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Project Updates

  1. ZW005 Water Bottle Survey - Submitted

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)

    The Zero Waste iCAP Team submitted recommendation: ZW005 Water Bottle Survey on 3/2/22. The recommendation is attached, and states in summary:

    "The Zero Waste Team recommends that a campus-wide survey be administered to gain a better understanding of drinking water behavior on campus."

    Attached Files: 

  2. iSEE as Living Lab Proposals

    Associated Project(s): 
    iSEE Campus as a Living Lab (CALL) Projects

    Chris Tessum, assistant professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering reached to Morgan White to discuss the submission of two proposals to the iSEE campus as a living laboratory program. The first project concerns developing a new method to estimate traffic related air pollution exposure using deep learning based on traffic camera footage. The second project involves using passive samplers to collect ammonia air pollution measurements.

    Morgan White redirected Chris to Bill Sullivan, director of the Smart, Health, Connected Communities in the Provost's Office, Stacey DeLorenzo, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator in F&S, and Brad Klein, chair of the Architectural Review Committee.

    Mei Tessum, research assistant professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, provided a picture of the ammonia air pollution measurement instruments which can be found attached.

    Attached Files: 

  3. Query Regarding iSEE Campus as a Living Lab Proposals

    Associated Project(s): 
    iSEE Campus as a Living Lab (CALL) Projects

    Mei Tessum reached out to Morgan White to ask for approval to put ammonia air pollution sensors around campus. Morgan redirected Mei to the Architectural Review Committee who is responsible for requests regarding temporary and permanent installations on campus. 

    A picture of the ammonia air pollution measurement instrument is attached:

    Attached Files: 

  5. Interview with Maria Maring (SSLC iWG Representative) and Gabriel Kosmacher (SSLC Member)

    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:

    Maria Maring - SSLC iWG Representative

    Gabriel Kosmacher -SSLC Member

    On 3/11/22, the team met with SSLC representatives from the iWG, Maria Maring and Gabriel Kosmacher. They had beneficial insight into the human side of energy implementation on campus. They both have experience in allocating SSLC funds to student proposed projects, so it was interesting to hear their point of view of sustainability projects on campus. They recommended energy conservation techniques that do not rely on individual actions. They also provided insight into the fact that students just want to see clean energy on campus, and they do not care how it happens. Finally, they expressed concerns on the location of micro nuclear reactors on campus, while also stressing that students would not be against nuclear power if they are educated on the topic.

    Attached Files: 

  6. Week 6 Report and Plastic Reductions Partner Certification Webinar

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Race to Zero Waste

    Hello Campus Race to Zero Waste 2022 Participants,

     

    I hope everyone is doing well. Week 7 begins this Sunday!

     

    Just a reminder, If your campus is unable to track waste, please consider hosting an online education and engagement campaign during the competition timeframe. Please see attached for the CR2ZW 2022 participant badge (two file formats). Please post this on your websites, and share via social media to highlight and celebrate your participation in the 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste!

     

    FEATURED INFO in this Email: (more details bellow)

    • Share videos and photos from your competitions
    • Week 6 ends tomorrow, Saturday, March 12, 2022
    • Week 7 begins Sunday, March 13, 2022
    • April 5 Webinar: New Plastics Reduction Partner Certification Program
    • Graduate Student Fellowship Opportunities ($6,000 Fellowship Stipend)
    • EcoCareers 2022 – 30% Discount on Campus Sponsorships for CR2ZW Partners

     

    Upcoming deadlines, and other key information and resources:

    • Share videos and photos from your competitions! Use hashtag #CR2ZW2022 when posting your photos and videos to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.
       
    • Week 6 reporting is due Wednesday, March 16. Check out the 2021-2022 calendar for upcoming deadlines. To report for Week 6, go to ReTRAC log-in at https://connect.re-trac.com/login and click on Week 6 report. Be sure to click Complete and Save at the bottom of the report.
      • Zero Waste Main Category Participants – There are separate reports in ReTRAC to complete if you are participating in the main, 8-week Zero Waste category (tracking trash, recycling, food organics and materials for reuse); This category doesn’t not have a real-time weekly ranking report due to the “materials for reuse reporting.”
        • Step 1: Fill out “Zero Waste Building Description and Identification Survey” to share information about the three buildings that are participating.
        • Step 2: There are weekly Zero Waste reports (similar to the weekly reports for Diversion, Per Capita Recycling and Food Organics) to be filled out each week.
        • Step 3: The “Zero Waste Building Waste Audit/Waste Minimization Survey” should be completed by the end of the competition/review period. The waste audit has been waived for 2022, so please do not complete that section of the survey. Please complete the “Waste Minimization Activities” section only.

    Note: The guidance above is for the main, 8-week Zero Waste category only. The Race to Zero Waste – One Building Challenge is a special category, requiring one-month tracking; reporting due by end of the competition/review period.

    • Week 7 begins Sunday, March 13 through Saturday, March 19. Reporting for Week 7 is due, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
    • April 5 Webinar – Learn about New Plastics Reduction Partner Certification Program – The National Wildlife Federation and the Campus Race to Zero Waste are excited to announce the launch of a new certification program for colleges and universities taking action to reduce the purchase and use of plastics on campus.  There are three levels of certification available: Bronze, Silver and Green. Campuses will be asked to report on actions in the following categories: Building Awareness, Support Behavior Change, Assess and Implement Operational Change and Demonstrate Institutional Leadership. This is a FREE program to participate in. Participation in this program is eligible for AASHE STARS innovation credit. Learn more at Plastics Reduction Partner. National Wildlife Federation is a proud member of the #BreakFreeFromPlastic Movement. Register for April 5 Webinar to learn more about this new program.
    • Graduate Student Fellowship Opportunities ($6,000 Stipend): PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CAMPUS NETWORK - National Wildlife Federation Graduate Student Fellows help to inform and strengthen NWF Education and Engagement programs through dedicated research projects. Monetary fellowship grants are awarded to graduate students working with NWF staff on research that helps to expand the content and development of a variety of efforts across NWF's Education and Engagement programs. Fellows join a national network of current and alumni fellows, many of whom have gone on to lead new businesses, agencies, and programs for sustainability all across the U.S. NWF is currently accepting applications for the six graduate student Fellowship Positions. Learn more and share this opportunity with your network. Applications are due April 22, 2022.
    • 30% Discount for CR2ZW campuses for 2022 EcoCareers Conference. National Wildlife Federation is excited to offer Campus Race to Zero Waste 2021 and 2022 competition participants a discounted opportunity to become an EcoCareers Campus Sponsor for the upcoming 2022 EcoCareers Conference (April 6-7). Use the promo code “32100” to access 30% off campus sponsorship membership! NWF is currently planning the agenda for the 2022 EcoCareers Conference which will feature keynotes and panels about academic pathways and careers in health and wellness, environmental justice, urban planning, environmental education, and more. On top of that, NWF will have interactive project and career planning workshops for students of all levels on both days of the conference. Learn more.  Please reach out to me if you are interested in this opportunity.

     

    More 2022 CR2ZW Competition Resources:

     

    • Check out CR2ZW Guide: Ideas and resources for hosting an online education and engagement campaign. If you are participating in the competition online only, please choose “special category > case study competition” during registration; if you need to make changes to your registration, please reach out to me.
    • Student/Staff FTE: During registration, campuses are asked to enter in their student and staff numbers. We provide a link to a data sheet with this info; however, this information is from late 2020/early 2021, so if you have more current numbers please enter those numbers in. We can update these numbers anytime during registration. We understand that campuses may not be at full capacity.
    • Quick Links – Check out key resources and information for Campus Race to Zero Waste 2022 campus participants including the 2022 Scoreboard, downloadable templates, info on volume to weight estimates, and more. The 2022 Scoreboard will be updated with real-time report links in time for the beginning of the competition.  

     

    Please contact me with any questions.

     

    Thanks, take care,

    Kristy

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

    Kristy Jones

    Director, Higher Education Programs

    Campus Race to Zero Waste Manager, www.CampusRacetoZeroWaste.org

    National Wildlife Federation

    703-438-6262

    Attached Files: 

  7. Mowing Florida and Orchard Prairie

    Associated Project(s): 
    Prairie Restoration at Florida & Orchard

    On Mar 9, 2022, at 5:35 PM, Ellis, James Lee <jellis at illinois.edu> wrote:

    

    Kevin,

     

    Is the Florida and Orchard prairie planting now under your purview at the arboretum?

