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Projects Updates for Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

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  3. Conservation Budget Recommendation (ECONS003) - Submittal

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    ECBS Recommendations Summary
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    The ECBS SWATeam submitted a recommendation to the iWG stating, "We recommend continuing to fund critical projects that are key to energy conservation efforts at UIUC. Given the budgetary constraints of the University of Illinois, the team has developed a prioritized list to guide decision makers about funding priorities. Please see noted references for additional rationale for our recommendations.

    Priority 1 (Top—Most important): RESTORE funding for energy conservation work to FY 15 levels (total of ~$2M) to allow the recommission teams to continue their work. Specifically:

    • Restore $610K in Systems & Controls / Energy Conservation FY 16 cuts (includes $250K Quick Payback.)

    • Provide funding to maintain the $1.15M needed for the 3 existing Recommissioning teams.

    • Protect this initiative from FY 17 budget cuts (including another $ 250K proposed cut in Quick Payback.)

    Priority 2: INCREASE the Recommissioning and Preventive Maintenance (PM) teams. IMPLEMENT systematic upgrades of building control systems.

    • Increase Recommissioning teams from 3 to 4 for FY2017 (increase of $ 350K for FY 17).

    • Provide funding for systematic building control upgrades at $1M/year to allow further conservation.

    Priority 3: MAINTAIN the State Utilities Budget (currently ~$65M/year). This will allow campus to reinvest energy savings in more conservation work while maintaining the ability to cover possible future fuel and power price increases. Future Energy Performance Contracts with ESCOs could be supported by this reinvestment, as well as providing funding support for debt service payments on borrows. We anticipate that another ~$100M will need to be spent on future ESCO/deferred maintenance projects.

    Priority 4: COORDINATE with the Campus Master Plan to retire campus space and reduce overall campus square footage. New capital projects must be optimized for energy conservation. Coordinate campus deferred maintenance estimated at (~$750M) with deferred maintenance projects, campus energy conservation efforts, and campus master plan efforts."

    See attached the SWATeam recommendation ECONS003 Conservation Budget complete with comments from all the ECBS SWATeam members.

    See Supplanted ECONS001 Conservation Budget

    Attached Files: 

  4. Conservation Budget Recommendation - Supplanted by ECONS003

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECBS Recommendations Summary
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    The Conservation Budget Recommendation (ECONS001) was supplanted by an updated Conservation Budget Recommendation (ECONS003).

    See iWG assessment of ECONS001 Conservation Budget

    See SWATeam recommendation of ECONS001 Conservation Budget

    See SWATeam recommendation of ECONS003 Conservation Budget

  5. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Dashboard Project
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Green Lab Program
    Fume Hood Shut the Sash Campaign
    Eco-Olympics

    At the ECBS SWATeam meeting this week, Sam Wilson, a grad student in Communication, presented his ongoing research efforts on fume hood behaviors, which will tie into the development of our Green Labs Initiative.  Big Picture Recommendation discussion continued as the team worked on making clear connections to iCAP 2015 in the document, which is set to be submitted by the end of next week.  The online Energy Dashboard has been updated, courtesy of Mike Marquissee.  Eco-Olympics results indicated competing buildlings across campus achieved up to a 10.6% reduction in energy usage (Lundgren Hall).  Grad student Anna Tanaglia presented the success of public speaking sections (CMN 101) that focused on campus sustainability; students seemed to enjoy these topics and some have expressed interest in getting more involved in campus sustainability efforts.  Claudia presented a social marketing campaign class project on student involvement in campus sustainability efforts, the findings of which may guide future campus engagement efforts.

    Attached Files: 

  7. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Illini Lights Out

    Discussion on the development of a campus sustainability brand continued, with the input of iSEE Communications attendees Tony Mancuso and Olivia Harris.  The Big Picture Recommendation discussion moved forward as well, and a subcommittee meeting was set for April 26.  The Green Office Program is up and running again, with Olivia Webb replacing Nishant Makhijani as iSEE Sustainability Programs Coordinator.  The Building Standards Consultation Group is planning to call its first meeting, led by Morgan Johnston and Fred Hahn, before the end of the semester.

