We are pleased to inform you that Prof. Evan DeLucia will become the first director of the Center for a Sustainable Environment, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

Prof. DeLucia brings a record of exceptional scholarship and a wealth of administrative experience to the new center. The G. William Arends Professor of Biology and the director of the School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Prof. DeLucia joined the faculty at Illinois in 1986. He was the founding director of the program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and has served as the head of the department of Plant Biology.

Illinois is uniquely poised to address the issue of environmental sustainability - and the Center for a Sustainable Environment will enhance our institutional capacity to do so. Prof. DeLucia will work with the many individuals, teams, and campus organizations involved in sustainability work on our campus to create the institutional structure to increase our impact and raise our profile as a leader in this area. These efforts will build on the campus strengths in sustainability, energy, and the environment that were so clearly identified in the Visioning Future Excellence process.

Prof. DeLucia's research interests strongly align with the vision for the Center. He studies the responses of forest and agro-ecosystems to elevated carbon dioxide and other elements of global change. He uses ecological, physiological and genomic approaches to understand how global change affects the carbon cycle and the trophic dynamics between plants and insects. His work has been well-funded by both government and industry.

Prof. DeLucia is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a member of multiple other professional societies. He received a B.A. from Bennington College, an M.F.S. in forest ecology from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in plant ecology and physiology from Duke University.

Please join us in welcoming Prof. Delucia to this new role.

Housing & Dining

The Dining Services Division of University Housing has made great strides in sustainable practices.  They purchase local foods, have implemented trayless dining, and donate 100% of its waste vegetable oil to the biodiesel project. In addition, they have recently been recognized for sustainable cleaning practices. Their newest facility, the Student Dining and Residential Programs building, is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification.

Recycling

The Waste Transfer Station recycles or diverts from land fill nearly 50% of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign waste.  In fiscal year 2009, the Waste Transfer Station recycled 1852 tons of paper and cardboard, 38 tons of aluminum cans, 899 tons of scrap metal, 38 tons of plastic, 1300 tons of landscape waste and 325 tons of pallets.  In addition to the Waste Transfer Station's efforts, the Campus Garage and Carpool recapped 25 tires rather than replacing them. Over the years, the University has recycled approximately 2,500 semi loads of materials.  This effort kept 53,000 tons out of the landfill and generated 3.5 million in cash.  The University also recycles equipment, both electronic and non-electronic.  In fiscal year 2009, we recycled over 118 tons of electronic equipment and nearly 300 tons of non-electronic equipment. 

University Construction Services demolished a Dining Facility and captured 77% of the material for recycling.  Material included copper, aluminum, glass, baling material and structural steel.  This project was completed on time and well within budget.  By utilizing recycling of this demolition, the University kept more than 3 million pounds of material out of the landfill.  This is the model for future demolition projects.

Facilities and Services initiated the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation program in October 2005.  This is a free cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling program that is easy to use and environmentally friendly.  RBRC supplies the collection boxes and shipping labels.  If rechargeable batteries are not recycled on campus, they are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of according to EPA regulations.  To date, the University has recycled 49 boxes resulting in a saving of over $3,000.

The Labor Electrician's shop has operated a fluorescent bulb recycling program since 2000.  They properly recycle 99.9% of all University light bulbs.  The Maintenance Electrical Repair shop has also been successful at recycling ballasts and removing copper wiring.

Recycling

• University of Illinois Waste Transfer Station

• Champaign Recycling

• Urbana Recycling

• Habitat For Humanity ReStore

• PACA Architectural Salvage Warehouse

• University YMCA Dump and Run

• Wheels for Wishes

• Household Hazardous Waste  (HHW) Disposal Options in East Central Illinois  

• Champaign County Reduce Reuse Recycle

Landscapes

THE ILLINOIS PATH:
A natural landscape promoting sustainable connections across campus communities (PDF)

Citing campus sustainability and enhancement, Illinois Chancellor asked a graduate class to provide a strategic assessment and implementation plan for a managed natural landscape on the Military Axis, a site located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in a manner consistent with the University's mission and Master Plan.

To view the comments on The Illinois Path report, click here.

There are many ways to make our landscapes more sustainable. Using native plants is one way. Reducing the amounts of fertilizers and pesticides used on plantings, and mowing less often are others. You can see these sustainable methods in practice on campus—the No-Mow Zones are one example. And there are several places around campus that you can visit to enjoy the beauty of native plantings, such as the Pollinatarium, the prairie plantings at the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, the Red Oak Rain Garden, and the plantings at BIF. And don't forget to check out Allerton Park.

Operations

Most operations on our campus are managed by Facilities & Services.  They are responsible for energy production and distribution, maintenance of our buildings, grounds keeping, waste management, water supply, and much more.  They have made a strong commitment and are at the forefront of sustainable operations practices.  The links to the left will provide brief explanations of sustainability in our operations.  Further information can be found at the links below.

• Energy Management

• Environmental Conservation

• Environmental Compliance

• Stormwater Management

Illinois Student Senate

In addition to the numerous registered student organizations, the Illinois Student Senate also has a committee on environmental sustainability.  This committee has passed a number of resolutions regarding sustainability including bicycle infrastructure, local foods, Abbott coal use and native landscaping.  Contact one of the senators for additional information.

Green Teams

Several units across campus have established sustainability committees, or green teams, to encourage more earth-friendly initiatives and behavior.  For example, the College of Fine and Applied Arts has established an intra-collegiate committee to discuss environmentally conscientious and sustainable issues and solutions.  The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs has created a green team with representatives from each of its units to develop a plan to implement sustainable practices. 


Learn more about Student Affairs' green initiatives.

Student Initiatives

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is home to more than 40,000 undergraduate students. Many of our students are passionate about sustainability, as can be seen by the large number of student groups whose work revolves around sustaining our planet.

• There are approximately 25 student groups related to sustainability here on campus

• In 2010, 70% of the student body voted to increase the sustainable campus fee from $5 to $14! This provides more than $1 million a year toward sustainability projects on our campus.

• During academic year 2010-2011, students led the development of two major events devoted to educating students, faculty, staff and the community about doing their part and how easy it can be to live a more sustainable lifestyle. In the fall, Sustainability Week included seminars, workshops, tours, etc. showcasing efforts underway and teaching ways for everyone to 'go green'. In spring, Earth Week was a similar effort, culminating in a concert with proceeds benefitting the Sustainable Student Farm.

Energy

Illinois is the place to learn about energy; whether it’s energy generation or distribution, traditional sources or alternative sources.  Faculty from all across campus are involved in energy research.

Power & Engineering Systems
CABER – Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research
EBI - Energy Biosciences Institute
SEDAC – Smart Energy Design Assistance Center
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center