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Project Updates

  1. SSC Extension Request for Dump and Run

    Associated Project(s): 

    An extension request was submitted for Dump and Run, an SSC-funded project. This request addressed a change in the project's scope, including ending a partnership with the University YMCA, potential rebranding, and new initiatives for UIUC-led collection programs.

    See the scope change in the attached files.

  2. Environmental Justice in the Local Communities - Meeting with Bob Flider

    Stacy Gloss, Morgan White, and Meredith Moore met with Bob Flider on 6-2-22 to discuss next steps in working with the community to develop an Environmental Justice plan (Resilience and Equity plan). The meeting notes are attached. 

  3. iWG Meeting Minutes 5-23-22

    The iWG met on 5-23-22 and discussed the following agenda. The meeting minutes are attached.

    1. Revisit ZW008
    2. ABE469 – student group worked on developing a scope for the Clean Energy Plan - https://uofi.box.com/s/p8rov2a176ow0nbwy5n3dh3b1ym2u36m
    3. Continue discussion on what to include in the scope of Comprehensive Energy Planning Document
    4. Thanks for all of your hard work this year!
    Attached Files: 
  4. TED Talk: Eco-Edition - Celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth

    We have a lot to celebrate this month, including Pride Month and Juneteenth! In the spirit of celebrating achievements, we also acknowledge challenges we continue to face and we may find ourselves discouraged and overwhelmed. I hope you can join us on Zoom this Wednesday, 6/15 from 7-8 PM for the June TED Talk: Eco-Edition event which will focus on overcoming barriers. After watching a pre-recorded TED Talk, we will discuss in the context of sustainability action how we can persist beyond the challenges to empower a climate-conscious society. The conversation will be led by April Wendling, iSEE Communications Specialist and UIUC graduate student in Journalism.

    We hope you are able to come and participate in the conversation this week! Register here: https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqd-mopj8vH9PF58pfJIfICscc_DL4EEVw. As a reminder, all are welcome and feel free to spread the event to anyone who may be interested. Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week!

  5. Weekly Update: Donations, Closed on Friday for Juneteenth

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, We’re still working our way through our donations windfall. Open hours have been steadily busy, but it’ll be interesting to see how the extreme heat of the next couple weeks impacts visit numbers.

    We are selling bikes about as fast as we can build them, especially since we’ve been too busy to build much during shop hours.

    This week we will only be open Monday/Wednesday and closed Friday for Juneteenth (observed).

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 31
    Sales: $915.30
    Memberships: 2 for $60
    Bikes: 3 for $595
    Tires/tubes: 7 for $60

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  6. Request to Use Learning Materials in Land & Water Theme

    Below is sustainability intern, Alec McKay's permission request to use Jonathan Tomkin's lecture materials for the Land & Water theme. Professor Tomkin gave permission for his materials to be published on the theme page.

    Hi Jonathan!

    My name is Alec McKay, the guy who messed up scheduling the ENSU 310 final last semester, and I’m an intern working for Morgan White, the Associate Director for Sustainability. We’re working on updating the primary projects on the iCAP Portal. Here is an example of what the primary project page for the Land & Water theme looks like: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/responsible-stewardship-campus-land-and-water

    Our target audience is incoming freshmen and current students who are interested in sustainability at UIUC but have little to no knowledge about it. One of the things we want a primary project page to do is provide some motivation and background information for the theme. In the context of Land & Water, we’d like to answer the question, “Why conserve water?”

    I think some of the videos from your Introduction to Sustainability Coursera course would be great for this! May I have your permission to put some of the videos from your course on the iCAP Portal? I don’t know how the copyright and intellectual property laws work, so is there any specific way you would want or need to be credited?

    If you want more information regarding what we’re changing on the iCAP portal, feel free to let me know!

    Thanks!

    Alec

     

  7. review of progress and plans for FY23

    Associated Project(s): 

    Professor Yun Yi, Tom Keller, Kelly Jo Hoffmann, and Morgan White met to review the progress on the Energy Models for Campus Facilities project.

