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  1. Toner and Ink Cartridge Recycling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Increase Recycling Rates

    Hi Daphne,

     

    Just to confirm, this is toner and not an ink cartridge for printer. We don’t have many inkjet printers, but I don’t want to assume which one you have.

     

    Thanks,

    Brad

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

    Hi Brad,

     

    That’s correct – toner is what we are referring to! Apologies for the confusion.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     --------------

    HI Daphne,

     

    The vendors we work with for recycling toner quit accepting them. Unfortunately, they have to be thrown away.

     

    Thanks,

    Brad

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

    Hi Morgan & Stephanie,

     

    Below is the response I received from Brad re: toner recycling. Sarthak was over at IT recently and noted that there was a box of toner cartridges that the IT team has been collecting for many, many years since the vendor stopped accepting them for recycling. I’ll do some research to see if there’s a solution in this region.

     

    Thank you,

    Daphne

  2. Meeting with BirdBike

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Share with BirdBike

    On 08/29/2023, Stacey, Sarthak and Hrushikesh along with city planners of Urbana and Champaign had an introductory in-person meeting with BirdBike. The agenda of this meeting was to get a demo of the BirdBike bicycles and have discussion on potentially introducing these bikes on-campus and the in both cities. 

    Meeting Notes:

    1) Membership opportunity

    2) BirdBike facilitating no bike zone in certain areas of campus .

    3) Demo of the Bikes and its parking system.

    4) Safety features and precautions. 

    5) Using GPS and VPS system for tracking and parking.

    6) Helmet Safety feature.

    7) Rider Quiz before every ride.

    8) Wayfinding for campus bike rack parking locations

    Attached Files: 

  3. Help with an Energy Modeling Class?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Models for Campus Facilities

    Hi Tony,

     

    We need to provide historical energy data to Professor Yi for his work with us this fall to create building energy models for selected buildings on campus, in his Architecture class.

     

    Can you please have someone on your team provide monthly energy data for the following buildings for the last five years, FY20 to FY16?  Also, if hourly data is available, please provide hourly data for these same buildings for the one year of FY19.

     

    ·       Personnel Services Building

    ·       Speech and Hearing Building

    ·       Children’s Research Center

    ·       Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.

     

    I have created a folder for the related files in Box, which you can access at https://uofi.box.com/s/uc18bm30ysb6fxk7q0e0iwy3hnav99lq.  We would appreciate receiving this information by the end of July, if possible.

     

    Thank you,

    Morgan

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

    Morgan,

     

    End of July should not be a problem.

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

     

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

    Could you handle this data request?  Thanks

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

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

    Hi Morgan –

     

    Attached is the data you’ve requested.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Anthony

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

    Hi Yun,

    Please see attached files. 

    Thanks!

    Morgan 

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

    Hi Marge

     

    I am wondering if we can get these buildings' documents before the semester starts.

    I can ask TA to go over the documents and select documents that need for the class.

    So that we can reduce the number of documents to get approval.

     

    Also, I send an email related to meter data. 

    The Excel file doesn’t have units, could you help me what units were used for the meters.

     

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

     

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

    Hi Yun,

     

    I need to know what building documents you are seeking.  What specifically do you want to see?

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     

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

    Hi Morgan,

     

    It will be good to get basic drawings like floor plans, elevations, and more specific drawings like HVAC schedule, zoning, section detail, etc.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Morgan, 

     

    Thanks to your help, today my class was able to site visit the new Campus Instructional Facility building and new Mech. building.

    Here is a photo of today's visit. Students learned a lot today and I got great feedback today.

     

    Also, I like to discuss some findings from initial energy modeling.

    The BNAACC building is one of the buildings that we are analyzing the energy consumption data. While we compare meter data to energy consumption from simulation results. We observed that the electricity meter is projecting energy consumption exponentially higher than what an average building of such size should be consuming.

     

    I am not sure this building is still in calibration on meter data or something but I will advise having the meter checked. If you need I can send you some of our findings or talk further on this.

     

     

    Best

    Yun

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

    Hi All, 

     

    Hope you had a nice break. I like to update you on building modeling.

    We have four Energyplus (DesignBuilder) models that I can share with you.

     

    I had to review the model made by students to make sure they are close to the actual building.

    Currently, I am adding detailed HVAC systems to the model that can be more realistic.

