Application to SSC for solar at Willard
Associated Project(s):
Ryan Day submitted a proposal to the SSC for $70k in support of adding solar over the parking at Willard Airport. See attached files.
Attached Files:
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Projects Updates for Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
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Red Oak Rain Garden Nears Completion with Award of Grants
Associated Project(s):Please see the attached file for a recent press release regarding the Red Oak Rain Garden and their awarded grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
10/2 Transportation SWATeam Meeting
Associated Project(s):Attached are the meeting minutes for the Transportation SWATeam Meeting on 2 October 2019.
The items discussed were:
- Introductions
- Announcements
- Sustainability Celebration Information
- Student member involvement
- SSC Working Group Meeting Invitation
- Sustainability Celebration Information
- Team Member Updates
- SSC Grant Application for Abandoned Bike Path Removal
- Bike Census 2020 Volunteers
- CTAC Membership
- iCAP 2020 Objectives Assessment
- Team Members assigned objectives.
- Deadline for member contributions is 10/9 at noon.
Attached Files:Curtis Road landscaping
Associated Project(s):Tom's Mailbag in the News-Gazette included information about the Solar Farm 2.0 landscape buffer: https://www.news-gazette.com/toms-mailbag/toms-mailbag-june-19-2020/article_ddf7f640-1c32-5024-98b0-74d8f4ecaa7e.html
Curtis Road landscaping
"Curtis Road from Neil Street and First Street in Savoy, why are they planting several rows of tree and bushes?
The work underway in that location is for a landscaped buffer between the University of Illinois' Solar Farm 2.0 site and the village of Savoy, said Morgan White, associate director for sustainability at the University of Illinois.
"Since the start of the project, the university has incorporated the feedback of nearby residents and businesses in planning aspects to ensure that area is aesthetically pleasing and limits the future visibility of the array directly from Curtis Road," she said. "The buffer was designed by the University Landscape Architect at Facilities & Services, Brent Lewis, and it consists of native trees, shrubs and perennials specifically selected for their aesthetics and pollinator benefits.
"The trees were funded by the Student Sustainability Committee, and the remaining costs were provided by Facilities & Services and the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.
"This extensive buffer planting, along with the 54 acres of native perennials and grasses under the solar panels, will help to establish a diverse pollinator habitat and strengthen ecosystems for local and migratory birds and insects, including butterflies and bees. This effort supports the university's commitment as a 'Bee Campus USA,' proving progress in awareness, native plant landscapes, and safe pest management.
"When completed, the site will also serve as a demonstration for pollinator-friendly solar arrays, following the requirements of the Pollinator Friendly Solar Site Act, of which the university has taken the lead in creating."
SSC Final Report: Bike Path Renovation: Armory Avenue Path South of Gregory Hall
Associated Project(s):The construction on the path began in summer 2020 and was completed by the time students returned to campus. The old bike paths, along with hedges, overgrown evergreens, and decorative urns were removed from the area. A new 6 foot wide path was constructed and plans have been made to restore the landscape as needed. The Armory Avenue bike path is now open to use!
This project tied in with the renovation of the entire Armory Ave bike path that connects the bike lane on Armory Ave to the bike lane on Goodwin Ave. This bike path goes through the Gregory Hall, Foellinger Auditorium, Smith Hall, IGB, and Bevier Hall.
Please see attached the final report for this project.
See the previous update for this project.
SSC Final Report: Campus Bike Parking Overhaul, Phase 1
Associated Project(s):SSC funded the Campus Bike Parking Overhaul, Phase 1 project in FY12 for $225,000. Please see attached the final report pertaining to this project.
Attached Files:SSC Funding Award: Bike Path Renovation: Armory Avenue Path South of Gregory Hall
Associated Project(s):The SSC awarded $50,000 for the "Bike Path Renovation: Armory Avenue Path South of Gregory Hall". This award will expire on May, 2022. Please see attached the Funding agreement.
SSC Final Report: Beginner Bike Maintenance Classes
Associated Project(s):SSC funded the Bike Maintenance Instructor project with $1,000 in FY17. Please see attached the final report for this project.
See the project update for the funding letter for this project here.
Attached Files:SSC Scope Change Requested for Dump and Run
Associated Project(s):University Housing submitted the attached Scope Change request to the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) to transfer the key contact for the Dump and Run grant from Housing to Facilities & Services.
Attached Files:Suggested Content for Pollinator Sign
Associated Project(s):See the attached file for suggested content for the Florida-Orchard Pollinator Signage.
This document includes information about plants, animals, and pollinators related to the prairie.
Attached Files:Dump and Run Step 1 Funding Application 2020 (SSC)
Associated Project(s):The University Housing submitted the attached Step 1 Funding Application for Dump and Run 2020 (SSC).
Attached Files:Fix-a-Flat classes were done
Associated Project(s):The Campus Bike Center held Fix-a-flat classes every week on Fridays from March 29, 2019 (from 11 am - 12 pm) till the end of semester (May 3, 2019).
