You are here

All Project Updates

Search

Search tips:
  • This form will search for words in the title OR the description. If you would like to search for the same term(s) across both the title and description, enter the same search term(s) in both fields.
  • This form will search for any of the words you enter in a field, not the exact phrase you enter. If you would like to search for an exact phrase, put double quotes (") around the phrase. For example, if you search for Bike Path you will get results containing either the word Bike OR the word Path, but if you search for "Bike Path" you will get results containing the exact phrase Bike Path.


Pages

  1. New iSEE Greener Campus Program Certifications

    Associated Project(s): 
    Certified Greener Campus Programs
    Certified Green Office Program (CGOP)
    Certified Green Event Program

    Congratulations to the newest recipients of our Greener Campus Certification Programs!

     

    Green Event: University Police Department Cherries and Berries, Certified March 2022

     

    Green Office: Center for Social and Behavioral Science, Gold-Certified April 2022 (with 25 elective actions taken!)

     

    Keep up the great work!

  2. Weekly Update: New working hours; DIY maintenance event

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Apologies for the late Digest. Last Thursday we had our Gender Aware Shop Hours. It was not well attended but the weather always plays a factor. There is staff interest in making it a recurring event which could help boost attendance. We also collaborated with Urbana Parks District at a pop-up DIY maintenance event at the Phillips Recreation Center in Urbana on Saturday. Twelve or so folks signed up and I think we saw 8 or so people over the two hours. People seemed to enjoy it and we’ll look to do it again next year.

    This week is almost over but we did start our first week of M – F. Our Tues/Th shifts were less busy than M/W/F but as the weather warms and the word gets out, we’ll undoubtedly get busy on those days as well. The slow start is welcomed as we’re not fully staffed yet.

    Next week projects to be more in the 50s than the 40s so we’re getting towards some warmer weather.

    The numbers:

    Sales: $974.50
    Bikes (refurb): 4 for $660
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $60
    Memberships: 8 for $240
    Tires/tubes (used/new): 15 for $73

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  3. Zero Waste iCAP Team Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Establish a Net Zero Waste Plan and Policy
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting

    The Zero Waste iCAP Team met on Thursday, March 31 to de-brief the Plastics Reduction Strategy discussion, review committee member research on the Adopt-a-Highway/Adopt-a-Drain and Composting Committee Recommendations, and begin discussion on amending the Campus Administrative Manual's Paper Policy. Meeting minutes are attached.

    Attached Files: 

  4. Zero Waste iCAP Team Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Establish a Net Zero Waste Plan and Policy
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Large-Scale Food Waste Composting

    The Zero Waste iCAP Team met on Thursday, March 31 to de-brief the Plastics Reduction Strategy discussion, review committee member research on the Adopt-a-Highway/Adopt-a-Drain and Composting Committee Recommendations, and begin discussion on amending the Campus Administrative Manual's Paper Policy. Meeting minutes are attached.

    Attached Files: 

  5. College of ACES ESCO Projects

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Performance Contracting / ESCO

    Response to Brian Bundren's request for a time estimate for new ACES ESCO projects.

    From: Roman, Robert Raymond

    To: Bundren, Brian

    Good Morning Brian,

    We are gathering data on recommended scope and deferred maintenance opportunities in the buildings so we can assemble a presentation for review and discussion with your office. We would seek preliminary consent to continue in the ESCO process at that time from the Provost Office. It is my understanding that Dr. Kamarah’s office is working to put together a meeting with the parties involved. Hopefully, we will be meeting within the next two to three weeks. If we gain approval, I expect that we will begin in-depth scope development to provide to the system office for bid preparations.

     

    Hopefully, this addresses your inquiry. If not, please feel free to contact me.

     

    Best Regards,
    Rob

     

    Robert Roman
    DIRECTOR UTILITY & ENERGY SERVICES
     
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Utilities & Energy Services (UES)
    Facilities and Services Office
    1501 S. Oak Street
    Champaign, IL 61820
    217.300.5810 | roman at illinois.edu
    fs.illinois.edu/services/utilities-energy
     
    pDb62pkfEyBDKEdS2ZoNWDOWHyfzxsaXhUvgaQLh9SmrkZYq5US9Sy3fQ91mrvtZbEfwCVrZUjWNNJ+QAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==

     

    CEFP Logo
     

  6. Transportation iCAP Team Meeting 3/31/2022

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Fleet Replacement Plans
    Campus Landscape Master Plan (CLMP)

    The Transportation iCAP team met today 3/31/22 to discuss reaching out to the Prairie Research Institute to help establish a formal fleet replacement plan, the ongoing walkability audit and mode choice survey, and the ongoing Campus Landscape Master Plan Public Forums.

    Attached Files: 

  7. Sustainability Sub-Council Meeting Minutes 3-30-22

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Council
    Sustainable Land Management Committee
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Campus Landscape Master Plan (CLMP)
    Broaden Sustainability Education
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)

    The Sustainability Sub-Council met on 3-30-22 in preparation of the Sustainability Council meeting. The agenda was as follows: 

    • Introductions
    • Sustainable Land Management (for South Farms)
    • Waste Reduction Strategies
    • Updates – Campus Landscape Master Plan, Sustainability Gen Ed requirement
    • STARS report

    The meeting minutes and PowerPoint presentation are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

  9. Interview with Caleb Brooks (NPRE Professor, UIUC Micro-Nuclear Involvement)

    Associated Project(s): 
    Clean Energy Plan

    A document containing the notes from this interview is attached below.

     

    Summary of the Clean Energy Transition Plan Interview:

    Caleb Brooks - NPRE Professor, UIUC Micro-Nuclear Involvement

    On 3/31/22 the team spoke with Dr. Caleb Brook, who is a professor in the nuclear engineering department here at the University. The team spoke to him about the feasibility of using micro-nuclear reactors as a power source for the campus. Dr. Brooks is about to start research to determine these exact questions. In his opinion, campuses will be using micro nuclear reactors to power themselves, but it is going to take eight to ten years to get to that point. The research done with micro nuclear reactors has been more theoretical and not applicable at this time. The team still feels that the university should start saving money now to purchase a nuclear reactor once they are commercially available.

    Attached Files: 

  11. Energy iCAP Team March Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    Building-Level Energy Efficiency
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    The Energy iCAP team met on 3/30/2022 to discuss efforts to increase energy efficiency on campus. The primary topic of conversation was a recommendation that some educational program be created for students to learn about the building design process and advocate for energy efficiency in buildings.

    Attached Files: 

  12. iWG Meeting Minutes 3-29-22

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Energy iCAP Team
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Sustainability Council

    The iWG met on 3-29-22 and discussed the following agenda. The meeting minutes are attached. 

    1. Review from last meeting
      1. Energy008 – will be returned pending completion of planning doc
      2. Energy009 – update from Qu?
    2. New recommendations
      1. ZW005 Water Bottle Survey
      2. ZW006 Water Filter System Tracking
    3. Overview of Sub-Council Agenda
    4. Round the table - updates
    Attached Files: 

  13. iWG Meeting Minutes 2-25-22

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Energy iCAP Team
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Achieve Zero Waste

    The iWG met on 2-25-22 and discussed the Energy008 and Energy009 recommendations, Trans014, and plastic reduction initiatives. Andy Stumpf and Bill Rose, the Energy iCAP Team chairs, joined the meeting to discuss the two Energy recommendations. The meeting minutes are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

  14. Stable-to-Soil Enhancer

    Associated Project(s): 
    Compost at Illini Union
    Reduce Foodwaste

    Landscape Recycling Center sells the product described below:

    Stable-To-Soil Enhancer
     (Formerly Mushroom Compost)
    Up to 35-Gallon Bags/Containers: $7.25 | Bulk: $36/cubic yd



    Light brown and very fine textured material that can retain manure odor for several weeks



    Made from: Hardwood bark, straw material and horse manure from local stables that is composted into a high-quality finished product.



    Applications: Natural fertilizer for non-food crop landscapes. Excellent source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). In addition, manure returns organic matter and other nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and sulfur to the soil, building soil fertility and quality.
     

  15. March 25, 2022 Illini Lights Out Data

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illini Lights Out

    At the March 25 Illini Lights Out event,  4,077 light bulbs were shut off, saving $591.46 in energy costs. This also prevented 4.98 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 82.4 tree seedlings grown for ten years. That's a big impact!

    Illini Lights Out is a certified Green Event! Click this link to learn how to green-certify your own event.

    The next Illini Lights Out of the semester is Friday, April 8th, at 5:30 pm, and you can sign up for that event using this link if you haven't done so already. Earth Month is also right around the corner! Browse all of iSEE's events on this calendar, such as the Trash Pick-up on April 8th, 3:00-4:30 pm. 

  16. Bike Day presentation at National Bike Summit

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night

    Sarthak Prasad presented the findings from Bike Day 2021 event to the National Bike Summit on March 29, 2022! Bike Day 2021 was organized on September 14, 2021, with the Bike to Work Day event in the morning from 7-10 am and Light the Night event in the late afternoon/evening from 4-7 pm. Please see attached the presentation.

    Attached Files: 

  17. Interview with Cynthia Klein-Banai (Director of Sustainability at UIC)

    Associated Project(s): 
    Clean Energy Plan

    A document containing the notes from this interview is attached below.

     

    Summary of the Clean Energy Transition Plan Interview:

    Cynthia Klein-Banai - Director of Sustainability at UIC

    On 3/28/22, the team corresponded through email with Dr. Cynthia Klein-Banai, who is the Director of Sustainability at UIC. We inquired about the plans for the energy transition at UIC and she provided us with valuable insight on the University’s current initiatives. While the energy situations at UIUC and UIC are different, there is crossover between many aspects.

    Attached Files: 

  18. Competition Review Period Begins

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Race to Zero Waste

    Hello 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste participants,

     

    I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Thank you for participating in the 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste; the competition ended this past Saturday, March 26. And the Review Period has begun!

     

    The Review Period is two weeks and will end on Monday, April 11 (end of day).

     

    Please take this two-week period to review your ReTRAC data, update your placeholder data, and make any necessary changes by the April 11 deadline.

     

    IF YOU NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES PLEASE EMAIL CR2ZW@NWF.ORG (or simply respond to this email) AND REQUEST THAT YOUR REPORTS BE RETURNED TO DRAFT.

     

    Once the review period closes, the CR2ZW team will being vetting the top-ranking campuses for each category. If your campus is among the top ranked for a category, please be ready to share your data documentation. The unofficial category reports will be posted online by April 15 (in time for Earth Day), and final announcements will be made by April 28, celebrating the winners, all competition participants, and the overall impact of the competition in waste reduction. Communication of the final results of the competition will include: national press release, blog, template press release for schools to use, email blasts, and social media.

     

    Please reach out with any questions.

     

    Thanks, take care,

    Kristy

  19. Pouring Operations Clarification

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Council

    Jennifer Fraterrigo reached out to Alexa Smith and Aaron Finder asking to have "pouring operations" defined in preparation for her presentation about plastics at the Sustainability Sub-council. Aaron Finder replied explaining that "pouring operations encompass everything outside of the campus vending machine program. This includes but is not limited to Athletics, Housing's dining, catering, and retail locations, Illini Union''s retail locations, and the conference center at the i-Hotel. 

     

Pages