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Project Updates

  3. iCAP 2020 launched!

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan

    Urbana, Ill. — On Oct. 20, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones will approve and sign the newest version of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP). iCAP 2020, developed through broad stakeholder engagement and led by the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) and Facilities & Services (F&S), commits the campus to divest from fossil fuels, switch to clean energy sources, cut landfill waste, and pursue environmental justice.

    iCAP 2020 is the campus’s strategic sustainability plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions as soon as possible and by 2050 at the latest. This is critical and urgent, as atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHG) contribute to unstable agricultural productivity, food insecurity, and heightened levels of air and water pollution that will particularly affect our most vulnerable communities.

    SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based) objectives crafted in pursuit of this goal are organized into eight key themes: Energy, Transportation, Land & Water, Zero Waste, Education, Engagement, Resilience, and Implementation. Among the 56 diverse iCAP 2020 objectives:

    • Increase the number of trees on campus
    • Use clean energy sources for 15% of the total campus energy demand
    • Reduce net air travel emissions by 100% by FY30

    “We are proud of the university’s commitment to sustainability and appreciative of Chancellor Jones’s support as we continue to take action. Over the course of this year, campus and community members developed ambitious objectives, and we must work together to see them through,” iSEE Interim Director Madhu Khanna said. “The Illinois family is passionate about sustainability and resilient; each one of our efforts helps to make a difference.”

    iCAP 2020 is the third iteration of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (previously published in 2010 and updated in 2015). A priority this year is fostering a culture of sustainability on campus, with objectives geared toward increasing the visibility of sustainable practices to inspire positive, lasting change. These include:

    • Broaden the availability of sustainability education across the entire curriculum, beginning with first-year student orientation
    • Support programs to develop love of nature and sustainability among children
    • Promote zero waste events, with durable goods instead of disposables, and develop a comprehensive zero-waste messaging campaign

    Student involvement was instrumental to the creation of iCAP 2020. For the first time this year, the chancellor’s letter of endorsement is paired with a “Letter from the Students.” Additionally, students were key proponents of an objective calling for the university’s full divestment from fossil fuel companies.

    The Resilience chapter extends the iCAP’s scope of influence beyond campus borders. It identifies opportunities for collaboration with Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy to implement strategies for urban biodiversity, green job programs, and environmental justice.

    iCAP 2020 will be celebrated and signed by Chancellor Jones at the virtual Campus Sustainability Celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Speakers include Khanna, F&S Executive Director Mohamed Attalla, and several student sustainability leaders. RSVP and learn more.

    (For the day of, here is the Campus Sustainability Celebration Zoom link (password 089397) >>>)

  4. Mask Recycling in F&S Quarterly Report

    Associated Project(s): 
    Single-Use Mask (PPE) Recycling [ARCHIVED]

    SINGLE-USE MASK RECYCLING NOW AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS
    F&S partnered with TerraCycle to collect disposable masks for recycling. The best locations for collection boxes were determined through collaboration with departments and units. The program is offered at no cost to individual units and is supplemented through Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) funding.

  5. Solar Farm 2.0 in F&S Quarterly Report

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 2.0

    SOLAR FARM 2.0 CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY
    Construction started on the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign’s Solar Farm 2.0 in August, with a commercial operation date expected for early 2021. The new 54-acre, 12.1 megawatt (MWdc) solar array is located north of Curtis Road, between First Street and U.S. Route 45, next to the Village of Savoy. Once completed, the solar farm will produce 20,000 MWh annually, almost tripling the university’s existing on-site renewable energy generation. Through a combination of utility-scale installations, integrated facility rooftop arrays, and wind power purchase agreements, clean power usage at the U of I will increase to more than 52,000 MWh per year, which is over 10 percent of the campus electrical demand. Faculty have already identified research projects that will use the Solar Farm 2.0 installation, primarily related to the pollinator-supportive plants under and around the panels.

  6. Archived info - previous project description

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan

    The SWATeams and iCAP Working Group are now working on development of the 2020 iCAP. Each of the SWATeams will be asked to recommend specific, measurable objectives for the 2020 iCAP.  The actual iCAP chapters will be written by members of the iWG and iSEE staff, based on the input received from SWATeams and campus, for review by the iWG. In Spring 2020, there will be campus and community review of the draft chapters, and the SWATeams will be included as key stakeholders in that review process. Ultimately, the 2020 iCAP with a chapter for each SWATeam, and additional related chapters will be formally submitted to the Sustainability Council for campus approval.

  10. Weekly Update: Open hours sign, bikes pick up

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    Last week I had an epiphany that we should probably have a sign on the door that lists our hours, even if they are appointment only. That’s in the works, should be ready tomorrow.

    With the decrease in testing for grad/staff we’ve had to turn a few people away for not being up-to-date. They have, by and large, been totally understanding. A few people have emailed and canceled ahead of time, which is welcomed.

     

    Set up a secondary pegboard in the shop to better organize freewheel/cassette tools—it’s a vast improvement over the drawer and/or coffee can we’d been using before. Last week I grabbed the scrap metal bin, some miscellaneous parts, and Aquaham Lincoln. He’ll live atop the fridge.

    This week I’ll coordinate with Parking to pick up a few bikes—only space for 3 or so—for instructional/teaching purposes with the new hires, schedule a staff meeting for my team, finalize placement for wheel hooks around the shop to increase storage.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 12
    Sales: $747
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Refurb bike: 2 for $430
    Tire/tubes: 10 for $57

     

    Thanks!

     

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Manager

  11. Landfill gas as an option for renewable gas

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Renewable Natural Gas

    Upon inquiry from Morgan White, Mike Larson provided this update:

    One additional website that may be of interest is the attached from the EPA.

    https://www.epa.gov/lmop/project-and-landfill-data-state

    Landfill gas is the most prevalent form of renewable gas that I am aware of.  I asked Kinect about the use of biogas last year, and at the time they were not aware of anyone producing biogas and injecting it into the gas pipeline.  Most installations that I am aware of are point of use applications.  It costs quite a bit of money to pressurize the natural gas and inject it into the pipeline and the quantities are not huge, so most installations install a generator at the site and use the bio-gas to generate onsite.  I am not an expert in this market by any stretch, but that is my general understanding of how it is used.

    I will inquire again from Kinect, but I am not aware of any biogas being available to purchase, and as such I also do not know about the premium to purchase.

     

     

     

    Mike Larson

    Associate Director of Utilities Production, Facilities and Services

  12. eweek announcement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)

    iSEE Offering Seed Funding for Interdisciplinary Research Teams

    Up to $30K is available for a team of faculty-level researchers in sustainability, energy, or environment to develop exploratory ideas in multiple disciplines and departments; collect preliminary data; and prepare and submit research proposals for external funding through iSEE. Guidelines, forms, and contact info on the iSEE website.

    Tony Mancuso • Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)

  13. eweek announcement

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Water Conservation [ARCHIVED]
    Build Resilience with Our Local Community

    Eric T. Freyfogle, "Water, Community, and the Culture of Owning"

    Professor Freyfogle is the author or editor of a dozen books dealing with issues of humans and nature, some focused on legal aspects, others reaching to larger cultural and social issues. In this talk he will explore why American legal and cultural systems of water use and ownership make it so difficult to face climate change and other environmental challenges.

    October 14, 12–1 pm • zoom

    Maria Dorofeeva • Center for Global Studies

  14. Red Oak Rain Garden Nears Completion with Award of Grants

    Associated Project(s): 
    Red Oak Rain Garden
    Issue Press Releases and Sustainability Reports
    ICECF Grants
    Green Infrastructure
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    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.

    Attached Files: 

  16. Resilience iCAP Team Follow-Up Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team
    Champaign County Hazard Mitigation Plan
    Urban Biodiversity Master Plan
    Rainwater Management Plans
    Environmental Justice Plan

    The Resilience SWATeam met again on October 9th, 2020 at 12pm. The team completed the iCAP 2020 Assessment and in doing so determined the team's priorities for the year. The Assessment has been sent it to the iCAP Working Group, and the team is looking forward to advancing our objectives!

    Attached are a PDF of the completed Resilience iCAP Assessment, meeting minutes, and chat log. 

    The agenda was as follows:

    1. Review iCAP 2020 Assessment (Due October 9th)

    2. Update on Hazard Mitigation Plan recommendation

    3. Plans for future meetings

    4. Announcements

     

     

    Attached Files: 

  17. Engagement SWATeam Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan

    The Engagement SWATeam met on October 7th to continue its discussion on the iCAP Objective Assessment. Team members were tasked with researching and assessing particular objectives in the previous meeting. During this meeting, members presented their findings and initiated discussion on potential launch points. Meeting minutes are attached outlining discussion surrounding each of the six objectives in Chapter 7 of the iCAP 2020. 

    Attached Files: 

  19. 10/5 Resilience iCAP Team First Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Resilience iCAP Team

    The Resilience SWATeam met for the first time on October 5th, 2020 to get to know one another other and assigned team members to specific iCAP 2020 Objectives. We did icebreakers and new student members were introduced to different faculty, staff, and community members that are leading projects throughout campus. The team will have a follow-up meeting on October 9th to discuss work done over the past week and complete the iCAP 2020 Assessment. Attached are the meeting minutes. 

    The agenda was as follows:

    1. Introductions

    2. Evaluation of current progress on completing iCAP 2020 Objectives

    Attached Files: 

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