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  1. PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement - Transmitted

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement, the recommendation was transmitted to Dr. Evan Delucia, Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.

    See iWG assessment of PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement attached.

    See SWATeam Recommendation PWR020 F&S Waste Report Endorsement here.

    Attached Files: 
  2. PWR014 Sustainability Ethics Training - Successful

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for PWR014 Sustainability Ethics Training, the recommendation was transmitted to Dr. Evan DeLucia, Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, who agreed that this is a great recommendation. Collaboration between the Zero Waste SWATeam, iSEE Communications team, and the University Ethics Office will result in training questions and videos to be included in the annual Ethics Training for staff and faculty.

    See iWG assessment of PWR014 Sustainability Ethics Training attached.  The iWG recommends: "Council: We would like to pilot this as an optional, five minute addendum to the annual Ethics Traning. SWATeams: Work with the ethics office and iWG to recmmend questions by the end of October 2019."

    See SWATeam Recommendation PWR014 Sustainability Ethics Training here.

    For future updates, see Sustainability Training Best Practices Video. 

  3. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Pete and Shawn--

    This past week, I contacted Morgan White about bringing the glove recycling program to the attention of the Green Labs Committee this fall.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  4. eGen009 Campus Geothermal Policy - Transmitted

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for EGEN009 Campus Geothermal Policy, the recommendation was transmitted to Dr. Mohamed Attalla, Director of Facilities & Services.

    See iWG assessment of EGEN009 Campus Geothermal Policy attached.

    See SWATeam Recommendation EGEN009 Campus Geothermal Policy here.

    Attached Files: 
  5. ALUFS006 Increased Agroforestry - Transmitted

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for ALUFS006 Increased Agroforestry, the recommendation was transmitted to Dean Kimberlee Kidwell of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.

    See iWG assessment of ALUFS006 Increased Agroforestry attached, saying, "Work with the university landscape architect, Brent Lewis, to develop a plan for adding trees along the Embarras, including costs and requirements, and supporting implementation."

    See SWATeam Recommendation ALUFS006 Increased Agroforestry here.

    Attached Files: 
  6. Water006 Lot F23 Monitoring - Returned

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for Water006 Lot F23 Monitoring, the recommendation was returned back to the Water SWATeam so that a proposal for funding this project may be submitted to the Student Sustainability Committee.

    See iWG assessment of Water006 Lot F23 Monitoring attached.

    See SWATeam Recommendation Water006 Lot F23 Monitoring here.

    Attached Files: 
  7. eGen010 Geothermal Feasibility Study - Returned

    Following the completion of iWG assessment for EGEN010 Geothermal Feasibility Study, the recommendation was transmitted back to the Energy SWATeam to conduct additional analysis and investigation of current campus geothermal efforts.

    See iWG assessment of EGEN010 Geothermal Feasibility Study attached.

    See SWATeam Recommendation EGEN010 Geothermal Feasibility Study here.

    For future updates, please refer to Geothermal on Campus.

    Attached Files: 
  8. ILLINOIS WINS FREEZER CHALLENGE FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

    For the second straight year, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the best at implementing cold-storage best management practices, including reducing the energy required for laboratory cold storage. Campus efforts in more than 70 laboratories across 15 buildings earned back-to-back first place awards in the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge’s Academic category.

    The total energy usage in these spaces decreased by an estimated 438 kWh/day or a combined annual total equivalent of 13.5 homes energy for 1 year. The reductions were achieved due to the dedication and creativity of researchers across campus in implementing best practices for cold storage management. They received points for taking actions such as properly maintaining freezers and refrigerators, discarding old samples, and retiring unneeded units.

    See attached file or visit: https://www.fs.illinois.edu/resources/announcements/2019/08/08/the-university-of-illinois-wins-the-international-freezer-challenge-for-the-second-straight-year for full press release.

    More information on the challenge is available at https://www.freezerchallenge.org/ and https://go.fs.illinois.edu/freezerchallenge. The program is jointly run by My Green Lab and I2SL.

  9. PWR017 Housing Representative for Zero Waste SWATeam - Successful

    University Housing Director, Alma Sealine, responded over email to Morgan White (Associate Director of F&S, Sustainability) in regards to the recommendation: "I support the recommendation."

    From this point on, Housing will be represented on the new Zero Waste SWATeam by Assistant Director of Dining Services Thurman Etchison.

    See SWATeam recommendation PWR017 Housing Representative for Zero Waste SWATeam here.

     

  10. Weekly Update - Bike Sales, Rodeo on campus

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, I was out of town on Friday and Monday so this is a little belated.
    Last week was good. We’ve been selling bikes a little more steadily. Tally of For Sale bikes: 16. We’ve got a few more that need final safety checks to get going so I’ll hope to get that number a little higher, especially as we approach the beginning of the academic year. On Thursday morning I did a Rodeo on campus with Cynthia and a couple of the student staff. It went really well! Kids seemed jazzed, enjoyed riding the bikes, and the basketball court was perfect for the skills course.