     

    Would you like to get access to the file? I can share the folder with you all. Also, would you like to discuss the next step?

    Here is one of a report done by a student. 

     

     

    Best

    Yun

     -----------------------

    Hi Yun,

     

    I would love to see the model(s) as soon s your review and detailed HVAC systems are modeled. I can also help assist with next steps.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    I will share the folder with you when I have them ready.

    Do you have a designbuilder on your computer? Or do you prefer to get it as an energyplus file?

    We have an annual license with DB and we can share it with you if you like.

     

     

    best

    Yun

     ----------------------

    Yun,

     

    Is it easy for you to give us both versions? Otherwise energy plus would be good.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi Tom, 

     

    I thought I send files to you and realized I didn’t today.

    Sorry for the late. Here is the files for the 4 buildings that we modeled.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

     

    best

    Yun

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

    Hi All,

     

    Hope everyone is relaxing little bit from busy semester. Finally, I am done with grading and other things for the semester. 

    Also, it is not official but I have a good news that I got tenure so I will stay longer here.

     

    Anyway, I am trying to see if you are interested to continue the building energy modeling in the Fall.

    If we like to continue, I like to prepare some more buildings for the class this summer.

     

    Let me know your thoughts

     

    best

    Yun

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

     

    That’s great news, Yun!!! Congrats on your impending tenure!!!

     

    I’m adding Kelly Jo Hoffmann the new Associate Director for Engineering Services, here.  She’s been with F&S and was recently promoted into this roll. 

     

    I’m interested in continuing this, but I suggest we hold a meeting with a few more F&S folks to talk about what effort went into the modeling and how we are using them.  I will look for an available time to do a zoom call.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

      ----------------------

    Hi Morgan and Tom

     

    Hope you are getting some good break during the summer.

    I like to see if f&S is interest to continue the building energy modeling project.

    If you are, I need to inform school that I will teach the same course next semester.

     

    Many thanks,

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Yun,

     

    Nice to hear from you. I would support that. However, I am not in a decision-making role for such things. I believe that Morgan or one of the others can help answer that more succinctly.

     

    Thank you,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi All

     

    Hope all is well. Just to check, can we get support from F&S to hire a TA for the fall semester?

    It would be a great benefit to have a TA who can assist the class and ensure they build energy models properly.

    I appreciate your support.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Tom and everyone.

     

    Just to check on the building energy modeling.

    Let me know if any of you have a list of buildings that we would like to model for this semester.

    I would also love to get some help to hire TA for the class. Without TA, I will be difficult model several buildings like last year.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Yun Yi,

     

    Have we modeled geothermal? I'm thinking Ripe Greenhouse (Gates Foundation), and Campus Instructional Facility.

     

    I can assist in TA. I am copying Bruce K. as a possible TA too.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

     

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    Some update with the class. It had some issues with our school, but things are clear now.

    I don't know why but our school canceled the class.  So, I have to reopen the class registration.

    Because of cancel and reopen for the registration, we have 6 students registered for this semester.

     

    With the small number of students and no TA, I decided to build an energy model for one campus building for this semester.

    I like your idea of Campus Instructional Facility to build and test, I am wondering if it has more than 1 year of meter data.

    Also, do you have access to LEED certification on this building? I like to see if the building meet with LEED or not.

    What do you think? Any suggestion will be a great help. 

     

    Also, like last time, it would be great to schedule a visit to the building and show students the new systems installed in the building.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

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

    Hi Yun. I bekieve Morgan, Joe, and Kelly-Jo may be delinquent (as usual),

     

    I acknowledge your plight. Yes, CIF has historical energy data (through our usual channels). Yes, the building is LeeD and I can assist. And yes to the walkthrough.

     

    Mr. T

     -----------------------

    Mike, Dave, or Kent,

     

    Would any of you be capable of assisting YK with his class this year?  I believe they build a model for a 1 campus building each year.  You can read more below and discuss with Morgan.   If any of you can help, it would be with collecting the information to share with the class (check with Beth), participating in a building tour, and potentially providing some technical assistance with the building modeling questions.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Kelly Jo

     

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

    Idea...  Have him work directly with dbHMS.  We have been getting to know Sachin (principal) and he has been eager to accommodate.  They will have all the LEED design and energy calcs readily at hand. We can easily provide as much energy usage data as is available.  It seems to me this would be an optimal solution if it is acceptable for the class instructor to work directly with the private sector.

