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  2. Bike Sharing Feasibility Study

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Sharing Feasibility Study
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This proposal seeks to conduct a feasibility study off different options for implementing a bike-sharing program at the University of Illinois. A feasibility study for this project is a necessary step before implementation of a campus bike sharing project can be considered, in line with the Illinois Climate Action Plan. University bike-sharing programs exist in different forms across the country and the challenge is finding a model that will be highly used by students as well as being mostly self-sustaining. Committee funds will be used to support a half-time summer intern as well as for other expenses relevant to the study, with any unspent funds held for implementation of improvements to campus bicycle parking infrastructure. The Student Sustainability Committee is in favor of funding a grant in the amount of $10,000.

    Attached Files: 

  3. Allerton Geothermal Project Funding Letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Geothermal at Allerton Park
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This proposal seeks to install a geothermal system at the Evergreen lodge and Retreat Center. The Evergreen Lodge is a 2828 sq. ft. structure used as lodging facilities for retreat center guests. The installation will result in energy savings of ~ $2,000 annually and provide the University with experience in handling geothermal installations – none of which are currently installed at the University. This project is also being supported by grant funds from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities. Committee funds will be utilized for purchase and installation of equipment, such as a ground source heat pump unit, as well as drilling of borehole heat exchange pipes. Additionally, Allerton park has agreed to install an on-site educational display about geothermal energy. The Student Sustainability Committee is in favor of funding a grant in the amount of $18,000.

    Attached Files: 

  4. BLUE Retrocommissioning info

    Associated Project(s): 
    Retrocommissioning (RCx)
    Building a Lasting University Environment (BLUE) [ARCHIVED]

    Retrocommissioning is an in-depth analysis of a building’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.  This program restores peak operating conditions while optimizing the control strategies for energy conservation, sustainability, and client comfort.   

    Since August of 2007, engineering teams have accomplished system updates and upgrades in 16 campus buildings for an average energy reduction of 28%. 

  5. BLUE Community Involvement info

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Infrastructure
    Green Infrastructure Conference
    CEE 598 SUS with Barbara Minsker [ARCHIVED]
    Building a Lasting University Environment (BLUE) [ARCHIVED]

    The F&S Environmental Compliance Department is always working towards enhancing environmental management and sustainable practices on campus and in the community.  Community collaboration and education are important components of stormwater management practices and fulfill requirements of the University’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4). 

    The Office of Public Engagement awarded Environmental Compliance a grant to construct a rain garden for the Robeson Elementary School in Champaign, Illinois. This project demonstrates contemporary stormwater management practices that mitigate playground flooding.  The project engages students by incorporating the rain garden into the school’s curriculum.  Environmental Compliance collaborated with professors, students, landscape architects, local businesses, and Unit 4 administration to design and construct the rain garden. 

    The 2011 Green Infrastructure Maintenance Conference addressed native plantings, rain gardens, porous pavements, and green roofs.  The event was hosted by Environmental Compliance and the Landscape Architecture Departments and sponsored by the Office of Public Engagement along with the MS4 Technical Committee.

    The 2010 John Street Watershed Class was a collaboration between the University of Illinois and the City of Champaign to address neighborhood flooding.  Environmental Compliance participated by lecturing and assisting in the construction of two rain gardens. 

  7. Hydrologic Synthesis Research

    Two intensive summer institutes and a variety of other activities were conducted from 2007-2011 by Dr. Murugesu Sivapalan and a group of colleagues, which resulted in over 60 publications and two journal special sections.

    Graduate students and faculty members in this group research subjects related to “hydrologic synthesis.” The group used a patterns-based approach to make conclusions about advancing the predictability of human-induced change propagation through the hydrologic system.

    More information is available at http://cwaces.geog.uiuc.edu/news/special_sections.html. 

  8. Tom Ferrarell volunteers to revamp the Weatherization project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Weatherization of Small Campus Buildings

    Tom Ferrarell has agreed to work this summer to review and revamp the Weatherization project.  Last year, the student intern, James Hoffer, focused his efforts on creating the attached Weatherization Manual.  James worked for F&S under the supervision of Dean Henson, in Building Maintenance.  Suhail provided the copy of the manual, the BRC checklist, and the sample audit forms for Tom to read through.

    Attached Files: 

  12. FY09 Lighting Retrofit grant from ICECF

    Associated Project(s): 
    Lighting Retrofits ICECF Grants

    In April 2009, ICECF granted the University funding in the amount of $822,174.00 toward conversion from T-12 ccompact flourescent light bulbs to T-8 bulbs throughout campus.  All work needed to be completed by March 31, 2011.  The initial reimbursement request was for $730,946.40 on May 31, 2011; however, this was subsequently reduced to $708,826.23.  This funding contributed to lighting retrofits in 30 campus buildings, with an associated energy reduction of 1,218,244 Watts.