    No issues having the students cover for me and thanks to Todd for grabbing the scrap.

    This week I’ll be out on Friday for a Campus Recreation Staff Retreat. I’ll have Chris or Theo cover for me. We’re short on some supplies so I’ll get an order in with one of our suppliers for consumables.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 69
    Sales: $743
    Memberships: 8 for $240
    Bike (refurb): 3 for $320
    Tire/tubes: 14 for $81

     

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  11. Weeding info and more

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    Thanks for coming to our last meeting. For those of you who could not make it, no worries. Our next steps will be weeding the rain garden. I am still working on a list of plants with pictures, but in the meantime I have attached a updated list of the names of all the plants that should be there and notable weeds. Anythings you weed can be thrown into the lawn, if it happens that there are a lot of weeds that have been pulled still throw them onto the lawn, or perhaps a small tarp if anyone has one, and let me know so we can send Grounds to pick it up. 

    As far as trees go, we are still going to go ahead and try to pull all tree saplings out. We discussed that this will likely be easiest after a rain. If they just aren't coming up and digging them out does not seem viable, at that point we can have Grounds come herbacide. 

    We are going to continue this process likely until mid Fall, at which time I am hoping we will have plugs to put in. 

    I am also working on an event that we can do at the start of the school year to get more volunteers out and helping around the rain garden. I will have more news on that soon.

    Thanks again for everyone' your help! If you have nay questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to shoot me an email.

     

    Best,

    Vince

     

    vnd.google-apps.document Vet Med Rain Garden Plant Identifier Doc

     

  12. Light the night 2019 - funding agreements

    Associated Project(s): 

    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and MTD agreed to contribute $1,500 each to purchase bicycle lights for Light the Night event.

    On July 25, 2019, Morgan White confirmed that Sarthak Prasad will be the primary contact for Light the Night for F&S.

  13. Weekly Update - Bike collection, Scrap Bins, Outreach to Engineering students

    All, Things were slow-to-comfortably-busy last week. A new employee started. On Tuesday I picked up 30+ bikes from JSM. Only about 1/3 of the bikes were of any quality. The rest we have been steadily scrapping. Consequently we’re pretty maxed out on our scrap bins. One of the good bikes was built up in record time on Friday. A Structural Engineering PhD student rolled in around 2:30 – 3 and finished building the bike a little after 5:30. Most of the bike was in good condition. While he worked I spoke with him about getting engineering students into the Bike Center to try some physical, practical applications to their studies. While he couldn’t get students in to CBC himself, it was encouraging that he agreed it would be a good idea.

    I spoke with my Parking Dept contact. Abated bikes have been collected. There are significantly fewer collected than in prior years. Whether that is due to VeoRide, education/awareness, or simply a diminished area of collection (due to construction), it’s hard to say. Bottom line is less work for me and my staff!
    This week I’ll be taking Friday afternoon off. I’ll be out of the office on Monday and Tuesday of next week as well. Chris will cover hours. Next week’s report, accordingly, will happen on Wednesday.

     

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 75
    Sales: $1,282.90
    Bikes (refurb): 6 for $810
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $50
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Tires/tubes: 17 for $89

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  14. Meeting recap: Vet Med Rain Garden

    Associated Project(s): 

    Good Afternoon,

    Thank you to everyone who came to our meeting yesterday. I am happy that we are going to get started! Here is a quick recap:

    • Our plan for this early stage is simply weeding the area as much as we can. Anything that is not listed as part of the original seed mix or as serving a purpose can be pulled out.
    • Special attention should be paid to tree saplings you spot. I told Brent about this and he said he would send Grounds over to specifically herbicide the trees. In the meantime, we can try to pull these out after rain showers to make things easier. 
    • I plan on updating the plant identification sheet I sent out and hopefully we can get a laminated copy to place near the rain garden for anyone who is out there. I know the first sheet was a bit hard to read, so until I get the new one with pictures figured out, I have attached a simple list of what should be there and some examples of what shouldn't be there (if you see something out there that is not on the list, feel free to weed it) 
    • Most of you said that you'd just go out during your lunch breaks to weed a bit throughout the week, that works for me. I know most you know each other in some form or another so if you'd like set up some sort of schedule feel free, I'll leave that up to you all.
    • As the weeds get pulled out we will start to see how much space we have to put in plugs. We might even be able to get gallon plugs to put in late Fall or Spring that will have a better chance of staying alive. 
    • When the school year starts I think it would be great to see if we could get some more volunteers and set up some day where bunch of us go out and do some work at the same time and make an event out of it. More info on that to come.  

    Thanks again for everyone's help! If you have any questions or comments related to what I stated in this email or just in general feel free to email me.

     

    All my best,

    Vince

     

    vnd.google-apps.document Vet Med Rain Garden Plant Identifier Doc

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