     

    David Green

     

     

  4. Weekly Update: very busy week

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Another doozy of a week. Long wait times for stands, cash offers to “hold” bikes, and my favorite: “When will you get a new shipment of bikes?”

    This week promises to be a little better with more staff on board, and presumably fewer folks coming for their registration sticker. We’ll also have our first Friday Ride of the semester. Weather looks good for it!

    Tonight is the Bike Project Members’ Meeting. I’ll mention it to all the new members we sign-up today.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 142
    Sales: $2,631.38
    Bikes (refurb): 5 for $855
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $100
    Memberships: 28 for $840

    Tires/tubes: 37 for $263

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  5. Paper purchasing data?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Procurement

     

    Hi Dan,

     

    I hope you are doing well these days.  I am writing to request you assistance with a Zero Waste effort for the system and universities.  We have previously received paper purchase data from someone at OBFS (see https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project-update/fy08-17-uiuc-copy-paper-office-depot-only), and we would like an updated report.

     

    Jennifer Fraterrigo, the iSEE associate director for campus sustainability, and Daphne Hulse, the F&S Zero Waste Coordinator, are copied here as well.

     

    Thank you for your help!

    ~Morgan

     

    (PS. the last time we communicated, I was Morgan Johnston.)

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

    Morgan,

    We haven’t forgotten about your request!  Unfortunately, with the decentralized management of the ODP agreement, we had to do some additional work to identify the appropriate SKUs to include in this year’s report.  Happy to report that Jeremiah and Alex in our office were able to pull the attached two documents together which we feel addresses your questions.  If you need additional information on the documents, please feel free to reach out directly to Jeremiah (copied on this e-mail).

     

    Jeremiah/Alex, thank you both for your work on this one!

     

    Thanks,

    --Dan

    Attached Files: 

  6. Family and Graduate Housing outreach event at Orchard Downs Community Center

    Associated Project(s): 
    Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
    Encourage Bicycle Use

    On 08/26/2023, Sarthak and Hrushikesh were part of a tabling event held in the community center of Family and Graduate Housing at Orchard Downs. Our goal in the event was to spread awareness about the use of bicycles and to give out all the information about bicycles along with free goodies like wrist bands, Keychain, Bike route maps, Bicycle safety rules, and Bike Registration procedure.

    Attached Files: 

  7. Grey Water Recycling, IDPH, Letter?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use of Non-Potable Water (such as Greywater)

    texted my plumbing friend – he thought we should talk to Brian Cox with IDPH (he thought his email was brian.cox@illinois.gov).  He thought that even if the variance does not get approved, that having the university put in such a request might bring it closer to reality in future editions of the Illinois Plumbing Code.

     

    Chapter 13, “Non Potable Water Systems” is in the International Plumbing Code.

    CHAPTER 13 NONPOTABLE WATER SYSTEMS, 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) | ICC Digital Codes (iccsafe.org)

     

    I do think if a variance is requested, the variance should make note that ICC does acknowledge these types of systems and provides a framework for life safety, and that on an environmental level, these systems are a method of saving water and reducing total sewage volumes in a climate that is changing rapidly.

     

    I think the question at this point is – who is the correct person to put time into this?  It would benefit the university, however, I don’t think we could ask for a ‘blanket university variance’, it would have to be a project specific variance.  With this in mind, it is a specific group that is wanting it for their building – so does this group apply?  Or, would direction be given to F&S to apply?  This is a strange one as we are code enforcement, but also representing the owner.

     

    KATIE sPERL

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

    Katie & Lisa,

     

    Is it possible to discuss this with Brian Cox at 217-524-0791?  It may be beneficial to seek a blanket variance, but only under certain circumstances.   I’ve also cc’d Colleen, Frank, and Jeremy in the case they had a say on your question of who would apply for a variance to IDPH.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Kelly Jo

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

    FYI, Attached is the submittal package that Cannon sent to Brian Cox at IDPH in May 2021.

     

    Lisa

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

    Please see the attached and provide me with your initial thoughts.  If everyone thinks this might be a good idea, I will ask Jim Sims if he would be okay letting us send to IDPH under the University of Illinois letterhead.  I feel like if we took this letter, all put our names to it – and then sent to other organizations such as AIA, they might all send a similar letter.