    The Energy models were created for these facilities by an Architecture class:

    • 0154 – Personnel Services Bldg. – Packaged chiller, steam perimeter heat, constant volume fan-coil units.
    • 1528 – African Am. Cultural Ctr. – VAV.
    • 0209 – Speech and Hearing – AHUs replaced recently and a small/medium sized building. VAV.
    • 0075 – Children’s Research Ctr. - AHUs replaced recently and a small/medium sized building. Constant volume re-heat.

    There were two model types created for each facility, and a pdf report. Dr. Yi has sent us the energy models, and he will send us the pdf reports. We can share those with the Energy iCAP Team, UES, and put them into the FIR records.

    Dr. Yi will meet with Tom to review the energy model details and provide access to the energy modeling software for us to review the actual native files.

    We will proceed with doing this again, so how do we identify the buildings to do? Criteria? We would prefer many smaller buildings over a few larger buildings.  Energy modeling software is also not sophisticated enough for Here are some potential options:

    1. RIPE Greenhouse
    2. Transportation Building
    3. Architecture Building
    4. TBH
    5. LER
    6. Lincoln Hall
    7. Fred Turner Student Services Building
    8. Harker Hall
    9. ACES Library

    Yun will review this list, and talk with F&S again to finalize the building selection for this coming year. Then we need to provide drawings, via FIR. Yun will identify a TA for the class, and potentially the summer as well. Yun will find a TA to replace Fizza Hassan, since she graduated.

  8. Weekly Update: Bicycle Donations

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, We were closed Monday for Memorial Day and so were only open W/F last week.

    Thanks to the generosity of a local bike shop, we were absolutely inundated with donations—something to the tune of 15-20 bikes. Then two community folks dropped off even more donations. Needless to say, I’ll be processing these all week.

    I dropped off flyers with WRC last week, too, in the hopes of expanding our reach to folks that haven’t already come into CBC.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 15
    Sales: $557.95
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $180
    Build-a-bike: 1 for $30

    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Tires/tubes (new/used): 12 for $76

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  9. STARS ranking in This Week in Research

    Thanks to a combination of new solar and geothermal energy projects, a reduction in water use, and wide-ranging sustainability research projects, UIUC earned its fifth consecutive STARS Gold Rating, the nation’s most comprehensive sustainability rating system for universities to measure sustainability.

    https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/1112277641.html

  10. Map My Emissions link

    Associated Project(s): 

    "Transportation of all kinds accounts for nearly a quarter of global CO2 emissions(Opens in a new window). Commuters often have little choice about how they can get to work. But even if they make a concerted effort by using tools like Map My Emissions(Opens in a new window), which calculates how much CO2 commuting options generate, it’s hard to beat the zero emissions generated by walking from one room to another." per https://www.pcmag.com/news/remote-work-will-never-be-the-same-and-thats-...

  11. Spring 2022: iSEE Quarterly Update (iQ)

    The Spring 2022 iSEE Quarterly Update (iQ) was released with the following message from Madhu Khanna, the Interim Director of iSEE:

     

    Greetings Colleagues,

     

    Attached, please find the Spring 2022 edition of iQ, our quarterly update. You will see that in this six-page pdf recapping the recent semester, we had plenty of news and updates from our research, education, events, and campus sustainability fronts.

     

    But the work did not end there! Since the semester ended, we have had two other exciting announcements:

     

    • The U of I campus was rewarded with the only USDA NIFA “Farm of the Future” grant. Our I-FARM project will be an 80-acre testbed for merging technology, sensing, and agronomy into a farm setting with crops and livestock that will be productive and profitable. Read our June 1 news release >>>
    • In addition, for the fifth consecutive time, our campus reached Gold-level status in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) run by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). New solar and geothermal energy projects, a reduction in water use, and wide-ranging sustainability research helped us reach this level yet again. Read the May 25 news release >>>

     

    For more up-to-date news from iSEE, please sign up for our E-newsletter at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/5031776.

