The following email was sent by Anya Dale on July 17, 2023:

Hello Big 10 and Friends - 

A number of partners across our university and college network expressed interested in having a casual conversation around Sustainability in Comprehensive Plans -  including any challenges or opportunities/lessons learned we can share around how to ensure campus sustainability goals are fully integrated into campus planning efforts.  To help aid further discussion, I've set up a Zoom meeting next week Wednesday, July 26th, from 11a-noon Eastern Time.  

Please email me directly if you are interested in being added to the calendar invite.

Thanks!

On August 12, 2023 Morgan White asked:

Hi Anya,

Did you happen to record this zoom call?  Can I get a copy of that?

Thanks!

Morgan

On August 14, 2023 Anya replied:

Hi Morgan,

I did not record the Zoom, but most of our brainstorming and sharing was captured on this JamBoard. Hope you find it helpful!

Jun 2023 photos of the Florida Orchard Prairie have been added to the box folder.

Greetings Everyone,

I am very pleased to announce that the FFY2024 Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities have been posted!

Here’s a link to the news release:  https://epa.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/epa/about-us/documents/news-releases/2023/07.26.23-IEPA-GIGO-NOFO-Final.pdf

Please plan accordingly, as all applications are due by noon on October 18, 2023.  Illinois EPA will be hosting a technical assistance session specific to these NOFOs on August 15 at 1:30.  It’s not required, but it may be of help, especially with the new application process.

Please see the news release for additional details and links directly to the GATA Portal.

Regards,

Jeff Edstrom

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Hi Quinn,

Please look into the funding opportunity below and let us know the short version.  I’d like to know timelines for the applications, funding level possible to request, and what type of projects could we seek funding for.

Thanks,

Morgan

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Hi Morgan,

The submission close date is 10/18/23 at 12:00 pm.

Funding Level:

“GIGO utilizes funds distributed by the State of Illinois generated under the Build Illinois Bond Fund. Illinois EPA expects to award a total of $10,000,000 and anticipates distributing this amount across four (4) to twenty (20) awards. GIGO has a set maximum total grant award of $2,500,000 with a minimum grant award of $75,000. No more than 25% of the program total, per funding cycle, shall be allocated to any one applicant or project. GIGO is a reimbursement program. The grantee must perform the work, pay project costs, and submit an invoice with supporting documentation before Illinois EPA will reimburse the grantee for any approved eligible costs. Illinois EPA shall only make reimbursements to the grantee and shall reimburse the grantee no more frequently than monthly.”

Projects that qualify for funding:

Bio infiltration

Retention/Infiltration

Detention Pond Creation/Retrofit

Wetland Creation/Modification

Floodplain Reconnection

Watershed-Wide Projects

Rainwater Harvesting

Downspout Disconnections

BMP Design and Construction

Here is the link for the information and details.

Thanks,

Quinn M. Connolly

Michael, Sarthak, Morgan, and Quinn met to discuss the 2010 iCAP objectives dashboard.

For Michael:

• [DONE] The individual objective pages' prev/next buttons need their text to wrap
• Some Objectives are showing the wrong project updates
• [DONE] The chapter choices on the 2015 need to be revised or removed
• [DONE] Do not include chapter choices on the 2010 dashboard (for now, unless they're rearranged to support chapters)
• [DONE] Add a choice for jumping back to the full dashboard for the objective

For Quinn:

• (DONE) Pick associated projects
• (DONE) Also, review the metrics for potential connections - do your best

For Sarthak:

• Calculate numbers from percentages

On August 7, 2023 Amy Rosenbery sent the following email:

Hi Morgan!

I’m working on our inventory and the Foam Compacting machine that Ben purchased in 2015 is on our list.

Do you know if this equipment went to ISTC? I don’t know who has this or where it’s located. It used to be on the 2nd floor here at NSRC but it’s not there anymore.

Best,
Amy

On August 9, 2023 Morgan White replied:

Hi Amy,

That Styrofoam machine was transferred to a different non-profit in Illinois, by ISTC.  Joe Pickowitz and Shantanu Pai were involved in getting it moved form ISTC to the other non-UIUC facility.

Thanks,

Morgan

Amy replied:

Hi Morgan!

That’s what I thought. I found an email about it going to Community Resource, Inc. in Urbana so I looked them up and the place is permanently closed now.

The equipment is still showing up on iSEE’s inventory.

Thanks for your help!