     

    I was at a plumbing lunch-and-learn today, and I just feel this is something that should be considered.  If toilets went from being 5 gallons a flush to 1.25 gallons – we could potentially get this down to zero in some situations…isn’t that a win?    

     

    KATIE sPERL

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

    All,

     

    Do other State Plumbing codes allow use of Grey Water Recycling? If yes, can we reference those states and language used in those State Plumbing codes?

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jim

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

    Most states don’t have a state plumbing code – I believe that only California, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Oregon do.  Most states use International Plumbing Code or Uniform Plumbing Code.  IPC allows rainwater/graywater harvesting.  I’m not sure about UPC but I can look into it.

     

    Lisa

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

    UPC also allows rainwater/graywater harvesting.

     

    Lisa

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

    Thanks Lisa.

     

    Seems like we would want to include alignment with International Plumbing Code and UPC in a letter that we send regarding Illinois Plumbing code?

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jim

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

     

    All,

     

    As I thought about this more, I was thinking that UIC might have submitted and received approval to IDPH for a grey water system on one of their recent projects (a couple years ago now). It might be worthwhile checking in with UIC to see if this was the case and learn from their experience, including the process and justification they utilized to gain approval for a project.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jim

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

    UIUC submitted one on Illini Hall via Cannon Design (attached) and have not received approval.  I can email up to UIC to see if they have had any luck.

     

    KATIE sPERL

    Attached Files: 

  8. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - September 1, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • Added map embed capability for collections (see iCAP Portal Map Embedding demo)
    • Objectives Dashboard link on individual objective pages - changed text to "See all 20XX iCAP Objectives"
    • Remove unintended orange underline on "View Image Gallery" link on project & theme pages (e.g. Sustainability iCAP Portal)

    Discussion:

    • Question about a TODO: "Collections page: Add image upload option". At a previous meeting we had this TODO, but what was the context? Was it to have a thumbnail for each Collection? Or a banner image? Or an image gallery?
    • Should we link to "Take Action" project from homepage?
      • Replace map link in Highlights?
      • Need to finish Take Action page content
    • SSC projects
      • May want to use this Archive of Funded Projects on old SSC site (2019) as a reference for showing SSC project info
      • Discussed using iCAP Portal projects for SSC projects page vs. maintaining own project pages directly on SSC website.
      • One possible challenge - SSC sometimes funds part of a project or provides funding for a period of time (e.g. 1 year) for a longer-term project, so only the project updates for that period of time are relevant, not all updates in perpetuity. How do we handle that?
      • Decided to start with map embed from Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects collection, then look at adding card-based project embed as well.
    • Continue discussion of Fancy Page Layout (see the 4 mockups in the October 21, 2022 meeting notes)
    • Continue discussion of improving site's aesthetics
    • Archiving projects
      • Add "Archived" checkbox?
      • Add "Archived" to Visibility options?
      • Add "Archived" to Project Status options? (probably not - this mixes the status of the project itself with whether we still want it to show up on the site)
      • Remove from nested listings, still publicly available?

    TODO:

    • Main map:
      • Start with only Campus Tour locations shown (for now, start with Reporting Progress theme)
      • Filter by Theme or Collection
      • See CSU's campus map (Sustainability section) for inspiration
      • Smaller markers
      • Remove businesses layer
      • Campus boundary, like ArcGIS Bicycle Map
    • Homepage has extra padding on right side on mobile
    • SSC project embedding: add category filtering options
    • (long term goal) look into importing information from another source, e.g. SSC students without iCAP Portal access can put together info in a structured format for automatic import into iCAP Portal
    • Look into Collection embedding again, à la Drawdown Solutions Library Sammy had found ("Filter by sector or area of action" section)
    • Metric search/display:
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
      • Most recent updates as of: (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
      • (Internal only) Last updated before (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Fancy project layout mockups - keep tweaking #3 to improve contrast
    • Discuss metrics
      • Metrics with lots of data
      • Consider how to handle old metrics that no longer track new data. Archive somehow?
      • Fun with math (e.g. combining multiple metrics)
      • Calculated Metrics on Dev site

  9. iCAP Portal Admin Meeting - August 24, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    Done:

    • From August 9 meeting:
      • Created iCAP 2010 Objectives Dashboard (currently no chapters) - kudos to Quinn for all the work adding 78 objectives and Sarthak for helping out with metric targets!
      • Fixed chapters for iCAP 2015 Objectives Dashboard
      • Fixed styling for individual objective pages' prev/next buttons
      • Added link back to applicable full dashboard for each objective
      • Still investigating issue with some incorrect project updates showing up for objectives - I know why it's happening, just need to figure out the fix

    Discussion:

    • SSC projects
      • May want to use this Archive of Funded Projects on old SSC site (2019) as a reference for showing SSC project info
      • Discussed using iCAP Portal projects for SSC projects page vs. maintaining own project pages directly on SSC website.
      • One possible challenge - SSC sometimes funds part of a project or provides funding for a period of time (e.g. 1 year) for a longer-term project, so only the project updates for that period of time are relevant, not all updates in perpetuity. How do we handle that?
      • Decided to start with map embed from Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects collection, then look at adding card-based project embed as well.
    • Continue discussion of Fancy Page Layout (see the 4 mockups in the October 21, 2022 meeting notes)
    • Continue discussion of improving site's aesthetics
    • Question about a TODO: "Collections page: Add image upload option". At a previous meeting we had this TODO, but what was the context? Was it to have a thumbnail for each Collection? Or a banner image?
    • Should we link to "Take Action" project from homepage?
      • Replace map link in Highlights?
      • Need to finish Take Action page content
    • Archiving projects
      • Add "Archived" checkbox?
      • Add "Archived" to Visibility options?
      • Add "Archived" to Project Status options? (probably not - this mixes the status of the project itself with whether we still want it to show up on the site)
      • Remove from nested listings, still publicly available?

    TODO:

    • Send Codie map embed code for Student Sustainability Committee Funded Projects collection
    • Objectives Dashboard link on individual objective pages - change text to "See all 20XX iCAP Objectives"
    • "View Image Gallery" link on project pages has orange underline (e.g. Sustainability iCAP Portal)
    • Main map:
      • Start with only Campus Tour locations shown (for now, start with Reporting Progress theme)
      • Filter by Theme or Collection
      • See CSU's campus map (Sustainability section) for inspiration
      • Smaller markers
      • Remove businesses layer
      • Campus boundary, like ArcGIS Bicycle Map
    • Homepage has extra padding on right side on mobile
    • SSC project embedding: add category filtering options
    • (long term goal) look into importing information from another source, e.g. SSC students without iCAP Portal access can put together info in a structured format for automatic import into iCAP Portal
    • Look into Collection embedding again, à la Drawdown Solutions Library Sammy had found ("Filter by sector or area of action" section)
    • Metric search/display:
      • Theme (via connected Project, i.e. Theme -> Project -> Metric)
      • Most recent updates as of: (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
      • (Internal only) Last updated before (list of years) -> can we query Tracking data?
    • (Low Priority) Make column headers click-sortable on Projects by Project Status page
    • Fancy project layout mockups - keep tweaking #3 to improve contrast
    • Discuss metrics
      • Metrics with lots of data
      • Consider how to handle old metrics that no longer track new data. Archive somehow?
      • Fun with math (e.g. combining multiple metrics)
      • Calculated Metrics on Dev site

  11. Redwood Materials: Jen, Daphne, and Amy meet with Sophie Boel

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Battery Recycling
    Address Electronic Waste (e-waste)
    Rechargeable Battery Recycling
    Battery Recycling

    Attendance: Jen Fraterrigo, Sophie Boel, Daphne Hulse, Amy Fruehling

    Sophie Boel introduction: been with Redwood 2+ years, managing construction and engineering team, moved to external affairs (consumer recycling, outreach and education programs). Taking over the university partnerships piece from Seema. Two pieces to look at together:

    • Consumer education, branding materials, and how-to for safe collection and mailing.
    • Research - existing program to bolster with data, or bring about together.

    Recalling our first conversation with Redwood Materials:

    • What is redwood looking for?

    • How can the university offer collaborative experiences with Redwood? Research, battery collection drives.

      • Jen forwarded Sophie the documents she had provided Seema as far as research opportunities go.

    Redwood's experience with collection:

    • 40-50 Audi and Volkswagen dealerships have collection bins - regularly collected and shipped back to Redwood.
    • International Rotary Clubs host collection events throughout the country.