    Attached Files: 

  13. Suhail Barot requests a meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Weatherization of Small Campus Buildings

    -----Original Message-----
    From: sfbarot@gmail.com [mailto:sfbarot@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Suhail Barot
    Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 1:29 PM
    To: Henson, K Dean (Facilities & Services); Johnston, Morgan (Facilities & Services); Sweeney, Eva M (Facilities & Services)
    Subject: Meeting Request re: student weatherization and building assessment

    Hi folks,

    This spring, the SSC partnered with F&S on a student building weatherization assessment program. We had student teams coordinated by an intern (both paid) that worked to assess buildings and collect data. In the midst of the end of the semester, I'm not sure how much they did, or how useful it was, but I've requested information from the intern, James Hoffer, regarding all that.

    I'd like to meet and discuss how this program should operate next term, sometime during mid- June. I've included Eva on this because she had some stuff that students could do re: lighting assessments.

    Suhail Barot

    M.Sc. Electrical Engineering, 2009. Graduate Student, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Chair, Student Sustainability Committee, Treasurer, University YMCA Student Board, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Phone: 1-815-260-7961

  14. Retrocommissioning award application

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award
    Retrocommissioning (RCx)

    The Retro-commissioning (RCx) team applied for (and later won) the Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award in 2011.  RCx at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was established in 2007 and has been working to reduce energy consumption in campus buildings by repairing and optimizing their air and hydronic systems and restoring buildings to their required operating standards.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Update from James Hoffer

    Associated Project(s): 
    Weatherization of Small Campus Buildings

    ---------- Forwarded message ----------
    From: James Hoffer <jhoffer2@illinois.edu>
    Date: Tue, May 17, 2011 at 11:04 AM
    Subject: Project Completion Tasks
    To: Suhail Barot <sbarot@illinois.edu>
    Cc: Jennifer Koys <jennifer.koys@gmail.com>


    Hi Suhail,

    There are a couple of things that I wanted to ask you about regarding the completion of this portion of the project.

    I have completed looking over the assessments I received.  Only 5 of the houses were completed.  The majority of the things found wrong with the houses were cleanliness/obstruction issues with vents and baseboards and window problems.  I have left the lists of things that could be fixed on the F&S computer that I worked on and I will email it to Dean.  I am not sure exactly what he will want to fix or leave alone, I still have to discuss with him. 

    This is not nearly as many houses as I wanted to get done, and I think this is simply because they ran out of time.  I do not think this part was a failure though, as it will provide good insight to changes that need to be made in the future.  One of the most important things will be to have hard deadlines for the teams to have completed their assessments by. 

    I have not received any more emails regarding my position next year.  I do not know if you have talked with Hannah yet or decided what will happen.  Next year there is a good chance that I will be at U of I and working for F&S on a different project.  I believe it will be very easy for me to pass on the work to whoever you choose and help them get the feel for it.  Please let me know when you have selected a person or if you would like me to select one.  I will need to talk with them before the start of next semester.

    I left the supply box on the table of the room in the YMCA.

    Please inform as to what you would like me to do at this point.

    Thanks,
    James
     

  17. Feasibility Study approved by SSC and CCRC

    Associated Project(s): 
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting

    SSC confirmed funding of $15,000 for composting feasibility study 5/9/11.  Study approved 5/12/11 by Chancellor’s Capital Review Committee (CCRC) with Fall 2011 completion target.  Proposal requested from Retainer A/E Foth Engineering, which was also the A/E on the previous composting project before it was cancelled.

  19. Earth week 2011 website

    Associated Project(s): 
    Center for a Sustainable Environment (CSE)

    Earth Week

    Each year, our campus celebrates Earth Day with a week full of activities.  The Office of Sustainability collaborated with student groups in planning and organizing events for Earth Week 2011. The Earth Week celebration was intended to widen sustainable practice awareness to the campus community.  The events of the week showcased many organizations that promote sustainability, engaged students to be more involved in sustainable efforts, allowed students to use sustainability in their own lives and also included entertainment to celebrate Earth Day. Michael Ableman (Sustainable Canadian Farmer) visited campus to share his life experiences with the students and community.  The week included workshops, a clothing swap and an organization fair showcasing RSO’s and other units that practice sustainability.  Planning for Earth Week 2012 will begin during the fall semester.  Would you like to help?  Please let us know!

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