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Project Updates

  2. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

     

    Hi Pete and Shawn—

    This past week, I reviewed PWR and ZW SWATeam recommendations, the F&S Indoor Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Report, and a recent version of a campus recycling FAQ that Morgan had commented on. I sent an update on toner cartridge recycling, which is one of the FAQ topics. I also read the SWATeam iCAP 2020 evaluation and sent Morgan a few comments on it.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  3. Reducing Carbon Footprint in Supply Chains

    Associated Project(s): 
    Utilize Carbon Credits
    ISTC Sustainability Seminars

    "I’ve Heard of Carbon Off-Setting - But What is Carbon In-Setting and How Can It Reduce the Carbon Footprint of My Supply Chain?" presented via webinar by Angela Foster-Rice, Principal at Aerial Consulting. Join us in the SJW conference room at ISTC or view it from the comfort of your own office. This event is free, but registration to view the webinar is required.

    October 10, 12–1 pm • 1 Hazelwood Dr. in Champaign

    Elizabeth Meschewski • Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Sustainability Seminar: Reducing Carbon Footprint in Supply Chains

  4. Light the Night 2019 - Bicycle Lights Giveaway

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night

    Bring your bicycle to Alma Mater Plaza or the Hallene Gateway (Illinois Street and Lincoln Avenue) on Thursday, October 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the free installation of bicycle light sets. Light the Night strives to improve the visibility of bicyclists in Champaign-Urbana and provide general bike safety information. Free, on-site bicycle registration will also be available. October 3, 4–7 pm

    Sarthak Prasad • Facilities & Services

    Light the Night 2019 – Bicycle Lights Giveaway

  7. Calculating line losses

    Associated Project(s): 
    Pipe Leakage Assessment

    We can calculate the difference between what was billed, and what was purchased for potable water on campus. The difference could be made up of several things:

    • Leaks

    • Unbilled usage (that is, someone is taking water off the system for which we don’t have a meter reading)

    • Meter errors

    • Difference in usage days.

    IAWC bills out on a consistent basis. Our utility meter reads don’t always correspond to the same schedule.

  12. Weekly Update - Earn-a-Bike, Light the Night

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Last week was busy, per usual this time of year. TBP and I met with Circle Cycle to discuss their Earn-a-Bike program using abandoned bikes on campus. I interviewed two applicants and will be hiring them. The light sets for the LTN event arrived on Wednesday and were expeditiously moved to the Urbana shop, saving some space over here. Two bike donations were on the rack when I pulled in this morning.

    This week I’ll be taking the large pile of kids bikes over to Salt & Light to donate. I’ll also be meeting with F&S Sustainability and VeoRide to discuss bike share on campus. I’ll be out of town Thursday and Friday. I’ll arrange for the student staff to cover for me.

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 101
    Sales: $1,463.00

    Memberships: 19 for $570
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $400
    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 or $120
    Tires/tubes: 28 for $107

    Jacob Benjamin
    Manager, Campus Bike Center

  13. Weekly Updates for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste

    Hello Pete and Shawn,

    I let the person who inquired about toner cartridge recycling last month know that Purchasing is still awaiting further information from Office Depot. Aaron Finder from Purchasing will let me know when he hears from them.

    Best regards,

    Marya Ryan

  14. Solar Farm 2.0 to Nearly Triple on Campus Renewable Energy Production

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 2.0
    Issue Press Releases and Sustainability Reports

    Construction of a new 54-acre, 12.1 megawatt (MWdc) Solar Farm is approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as the sole member of Prairieland Energy, Inc. Referred to as “Solar Farm 2.0,” the new utility-scale array to be located north of Curtis Road, between First Street and U.S. Route 45, will produce approximately 20,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, almost tripling the university’s existing on-site renewable energy generation. Solar Farm 2.0 will generate the equivalent electricity use of more than 2,000 average American homes.

    Sol Systems, LLC, will design, build, operate, and maintain Solar Farm 2.0, for the duration of a 20-year contract which includes power purchase and land lease agreements, and an option to buy the system at the end of the term.

    https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/234685.html

  16. Climate Emergency Letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    President's Strategic Framework

    I approve signing this on behalf of the system - thanks, Evan, for your leadership

        Tim

     

    Sent from my iPhone


    On Sep 11, 2019, at 2:32 PM, Delucia, Evan H <delucia@illinois.edu> wrote:

    Dear Tim,

     

    All three U of I campuses have signed the Second Nature climate commitment for American higher education institutions.  The Climate Emergency Letter is associated with international efforts, and it is already signed by Second Nature, automatically bringing in our three campuses.  It is an opportunity to reinforce the commitments of the Urbana, Springfield, and Chicago campuses, while also sending a clear signal to the System Office departments and employees. 