    Attached Files: 

  8. Illini Lights Out Results

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    Energy Conservation and Building Standards SWATeam Recommendation Summary:
    Illini Lights Out – Friday April 15th 6pm – 7pm

    Summary: Student volunteers switched off lights in 8 buildings around the Main Quad, counted the number of lights and the room number on a tally sheet and closed any windows left open. Students were given free rein on how to document lights in rooms (some chose to write the rooms with lights off and on, some just the rooms with lights on) and which (unlocked) rooms to enter – as long as they recorded the number of lights switched off. After returning their tally sheets they filled out a short survey and enjoyed some pizza.

    Buildings and Number of Lights Turned Off:
    • English Building: 100
    • Gregory Hall: 540
    • Lincoln Hall: 60
    • Daniel Kinley Hall: 42
    • Davenport Hall: 191
    • Noyes Laboratory: 75
    • Altgeld Hall: 182
    • Foreign Languages Building: 343

    Total: 1, 533

    Number of windows closed: 71


    Student volunteers: 22 students from 18 different majors, from ALL academic years.

    Student Feedback: Fun & positive environment. Advertise more. Recruit more people. Do it more often. Develop consistent counting metric.

    Suggested Buildings: Armory, NSRC, Illini Union, Psychology Building, South Quad, ALL.

    Conclusions/Implications:

    • Students keen to participate again – more advertising = more participants.
    • Significant room to expand initiative across campus: north/south quad.
    • Not all buildings can be audited due to sensitive information or lack of classrooms.
    • Specific rooms/ numbers and number of lights should be provided in future to simplify volunteer instructions and tally sheets. However, many accessible hallway lights were switched off during this event.
    • Partnership with local restaurant would make this more cost effective to run and maintain.
    • Better education of the importance of keeping windows closed to maintain heating/cooling efficiencies needed – especially when weather transitions from cool to warm. 
    • Directly addresses iCAP Chapter 2. Objective 4: Engage and incentivise the campus community in energy conservation.

    Illini Lights Out is an effective and cost efficient way to help with energy conservation efforts and engages students on campus!!

    Attached Files: 

  9. Illini Lights Out pilot was a huge success

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    Just quick here.  We completed the Illini Lights Out a few minutes ago.  It went off magnificently.  Alex led the process with confidence and clarity.  15 volunteers showed up plus the 7 student patrols (they were perfect).  Alex sent the teams out with clipboards (thanks Alex and Karl), maps (thank you Morgan J), instructions (thank you Morgan K) and tally sheets (thank you Jessica) to turn off lights and close windows,  The teams took about 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the building.  Pizza was enjoyed by all when they finished. The students seemed to really enjoy it.

    Jessica prepared a short survey that the students completed so we have some idea of how they experienced this process.  Thanks, Jessica.  The local student TV service interviewed a few of us and they will do a story about us, where ever that goes.

    So, great job everyone.  Olivia Harris for the PR, Ravi for organizing our entry, Amy for the pizza, Ryan for the student patrol.  And especially Alex who handled the communications with the volunteers and was the point person for the event.  This was truly a TEAM effort.

  10. iWG meeting agenda March 30, 2016

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP) [ARCHIVED]
    Illini Lights Out
    Wind Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
    Topical iCAP Teams
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam

    see file

    Attached Files: 

  11. iWG meeting meeting March 30, 2016

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Topical iCAP Teams
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP) [ARCHIVED]
    Illini Lights Out
    Wind Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Generation, Purchasing, & Distribution (eGen) SWATeam
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam
    Agriculture, Land Use, Food, and Sequestration (ALUFS) SWATeam

    see file

    Attached Files: 

  12. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Dashboard Project

    The SWATeam continued the discussion about its Big Picture Recommendation for energy conservation regarding the Campus Master Plan.  Students reported their findings on what undergraduates want to see on energy displays in campus buildings.  Smaller updates on fume hood efficiency efforts and Illini Lights Out followed.  Green Labs Initiative intern Natalie Pelekh attended this meeting to present her research on Green Labs programs at other schools and to discuss factors that need consideration before launching our own Green Labs program.