Best,
Amy

Attendance: Codie Sterner, Henry Markarian, Morgan White, Quinn Connolly, Daphne Hulse

• The project passed Phase 1 of the SSC application, but did not pass Phase 2. F&S failed the project on its feasibility, because it was expected that a bioreactor would need to be purchased and installed at MicroNano.
  • The project has since received external funding for the bioreactor, and it is now in place at MicroNano. The project's equipment is spread across two rooms of the facility, and the group pays a daily rate for their equipment.
  • The scope of the project is now changing. The equipment is aquired, but the groupr requires student interns to complete the feasibility research. The group would like to compensate students for their work. A new SSC application will be submitted, with a change in how the funds would be used.
• The project would like to next identify places to source food waste from.
  • Morgan noted that the dining halls are the only location on campus that currently have a solution for food waste, but all other producers on campus do not.
  • Daphne sent over a list of university food sources.
  • Bevier Cafe, the Grind2Energy systems, and the Student Sustainable Farm were sources identified by the group as possibly viable. Daphne will connect Henry with Bevier and the dining halls, and Codie will connect Henry with the SSF.

From: Hill, Landon E <landon@illinois.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 4:20 PM
To: Hulse, Daphne Lauren <dlhulse2@illinois.edu>
Cc: Fraterrigo, Jennifer M <jmf@illinois.edu>; Varney, Pete <pvarney@illinois.edu>
Subject: RE: DRS battery disposal

Hi.

Is there something specific that you are looking for?

DRS picks up most anything chemical that is requested for disposal through the campus waste management app: https://www.drs.illinois.edu/Page/RequestAWastePickup

All alkaline batteries are trashed.

Rechargeable batteries are recycled.

Lead acid batteries are taken to the cage on the west side of the Waste Transfer Station.

Landon

Hi Paul,

Could you send me more information on the activities in the res halls that you wanted iSEE to help fund?

Thanks,

Elizabeth

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Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for reaching out after our discussion!

We are looking to revive EcoOlimpics (EO) after the pandemic shut it down. ISEE has been a terrific supporter in the past , providing awards, moneys to purchase the sustainable prizes for the winning hall, and even sponsoring the energy monitoring platform, a combination of these when possible.

The attached is an original PPT that reflects how we got started, these efforts were collaborated with Housing and for the first few years supported by them as well. They ultimately withdrew there financial support in favor of making it 100% student led. Housing has continued to work with EcoOlympics for advertising, pushing the monitoring on digital displays and posting of posters etc.….

Here is a link that shares some of our achievements and captures some of the events across campus to the  (slightly outdated) website: https://ecoolympics.wixsite.com/eco-olympics

EO uses social media, advertising, tabling events and a host of other means to get the word out and encourage sustainable living within the dorm. Many of our officers participated as freshmen and joined the organizational team to grow and expand what they learned during the competition along with their personal/professional goals.

The organization is a typical business model. Start as freshman saving energy, then join as an officer, president, treasurer, media specialist, technical specialist, outreach chair etc. These roles help students gain insight and practical use of their chosen fields and interests. As juniors or Seniors they can choose to be a director and mentor the officers if they have pursued this path during their time here.

The competition

Each participating Hall creates a building captain team that motivates their residents to save energy and spread the word. We monitor consumption and create a confidential baseline that is used to compare results during the competition. The competition is anywhere from 3-6 weeks long and resolves in time for the awards to wrap up during the final week of spring semester.

The team that scores the highest points wins the trophy and bragging rights until the next competition, and gets to choose their award. Some awards have been a catered meal for the winning hall, water bottle dispensers in FAR, trees around Allen Hall, and solar battery backup devices for

Allen Hall was our last winning team in 2019 and they have presented the trophy until this year.

Thanks again and let me know if you have additional questions?  

Best

Paul Foote

----------------------

Thanks, Paul. What level of support are you requesting from iSEE?

--------------------------

Hi Elizabeth,

The $1000.00 level would be greatly appreciated and go a long way to help us get back up and running.

Best

Paul

-----------------------

Hi Paul,

Has housing agreed to be an active participant in this? It sounds like their active support will be critical.

Thanks,

Elizabeth

-------------------------

Hi Elizabeth,

Yes, Housing has given the go-ahead for this year’s event.

Thank  you

Paul Foote

-------------------

Hi Paul,

Thanks for confirming housing’s willingness to participate in facilitating this EcoOlympics. Can you let us know who you have been coordinating with in Housing? Jen has been focused on working with them to get Sustainability training to the RAs and information in their newsletters so it would be good for her to be aware of you are working with.

I also wanted to connect you Codie Sterner, the newish coordinator for the SSC. We want to make sure that we engage the multiple stakeholders on campus when programs are being planned so that we can have as much impact and participation as possible.

Thanks,

Elizabeth