    Daphne's research on where batteries are sourced from and where they end up across campus. Daphne could only speak to batteries that are procured with university money. There is not a gauge on what the community does with batteries and what their needs are.

    • DRS collects Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NMH), Lithium (Li) Ion & Polymer (LiPo), and Silver Oxide (AgO) batteries for recycling. Daphne and Jen don't know the name of the recycling vendor, but they will find out. Sophie says there is a chance that the vendor already works with Redwood Materials, we just have to find out. Rechargeable batteries that are part of a device may get removed, and the device sent to someone like Redwood Materials to find recycling outlets for the device materials, too.

    What could Redwood provide support on if the university would undertake something with them?

    • Bring Seema back into the conversation side (she is involved with business development support).

    Has Redwood done many events with universities? No, they haven’t done many events with universities:

    • University Nevada - Reno, as this is located close to their HQ.

    • Have done events in collaboration with International Rotary Clubs:

      • Environmental & Sustainability Action Group (ES-RAG) - made collection events a part of their piece on sustainability

      • 50-100 collection events - active consumer engagement pieces

      • Earth Day events

    • For events, Redwood can send a Redwood employee - if there is a lot overlapping in terms of time of year (especially Earth Day or Month), some of the rotary district governors act on behalf of Redwood go to an event to staff and educate.

    • Reach out to Urbana and Champaign counterparts - they hold an annual event for Illinois residents for electronics recycling. Maybe there is a need for more than just once a year? And if they combine forces with the university and Redwood, we would have more resources and support to go around.

      • It will be good to hear what the cities think, as their population will likely be the main source for the waste. Students don't often have these kinds of devices and batteries laying around.

    • Any money that can be reinvested to the program? The university tries to find ways to reinvest when possible.

      • Sophie to talk to Seema about this

     

  12. Check in meeting from August 23, 2023

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

    Please see attached the agenda and documents shared during this meeting. Watch the meeting recording here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gJBM9J-Tc1nGEg5lCEa4uxfQ8NgzOUea/view?u...

     

    Attached Files: 

  13. toriis - divestment

    Associated Project(s): 
    Fossil Fuels Divestment - Support Letter

    Madhu, is this the section you were asking about? - Jen

     

    https://www.toriis.earth/fossil-fuel

     

    In Fiscal Year 2022, the University of Illinois System reported over $120 million worth of corporate debt held in 52 companies (about 12% of the operating pool corporate bond ownership) that profit from the extraction, transportation, or combustion of coal, petroleum, or natural gas. In total, the University of Illinois System’s operating pool is responsible for financing 86,000+ metric tons of C02 emissions (calculated as total carbon emissions) as of FY 2022. Of these emissions, 66,000+ metric tons of C02 come from fossil fuel companies. The math is simple: by divesting the 12% of investments in fossil fuel companies, the University of Illinois System would cut its carbon footprint by 78%.

  14. Weekly Update: Students are back, Illini Frenzy

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, The semester has officially started! People are knocking on the doors at all hours, we’re almost out of sale bikes, the 529 registrations are a near constant, and there’s a wait for stand time by 3p every day. Demand is never higher than this time of year.

    On Saturday, we had the Illini Frenzy, and our spin-a-prize bike wheel was a huge hit. Something Pavlovian about the act of spinning a wheel. Even when we were out of all our freebies, people spun it anyways, and a line formed almost immediately. I’ll need to work out a couple of things with it, but I think it’s a keeper for outreach events and the like.

    On Friday, Daniel and Rick—two experienced volunteers—came by to lend a hand—and boy did we need it! Many thanks to them. Also, thanks to Todd for grabbing scrap over the weekend.

    This week I’ll try to throw some bikes together during our off hours, send out some offer letters for new hires, and do some trainings for our new/returning staff.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 156
    Sales: $3,127.75
    Bikes (refurb): 13 for $1,840

    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Memberships: 21 for $630
    Tires/tubes: 10 for $84

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  15. Meeting with Stacey: ADA Accessibility Survey

    Associated Project(s): 
    2024 Campus Bike Plan

    On 08/18/2023, Stacey, Sarthak and Hrushikesh had a meeting to discuss the Project Scope for ADA Accessibility Survey of the Campus.

    Discussed the budget required for this project along with the parameters and boundaries of selection criteria for the Sidewalks and Crosswalks survey.

  16. Stormwater grad student sought

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam
    Reduce Nitrates from Agricultural Stormwater

    Hi sustainability friends,

    I have funding for a grad student to assist our stormwater efforts for the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Specifically, I’m looking for someone to find and curate stormwater outreach products and identify gaps. No tuition waiver but pay is $25/hr.

     

    Do you know of anyone that you’d recommend?

     

    Thanks,

    Eliana

  17. Observations from Welcome Celebration 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    Operations

    • DIA deployed all of their blue drums, and it was in excess, compared to the available recycling
    • ~21 bottles and cans bin were deployed
    • 10 volunteers were present, guarding about half of the bins
    • Blue bags were used to line the bins (as opposed to black). This is crucial for Waste Transfer Station operations
    • Dining Services and volunteers of the event assisted with emptying the recycling bins when they were full
    • Bags were tied and placed into the roll-off container at the end of Lot 31
    • At the end of the event (about an hour later) volunteers tied bags and rounded up all of the bins, placing them near the roll-off container
    • Jen Fraterrigo made the comment that there were no recycling bins around the tabling areas (but there were a lot of DIA blue drums), so recycling wasn't happening here. Students would bring their bottles over from the food area and go to tables. They need a recycling outlet in this area, too

    Communication

    • Dining Services made 1-2 PA about recycling during the event
    • The bins had lids for the top (some of which you could not see into, some of them you could). If the bins had confusing messaging such as, "CANS ONLY" students were less likely to place bottles. It helped to take the lid off, and let students see a pile of bottles in the bin (normalizing a social behavior)
    • All of the bins had messaging on the sides saying "bottles and cans" but messaging on the side is not highly viewed by students (it would help to have messaging on top)
      • Our 20 new Coca-Cola bins have good messaging, and bottles and cans cutouts on top
    • The way the bin lids open, anything could be placed in them. We didn't see a ton of contamination, but there was some (specifically at unguarded bins). If we use bottle and can cutouts (as the Coke bins have been designed) that would emphasize what product we want recycled
    • It was absolutely necessary to constantly remind incoming students that we recycle bottles and cans, otherwise they ended up in the general trash cans. Volunteers would sort through the trash bins as was reasonably possible

    Volunteers

    • Our volunteers were amazing! It would be beneficial to have double next year (around 20) to adequately cover the area
    • Be Orange Go Green volunteer shirts really helped volunteers stand out

    Diversion Rate

    • Volunteers did a good job routing plastic bottles to the recycling bins, but there is a lot of food waste that goes on here (post-consumer). It would be beneficial to separate food waste from regular waste from recycling...
    • Can we grind to energy the food waste?

     

  19. Welcome Celebration 2023 diversion rate results

    Associated Project(s): 
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    From: Hulse, Daphne Lauren
    Sent: Friday, August 18, 2023 2:45 PM
    To: Etchison, Thurman B <etchisn@illinois.edu>
    Subject: FW: today

     

    Hi Thurman,

     

    Numbers from today. From what the volunteers and I observed, having the bin guards really helped route the plastic bottles to the correct bin, so a win there. But it unfortunately is not well reflected in the weight, because of how heavy organic waste is. F&S is already strategizing for next year – maybe if we try to separate food waste from regular trash (plates, forks) from plastic bottles, and break that number down even more. Just having thoughts. I’d love to see that food waste grinded to energy, but I imagine that would be a logistically challenging one.

     

    Nonetheless, I think we did something great today! We made a lot of students think about their actions.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     

    Daphne Hulse (she/her)
    Zero Waste Coordinator
    Facilities & Services | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    +1 (217) 333-7550 | dlhulse2@illinois.edu

    https://fs.illinois.edu/zero-waste
     
    Bu0VAhW8+s0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=

    Please consider the environment before printing an email. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act any written communication to or from university employees regarding university business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

     

     

     

    From: Patterson, Shawn L <spttrsn@illinois.edu>
    Sent: Friday, August 18, 2023 2:36 PM
    To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
    Subject: today

     

    Well looks like you were correct. 6%

     

    Total weight 2460lbs

    Recycled 140lbs

     

     

    Room for growth

     

    SHAWN L. PATTERSON, CAFM

    TRANSPORTATION & AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES MANAGER

    Tel:(217)244-4927

     

    Z

     

    Attached Files: 

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