      

    Best wishes for a healthy and productive summer,

     

    Madhu

     

    Attached Files: 
  12. Weekly Update: Grabbing scraps; Safety Checking bikes

    Associated Project(s): 

    All, I was out most of last week and my staff ably handled running the shop in my absence. This week we’ll only be open W/F due to the Memorial Day holiday.

    Thanks to Todd for grabbing scrap over the weekend as we were getting quite full on that. Still have a few more bikes to strip.

    This week I am meeting with a prospective new hire, a U of I dad who is involved with a similar non-profit group in Boise, ID (of all places), and safety-checking a few bikes that’ll help us build our for-sale inventory back up.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 21
    Sales: $1,043.00
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $550
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tire/tubes (new/used): 10 for $77

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  13. Water Reduction Challenge Wrap-Up

    Associated Project(s): 

    Text copied from email

    Subject: Water Reduction Challenge Wrap-Up

    Hello!

     

    This was the final week of the Water Reduction Challenge–congratulations for making it through! We hope that you have enjoyed the challenge and have picked up some steps to take to reduce your daily water use. We have enjoyed seeing students, staff, and community members get involved throughout the month and share their water reduction stories. If you have not already done so, please submit your Week 4 Google Form with an uploaded point grid by Tuesday, May 2nd. As a reminder, for each submission at the end of the week, you’ll be entered into a raffle for sustainability prizes! We will randomly choose winners and inform them soon.

     

    It may be the end of the challenge, but continue to learn more about and get involved in sustainability initiatives at the University of Illinois and in your community! If you have not already done so, sign up for the iSEE newsletter at this link for a weekly email including upcoming events and sustainability news. In addition, check out these other ways to get involved in sustainability:

    ·        Look for events on the comprehensive Sustainability Calendar

    ·        Check out the iCAP Portal where we list and track our projects and progress

    ·        Read the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) to learn about the campus’ sustainability goals 

    ·        iSEE offers a sustainability minor and certificate in environmental writing here: SEE Fellow Program.

    ·        Look into joining an iCAP Team. There are a limited number of student voting positions available; please reach out if you are interested because there may be an opportunity!

    ·        If you are on the Illinois campus, check out our Greener Campus Certification opportunities (for offices, events, and Greek chapters)

    ·        Sign the Use the Bin Pledge to always recycle and use the recycling bin!

    ·        Talk to your friends and peers about sustainability. Lead by example!

     

    Congratulations again for your dedication to tracking your water use habits this month! Thank you so much for your participation, no matter if you submitted a grid once or every week. Continue to use what you learned throughout the month in your daily life, and tell your family and friends about what you have learned. Thank you again!

  14. Week 4 - Water Reduction Challenge

    Associated Project(s): 

    Text copied from email

    Subject: Week 4 Water Reduction Challenge

    Hello!

     

    We hope you had a great Earth week and were able to celebrate by learning about how to reduce your daily water consumption! How is the challenge going? You only have one more week left—congrats! We have enjoyed seeing you all continue to track your water consumption and become more conscious of your water footprint. If you have not already done so, please submit your Week 3 Google Form with an uploaded point grid by Tuesday, April 26th. 

     

    This week, reflect on the positive changes you have made in your life and think about how you can continue to take these steps after the challenge is done. While Earth Month and this challenge may be ending soon, that doesn’t mean you should stop conserving water! We hope that some of your positive actions have turned into habits so you can continue with them in the future. Read some final tips in this week’s attached tips document and learn about the importance of educating others about water reduction and other sustainability topics. 

     

    Continue to keep track of your points for the final week of the challenge and submit your Week 4 Google Form and grid (attached) by Tuesday, May 2nd. As a reminder, you can join or start tracking your water even this late in the month. For each submission at the end of the week, you’ll be entered into a raffle for sustainability prizes! 

     

    There are still several more events to celebrate Earth Month coming up this week! Come to iSEE, F&S, and the Illini Union Board’s trash pick up this Friday, April 29th. Volunteers will meet at Alma Mater at 3pm, and bags will be provided. Afterward, the final Illini Lights Out event of the semester will be at 5:30 pm in the Foreign Language Building lobby! Sign up here.