Description for the Fix-a-Flat class:
“Tired of getting flat tires on your bike? Come to this 1 hour informational hands-on class to learn how to solve one of the most common bicycle repair problems! We’ll cover the basics of removing a wheel and tire, replacing the tube, and reinstalling the wheel on the bicycle. All tools and parts will be provided.”SSC funds Recycling Pods
Associated Project(s):The Illini Union has purchased 6 outdoor recycling units and 7 indoor units to address the growing need for recycling centers in and around the Union. This project will add an additional 10 recycling bins to the current initiative. In doing so, recycling efforts will increase around the Union, iCAP objectives will be implemented, recycling will be promoted across campus, strides towards waste reduction will be made – among just some of the positive impacts.
Attached Files:SSC funds Wastewater Elimination & Scale Up Restoration
Associated Project(s):The Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI) is a student-led organization that works to promote the development of renewable energy production at UIUC and to educate the campus community about the advantages of biodiesel. Their primary focus is the production of biodiesel and soap from a feedstock of used vegetable oil obtained from the University Dining Halls. In the past, biodiesel produced by IBI was utilized by University Garage and Carpool Services. With the addition of a glass-lined 400 gallon batch biodiesel reactor and relocation to the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, IBI will be able to continue to do so. The funding from this project will be allow for the purchase of this reactor, which will enable IBI to increase its production capacity and recycle larger quantities of used vegetable oil.
Attached Files:SSC funds Vision Zero for UI
Associated Project(s):Vision Zero is an international organization with the primary goal of promoting zero fatal and severe injury crashes in cities and communities. This is done by implementing practices which go beyond the traditional approaches to safety – by combing data-driven decision making with the incorporation of human error, community input, and implementing a “Safe Systems” approach. This project’s goal is to have zero traffic crashes at UIUC, making it a safer environment for students and staff. It is expected that traffic incidents will increase on campus due to the rise in bike ridership and construction. This project will investigate which Vision Zero principles could be implemented in order to prevent these dangers, resulting in a report that identifies the safety critical point in the transportation network that can be improved according to Vision Zero.
Attached Files:SSC funds South Farm Draper Purchase
Associated Project(s):Just like any other lab or research facility, the South Farms are a valuable asset to the University of Illinois. In order to have the biggest impact on research, the best equipment and data generation techniques are necessary. This allows the university to practice applicable research that improves the quality of human life. As such, this project will fund the purchase of a combine draper head for the South Farms that will increase productivity, diversify available crops for harvest, and elevate the South Farms to be on par with current farming techniques. All researchers on the South Farms, from small grain researchers to cover crop researchers, will benefit from access to this technology due to the higher rates of harvest, cover crop growth, and environmental return this draper head will generate.
Attached Files:SSC funds Wagglenet
Associated Project(s):The primary goal of this project is to create an intuitive and complete open-source loT solution for both research and general use. This system will make data collection as easy as placing sensors where they are needed and adding them to the system through only a few button clicks, after which the cloud-based platform will take care of everything else. The open-source nature of the project leverages non-proprietary solutions and allows developers to expand the data-collection system to new uses. The more ambitious goal of the project is to bridge the gap between research and application. Users will have an opportunity to share data with any research project and benefit from predictive analytics models derived from researchers’ findings in return. The idea is for this feedback loop it greatly speed up the research process and dramatically cut down the efforts to speed the transition of research outcome into practical benefit.
Attached Files:SSC funds Illini Hyperloop
Associated Project(s):“Hyperloop” is a proposed mass transportation method originally theorized by Elon Musk. The system involves a high-speed train, or “pod,” inside of a vacuum tube. In theory, a full-scale design could see pods traveling at up to 700 MPH, making it ideal for inter-city transportation normally taking up to six hours by car, and consuming very little energy. Illini Hyperloop is one of 21 competition teams accepted globally to build a pod for the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition. Musk’s SpaceX has built a mile-long Hyperloop tube, which can support a near-vacuum. Student-led teams around the world have entered the competition to race their vehicle. Illini Hyperloop has made it into the competition, and hopes to successfully complete construction of their vehicle, ship it to California, and race it on the track. With many students driving or taking buses to and from campus, a Hyperloop could potentially provide quick, inexpensive, and sustainable public transportation, and link Champaign to cities such as Chicago or St. Louis.
Attached Files:SSC funds Expansion & increased utilization of biomass heating at the Energy Farm
Associated Project(s):This project will retrofit drying ovens and associated workspace to utilize renewable energy heat from an existing biomass boiler. The College of ACES is financially supporting the construction of a sample processing room to better utilize the existing drying over assets at the Energy Farm, for which the current energy source is propane. The biomass boiler, installed in 2017, has proven to be functional and capable of decreasing carbon. Right now, the primary structure it heats is a greenhouse, from October to April each year. By expanding the months of operation and utilizing excess capacity, an increased value and return on investment will be realized.
Attached Files:SSC funds Illini Union I-Room LED Conversion
Associated Project(s):The Illini Union Illini Rooms (I-Rooms) are currently using compact fluorescent lighting fixtures, which are low efficiency, contain mercury, and are expensive to maintain. This project will replace all 72 of these fixtures with LED alternatives. It will increase energy conservation efforts in the Union and reduce its overall carbon footprint. Doing so will also advance iCAP objectives and increase awareness of wasteful energy consumption.
Attached Files:
