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Project Updates

  3. Planning underway, amidst COVID-19 changes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Dump and Run

    Hello all,
     
    Shantanu and I have held a few planning meetings with Marc and Kasey from the YMCA for Dump & Run.  We’ve talked with F&S communicators and the staff who will be clearing out of the space we intend to use.  Shantanu has put together a draft communications plan, and he identified an improved collection container which we can purchase with the Student Sustainability Committee funds.  We also began planning for a community drop off location that would not be at the F&S building.
     
    On Friday, Bryan Johnson arranged a quick phone call with Shantanu, Bryan, me, and Joe Glass at Housing.  We discussed the changes in campus and the anticipated student behavior, related to living in the residence halls.  We talked about the potential for several students leaving at random dates throughout the remainder of the semester, and how we could potentially still collect materials.  We also talked about the possibility of needing to cancel entirely for this year.  Ultimately, that decision will need more clarity about who is here in May.  Because we will not know which students choose to come back to campus after spring break until at least March 23, we are going to have a follow up discussion on 3/25.  
     
    In the meantime, I am cancelling the meeting we had scheduled for tomorrow.  Our next group meeting will be on April 14 at 1pm, and it will be a Skype call.
     
    Thank you,
    Morgan
     

  4. Meeting minutes from the March 16th meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Crowd Management for Quad Day: Living Lab Project

    Please see attached the meeting minutes from the meeting on March 16th. Also attached are the slides from this meeting.

    Attended by: Yanfeng Ouyang, Shelly Zhang, Morgan White, Stacey DeLorenzo, Sarthak Prasad, Weichen Li, Rui Feng She, Barb Robbins, Paul Jensen, Gina Lee-Olukoya, Dementro Powell.

    Attached Files: 

  5. Bike Month plans for 2020 cancelled

    Associated Project(s): 
    Encourage Bicycle Use

    Hi All,

     

    I think we have reached a working consensus: postpone the major events of CU Bike Month 2020 (Bike to Work Day, Bike to School Day, etc.). I think Urbana’s Market at the Square is going to different as well, especially in May.  So likely no Bike to Market, no Spring Bike Rodeos, etc.

     

    I think we can find ways to stay in contact with our participants from the last few years and encourage them that going out on bike rides could be a very healthy and life giving activity this spring. The links below are from a post today by another cycling advocate:

     

    I think the message that cycling can reduce stress is a positive message while we navigate this pandemic.

    We are in unprecedented times. Our thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this global health crisis, and we are humbled by those on the front lines who are working tirelessly to contain the coronavirus. 

    https://la.streetsblog.org/2020/03/13/bicycling-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

     

    https://www.bicycling.com/news/a31469228/cycling-during-coronavirus/

     


    We have time to look at the fall and think about how to schedule and balance our programs and energies.  So no need to do a lot of that at the moment.

     

     

    So, let’s ponder this decision to cancel the organized parts of CU Bike Month 2020 overnight and touch base again tomorrow in the early afternoon to finalize our decision, or consider an alternative.  Check with your colleagues, read the news, look at your calendars, and either Gabe or I will start a group email after lunch.

     

    Jeff

  6. Sustainability Webinar: PFAS in Biosolids and Wastewater

    Associated Project(s): 
    ISTC Sustainability Seminars

    Ned Beecher - special projects manager with the North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) - will discuss the fate of several representative contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in biosolids and wastewater; summarize risk assessment and risk management strategies used to reduce potential concerns; and discusses PFAS as a family of CEC that is currently of high interest.

    March 19, 12–1 PM Elizabeth Meschewski • Illinois Sustainable Technology Center  This opportunity is available online.

    Sustainability Webinar: PFAS in Biosolids and Wastewater

     

  7. Seeking participants who are passionate about sustainable consumer products

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Procurement
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Seeking participants who are passionate about sustainable consumer products

     

    We are seeking individuals who are willing to participate in a short 30-minute conversation about sustainable and consumer lifestyles. Participants of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. If interested, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/LukTEJpRcY5Y8EY3A

     

    Angel Han • In Affiliation with Cozad

  8. Survey results from the event

    Associated Project(s): 
    It's Your MTD Too!

    We performed a pre-workshop and a post-workshop survey for the "It's Your MTD Too!" event. Attached are the results from the surveys.

    Attached Files: 

  10. Veo Dec 19, Jan 20, Feb 20 ridership overview

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Share with Veo

    Please see data for the winter months along with heat maps. Only 100 e-bikes in operation.