     

    As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to share how the challenge is going for you, please email us. We hope that Week 4 goes well for you, and keep up the great work!

     

    ~Jenna Schaefer (iSEE intern) and Meredith Moore (iSEE Sustainability Programs Manager)

  15. Week 4 - Water Reduction Challenge

    Associated Project(s): 

    Text copied from email

    Subject: Week 4 Water Reduction Challenge

    Hello!

     

    We hope you had a great Earth week and were able to celebrate by learning about how to reduce your daily water consumption! How is the challenge going? You only have one more week left—congrats! We have enjoyed seeing you all continue to track your water consumption and become more conscious of your water footprint. If you have not already done so, please submit your Week 3 Google Form with an uploaded point grid by Tuesday, April 26th. 

     

    This week, reflect on the positive changes you have made in your life and think about how you can continue to take these steps after the challenge is done. While Earth Month and this challenge may be ending soon, that doesn’t mean you should stop conserving water! We hope that some of your positive actions have turned into habits so you can continue with them in the future. Read some final tips in this week’s attached tips document and learn about the importance of educating others about water reduction and other sustainability topics. 

     

    Continue to keep track of your points for the final week of the challenge and submit your Week 4 Google Form and grid (attached) by Tuesday, May 2nd. As a reminder, you can join or start tracking your water even this late in the month. For each submission at the end of the week, you’ll be entered into a raffle for sustainability prizes! 

     

    There are still several more events to celebrate Earth Month coming up this week! Come to iSEE, F&S, and the Illini Union Board’s trash pick up this Friday, April 29th. Volunteers will meet at Alma Mater at 3pm, and bags will be provided. Afterward, the final Illini Lights Out event of the semester will be at 5:30 pm in the Foreign Language Building lobby! Sign up here.

     

    As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to share how the challenge is going for you, please email us. We hope that Week 4 goes well for you, and keep up the great work!

     

    ~Jenna Schaefer (iSEE intern) and Meredith Moore (iSEE Sustainability Programs Manager)

  16. Week 3 - Water Reduction Challenge

    Associated Project(s): 

    Text copied from email

    Subject: Week 3 Water Reduction Challenge - Happy Earth Week!

    Hello and Happy Earth Week!

     

    You are almost halfway done with the Water Reduction Challenge. Congratulations! How is it going? It is great to see you reflect on your water-use habits; on our end, we have enjoyed hearing about the creative steps you are taking to reduce your consumption. We hope that you have been able to implement some new water reduction habits into your daily life since week 1 and that you are looking forward to incorporating more sustainability actions in the next two weeks. If you have not already done so, please submit your Week 2 Google Form with an uploaded point grid by Tuesday, April 19.

     

    This week, let’s focus on reducing your water footprint by consuming and purchasing goods more intentionally! Did you know that the production of just one pair of jeans requires 2,108 gallons of water? Each product you consume requires water to produce it; as a consumer, you have a lot of purchasing power to invest in more local, ethically-produced, and sustainable goods. Ask yourself if you really need to purchase the item in question when you are shopping, or consider if there is a more sustainable option (think about alternatives that you already have or purchase a reusable/high-quality item). Learn more about conscious consumption in this week’s tips attached to this message. For example, learn about the business practices of the brands you support and donate to and purchase clothes from second-hand stores.

     

    Continue to keep track of your points and submit your Week 3 Google Form and grid (attached) by Tuesday, April 26. As a reminder, you can join or start tracking your water at any point in the month. For each submission at the end of the week, you’ll be entered into a raffle for sustainability prizes! 

     

    There are a lot of activities this Earth Week! While every day should be treated the same as “Earth Day”, try and take a few extra steps this week to be more environmentally conscious. On Tuesday, April 19 from 7-8 PM, Jennifer Walling (Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council) will be hosting the iSEE TED Talk: Eco-Edition series on Zoom. Learn more and sign up here! Check out more events this week on the iSEE Sustainability Calendar.

     

    As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to share how the challenge is going for you, please email us. Have a great week!

     

    ~Jenna Schaefer (iSEE intern) and Meredith Moore (iSEE Sustainability Programs Manager)

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