    Attached Files: 

  13. ECBS Objective 4 Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    Illini Lights Out was further developed in terms of advertising and the logistics of the event.  Olivia Harris from iSEE attended to participate in the continued logo contest discussion.  A key aspect of this contest is clearly defining what we're looking for in this logo and exactly what it will be encompassing.  The contest may be pushed back to Fall 2016.

    Attached Files: 

  14. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Energy Dashboard Project

    The iCAP ECBS Objective 2 consultation group is forming, and the first meeting is planned for the week after spring break.  Karl updated on fume hood efficiency efforts, which have led to several fume hoods being shut down.  The Energy Dashboard project was discussed and give to the Objective 4 Subcommittee as a new item to work on.  The team also discussed ways to advocate for energy conservation funding in the campus master plan and decided to create a proposal to send to the Office of the Provost.

    Attached Files: 

  16. ECONS002 Illini Lights Out Recommendation - Submittal

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    ECBS Recommendations Summary
    Illini Lights Out

    The ECBS SWATeam submitted a recommendation to the iWG stating, "The ECBS SWATeam recommends conducting a one hour pilot audit of lights left on in select buildings on campus as part of a campus engagement and conservation strategy. Pairs of students accompanied by campus security/other personnel (as necessary) are assigned buildings to audit on the main Quad to turn off non-essential lights in classrooms/bathrooms not in use. Volunteers will meet at a designated location to sign in, review safety protocols and receive their tally sheets and floor plans. Students will use these sheets to indicate any empty rooms where they turned off lights. After the audit is complete, students will return all forms to designated staff and are then eligible for a prize/reward. The ECBS team intends to use the results of this pilot to recommend a more comprehensive year-round campaign called ‘Illini Lights Out’. Details of audit as follows:

    • Buildings to be audited (8): Altgeld Hall, English Building, Lincoln Hall, Gregory Hall, Smith Memorial Hall,Foreign Languages Building, Davenport Hall, and Noyes Laboratory.
    • Given the number of buildings, it is expected that 16 – 24 student volunteers are needed.
    • Recommended date for pilot audit is Friday, April 15th from 6pm – 7pm.
    • Designated meeting spot required. Table in the Illini Union recommended between 5:45pm – 7:30pm."

    See attached the SWATeam recommendation ECONS002 Illini Lights Out complete with comments from all the ECBS SWATeam members.

    Attached Files: 

  17. ECBS Objective 4 Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    Details for the pilot energy audit were further developed in order to finalize the recommendation.  The audit will be called Illini Lights Out and is set to occur on April 15 at 6pm and to target student volunteers.  Details and issues discussed are included in the attached minutes.

    Attached Files: 

  18. ECBS SWATeam Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam
    Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

    Ben McCall attended this ECBS SWATeam meeting to join in on the discussion of objectives 2 and 3 under the ECBS section of iCAP 2015.  A consultation group will be formed to help in recommending potential objective 2 strategies.  The main issue is that there is no "one size fits all" standard for all campus buildings.  Various strategies of creating a feedback loop for reducing energy usage were also discussed with regards to objective 3.  Next meeting is set for Tuesday, March 15.

    Attached Files: 

  19. ECBS Objective 4 Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    The ECBS Objective 4 Subcommittee met on Tuesday, February 23 to continue discussions on campus engagement in sustainability.  Paul Foote attended and gave an update on Eco-Olympics and his plans to continue the program this year, with some changes.  Work on the Green Labs Initiative is progressing.  A continued discussion of potential recommendations to send to the iWG led to the idea of a pilot energy audit by student volunteers on April 15.  However, the issue of raising awareness for and branding campus sustainability remains.

    Attached Files: 

  20. ECBS Objective 4 Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP)
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    The ECBS Objective 4 Subcommittee met Tuesday, February 16 to continue fleshing out the ECBS SWATeam's fourth iCAP objective, which has to do with increasing campus engagement in sustainability.  Discussion continued on ECIP and potential changes for the upcoming year- a major issue is raising awareness of this program and others like it. By the conclusion of the meeting, the focus of the subcommittee shifted to creating and sending recommendations to the iCAP Working Group, such as a Green Labs Initiative proposal as well as continuing Eco-Olympics or initiating a similar program that would serve as dorm resident engagement.  The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 23.

    Attached Files: 

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