 4+ items
      • Here are a couple options for differentiating subject lines for iCAP Portal suggestions:
        • Use submission ID, e.g. "iCAP Portal Suggestion (ID #181)" <-- Decided to use ID
        • Use Subject / Project Name field, e.g. "iCAP Portal Suggestion: Campus-wide Solar Panel Installation"

    Discussion

    • [Quinn] Project pages for directing users to the many available data sources on the iCAP portal (e.g. Public Data for Independent Research)
      • Discussed pros & cons of Basic Page vs. Project vs. another approach
      • This could be part of a larger Getting Started section to provide guidance to new visitors
      • Decided to leave this page as a Project for now; may revisit in the future
    • For next meeting:
      • Discuss metric naming convention (see Discussion about Metrics - May 19, 2025)
      • Finalize plans for removing national research programs from Projects listing
      • Discuss 2025 Objectives dashboard (add in September, start displaying in October) - see "Adding Key Objectives" private file under Sustainability iCAP Portal project
      • New iCAP Team (Sustainable Buildings) being formed - discuss what that looks like on the iCAP Portal

    TODOs

    • ✅ Replace map link on homepage with link to "Resources for Independent Research" or "We've got data!"
    • ✅ Update suggestion email subject line
    • ✅ Find out if we can add administrative field to mark who responded to a Suggestion

  15. Green Sports Alliance Launches Strategy Playbook to Embed Sustainability into the Business of Sports

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tailgate Recycling

    Read the full article on the PR Newswire website

     

    “Today, the Green Sports Alliance proudly announces the release of its latest comprehensive resource: the Strategy Playbook, a groundbreaking guide designed to help sports and entertainment organizations embed sustainability into core business strategy.

     

    “Strategy Playbook offers actionable insights for teams at every level—from collegiate to professional leagues. It includes case studies from Golden State Warriors, Denver Zoo, Hard Rock Stadium, Moody Center, Gillette Stadium, University of Illinois, Penn State University, Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Panthers, Chicago Cubs, FIFA, Austin FC, Saint Paul Arena Company, Ashton Gate Stadium, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and the Minnesota Twins.”

    Screenshot #1 of articleScreenshot #2 of article

  18. Signs, Electricity, and Locks Complete for Shipping Containers

    Associated Project(s): 
    Shipping Containers for Bicycle Storage
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    This morning, Sarthak, Emily, and Max visited the seven shipping containers to check their progress, attach a padlock to each shipping container door, and put an identifying sticker on each shipping container. Each shipping container now also has electricity and lights installed as well as a sign on the outside, numbering 1-7. Attached are photos of the lights and signs.

    Attached Files: 

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