     

    The letter is simply this:

    “As institutions and networks of higher and further education from across the world, we collectively declare a Climate Emergency in recognition of the need for a drastic societal shift to combat the growing threat of climate change. 

    The young minds that are shaped by our institutions must be equipped with the knowledge, skills and capability to respond to the ever-growing challenges of climate change. We all need to work together to nurture a habitable planet for future generations and to play our part in building a greener and cleaner future for all.

    We are today committing to collectively step up to the challenge by supporting a three-point plan which includes:

    1.       Mobilizing more resources for action-oriented climate change research and skills creation;

    2.       Committing to going carbon neutral by 2030 or 2050 at the very latest;

    3.       Increasing the delivery of environmental and sustainability education across curriculum, campus and community outreach programmes.

    We call on governments and other education institutions to join us in declaring a Climate Emergency and back this up with actions that will help create a better future for both people and our planet.”  

     

    The Urbana commitment is to be carbon neutral as soon as possible, and no later than 2050, I am writing to ask that you sign the Climate Emergency Letter to formally have our System join the commitment and the international movement. 

     

    This has a deadline of November 1, 2019, so that the signatories can be shared at the COP 25 in Chile this December. Click here to sign.

     

    Thanks,

    Evan

     

     

     

    -- 

    Evan H. De Lucia, Ph.D.
    G. William Arends Professor of Integrative Biology
    Baum Family Director, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment
    Director, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation
    University of Illinois

    phone: 217 333 6177
    fax: 217 244 7246

    http://sustainability.illinois.edu
    https://cabbi.bio/

     

  17. Transportation reference info

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP) [ARCHIVED]
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan
    Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)

    The attached file and following links are reference materials for the Transportation SWATeam, for developing draft objectives for the 2020 iCAP.

     

    Every few years iSEE submits data to the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), in the Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Reporting System (STARS).  Our campus is STARS gold, and we would like to aim for platinum.  This is a resource as you consider 2020 iCAP objectives.

     

     

    If you click on a link above and then choose “Credit Info,” you can see the data requirements for that item. 

    Attached Files: 

  18. Reference info for Zero Waste SWATeam

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)
    2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (2015 iCAP) [ARCHIVED]
    iCAP 2020: Illinois Climate Action Plan

    The attached file and following links are reference materials for the Zero Waste SWATeam, for developing draft objectives for the 2020 iCAP.

    Every few years iSEE submits data to the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), in the Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Reporting System (STARS).  Our campus is STARS gold, and we would like to aim for platinum.  This is a resource as you consider 2020 iCAP objectives.

     

     

    You can see from the scores above that some items were not pursued.  If you click on a link above and then choose “Credit Info,” you can see the data requirements for that item. 

    Attached Files: 

  19. Next steps phone call

    Associated Project(s): 
    ECE Net-Zero Energy Building
    Solar Farm 2.0

    Morgan White and Joyce Mast discussed next steps for acheiving Net-Zero status for the ECE Building.  Mike Marquissee is working on a draft MOU about using Solar Farm 2.0 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

    Joyce is seeking student input about what should go on the ECE Building interactive display.  If you are interested in working with her on this, contact her at jmast@illinois.edu. 

  20. Torch Blinking bike lights received, Light assembly, and Volunteer Training

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night

    Jake Benjamin received the Torch Blinking Bike Lights on September 18, 2019.

    Barry confirmed the times for Volunteer training and Light Assembly.

    See Quote from TBP to purchase Torch Blinking bike lights

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

    Optional training sessions: 
    There will be two chances to go to a short training session for those who haven't participated before, those who want a refresher, or those who want to practice with this year's models of lights:

    - Mon., Sept. 23, 2019, 6:00 pm--6:45 pm, at the Downtown Urbana Bike Project, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana, IL. (enter via south side basement door).
    - Thu., Oct. 3, 2019, 3:00 pm--3:45 pm, at Alma Mater (SE corner of Green St. and Wright, Urbana, IL)
          

    We will run a light-assembly / battery-install event (plus a second if needed) to get lights ready in advance:
    - Mon., Sept. 23, 2019, 7:00 pm--9:00 pm. Downtown Urbana Bike Project, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana, IL. (enter via south side basement door)
    - Possible second session: TBA

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