    Ridership for December:1979

    • Users Added: 84
    • Reports from app: 49 (Repairs and lock issues)
    • Reports from Customer Service: 8 (Bike removal from property)

    Ridership for January: 452

    • Users Added: 60
    • Reports from app: 9
    • Reports from Customer Service: 3 (Bike removal from property)

    Ridership for February:321

    • Users Added: 74
    • Reports from app: 0
    • Reports from Customer Service: 2 (Bike removal from property)
    Attached Files: 

  11. It's Your MTD Too! final event

    Associated Project(s): 
    It's Your MTD Too!

    On March 12, 2020, we held the "It's Your MTD Too!" event at the NCSA conference room 1040 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, there were only 6 attendees and we proceeded with the workshop as planned. The event was very casual because of the low attendance, but it helped us figure out some of the points that we can do better.

    Please see attached the final powerpoint presentation document.

    Click here to see the structure of the workshop.

    Attached Files: 

  12. Restoring the Ecology of Stone Prairie Farm

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Landscapes Plan

    Mr. Apfelbaum will tell us about his life-long project to restore his land on the border of Wisconsin, taking it back to its original state, before the changes brought about by farming, described in detail in his book Nature’s Second Chance. Having carried out ecological restorations world-wide, he is presently working in Urbana, restoring the Stone Creek golf course to its natural state. 

    March 12, 6:30 PM • Stone Creek Golf Club (Formerly known as Attie's), 2560 Stonecreek Blvd Urbana, IL

    Amanda Christenson • Cooperative Extension Service

    Restoring the Ecology of Stone Prairie Farm

  13. Status update from WEF Design Team Co-Captain

    Associated Project(s): 
    Independent Student Projects
    Green Infrastructure
    Water Environment Federation (WEF)

    Justin Chen, from the University of Illinois joint student chapter of the Water Enviroment Federation-American Water Works, and the rest of his design team have been hard at work this school year!

    Some project updates via the co-captian:

    • Chose project topic: Green Infrastructure Solutions for Veterinary Medicine Facility Flooding
    • Made team site visit to Vet Med, surveyed areas for potential green infrastructure applications
    • Came up with preliminary ideas on solutions and locations for implementation
    • Conducted research on past green infrastructure projects to establish a base understanding of the options available

    Click here to find out more and how you can become involved with WEF!

     

     

  15. Weekly Update - Bicycle Safety, Social Hack

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Truncated week for me as I was out of the shop on Wed – Fri recuperating. On Tuesday night I was hit by a car on my bike ride home. No injuries beyond some scrapes and sore muscles. I was very lucky it wasn’t much worse.
    Ultimately, we  have a long way to go when someone who rides as defensively and as safely as I do can get hit by a car on a quiet residential street.
    This week I’ll be meeting with my newly-hired Program Assistant to work out his schedule and responsibilities. I’ll be picking up more bikes from the warehouse, meeting with a student design group for transportation/climate issues (Design For America’s “Social Hack”), and building/scrapping bikes as needed.

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 63
    Sales: $32

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  17. E-Update and F&S Announcement for the Workshop

    Associated Project(s): 
    It's Your MTD Too!

    Sarthak worked with Steve Breitwieser from F&S CRC team to publish an e-update and an F&S Announcement for the "It's Your MTD Too!" event.

    Here is the link: https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/264329.html

    Here is the link for the F&S Announcement: https://www.fs.illinois.edu/resources/announcements/2020/03/06/it's-your-mtd-too!

    Attached Files: 

  18. Transportation SWATeam Meeting: 9 March 2020

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Support Zipcar in Champaign-Urbana
    Support a Ride-Matching Program
    Incorporate Sustainability Principles into Campus Master Plan [ARCHIVED]

    Attached are the meeting minutes from the Transportation SWATeam meeting on 9 March 2020. 

    The Agenda is as follows:

    Recommendations Selection

    • Support CMP by increasing pedestrian safety by reevaluating current pedestrian routes and conducting traffic studies.
    • Zip-Car Continuity
    • UI Ride Survey 
    • Teleconferencing Assessment
    • Faculty/Staff Vanpool Survey
    • Identify Campus Intersections and Mid-block Crossings with high potential for crashes, and develop/implement design improvement strategies.

    Future Recommendations

    • Working with MTD to promote better bus service to Research Park and I Hotel
    • Establish a University of Illinois Foundation fund to support campus efforts to reduce and within ~10 years eliminate use of fossil fuel.
    • Sustainable Asphalt Binders
    Attached Files: 

  19. Energy SWATeam Meeting: March 9, 2020

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team

    The Energy SWATeam met on 3/9/2020 to discuss the recommendation to be turned it at the end of the month. Each member interested in drafting a recommendation on behalf of the team presented their drafts. The meeting minutes and the presentation slides for the Anaerobic Digester Feasibility Study Recommendation are attached. 

    Attached Files: 

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