     

    No, however we help out as needed - brush pick up, shrub cutting. John Marlin is the best source for info about management etc….

    Nathan Hudson and I have mowed the prairie in early spring the past few years. I’m willing to do that again in lieu of prescribed fire if desired.

     

    Great, probably due for a prescribed fire. 

    Let us know if we can assist?

     

    Best,

    Jamie

     

    JAMES L. ELLIS
    Natural Areas Coordinator
     
    Illinois Natural History Survey
    Prairie Research Institute | University of Illinois
    1816 S. Oak St. | M/C 652
    Champaign, IL 61820
    217.244.5695 | 217.649.7230 | jellis at illinois.edu
    research.illinois.edu/cna

    inhs.illinois.edu/research/natural-areas-uiuc/
     
    8H1XpNpEaYgroAAAAASUVORK5CYII=

  13. Invitation to Environmental Leadership Program Banquet

    Associated Project(s): 
    Environmental Leadership Program (ELP)

    From: Rosenbery, Amy Nichole
    Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 7:48 AM
    To: Rosenbery, Amy Nichole
    Subject: Reminder: Invitation to Environmental Leadership Program Banquet

    Good morning all,

    Just sending a reminder that we need an RSVP by end of the day today.

    Dear Colleagues,

    I hope this finds you well. I am reaching out to invite you to the first closing banquet of the Environmental Leadership Program organized by the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE).

    The ELP wraps up in a couple of weeks with a trip to Springfield, where students will present their crafted policy to state legislators and staff. The program will conclude with a celebratory banquet at the Illini Union on Thursday, March 17, 2022, from 5-7:30 pm.

    As a valuable member at iSEE, we would be delighted if you could join us in celebrating the successful launch of the program. I have attached the event agenda for additional information. To confirm your attendance, kindly reply to this email by Wednesday, March 9.

    On behalf of everyone at iSEE, I would like to thank you again for your contribution to building the program!

    Best Regards,
    Amy

    Amy Rosenbery
    Business Administrative Associate
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment
    National Soybean Research Center
    1101 W. Peabody, suite 350, MC-635
    Urbana, IL 61801
    217/333-4178
    www.sustainability.illinois.edu

    Attached Files: 

  14. PWR006 Expanded Recycling - Declined

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary

    Morgan White, Associate Director of F&S for Sustainability, sent the following email, declining PWR006.

    ===============

    Hello Jen and Meredith,

    I am writing this to close the loop on iCAP recommendation from 2015, and for posting on the iCAP Portal about this topic. In 2015, iSEE sent PWR006: Expanded Recycling to the Executive Director of F&S Al Stratman, from what is now the Zero Waste iCAP Team.  The director over the waste transfer station at the time, Carl Wegel, asked the staff to investigate the accuracy of the potential income from expanding the plastics collections.  Tracy Osby and Bart Bartels looked into it, and I was informed that in our local market there could be an increased cost to campus for collecting and recycling these additional plastics, rather than the projected increase of revenue.  Additionally, the existing baler at the Waste Transfer Station was deemed incapable of handling the additional plastics, in its old age condition.  For that reason, this recommendation was denied by F&S, in a discussion with the PWR SWATeam.

    On a brighter note, we are currently working on hiring a full time Zero Waste Coordinator, who will be able to pursue this effort further.  We also are grateful to the support of the Student Sustainability Committee, which funded a feasibility study to identify the costs of replacing the current baler.  I have also discussed the funding needs for the new baler with Associate Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Kim Kidwell and Senior Executive Director of Principal Gifts David Bruns, in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.

    F&S looks forward to continuing our partnership with iSEE to support the implementation of the iCAP 2020 objectives, and we look forward to reducing plastics on campus in the months/years to come.

    Thank you,

    Morgan

    ==============

    See PWR006 Expanded Recycling transmittal and iWG assessment here. 

    See PWR006 Expanded Recycling recommendation here. 

  15. PWR019 Sustainable Procurement - Supplanted by ZW002

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary

    The Sustainable Procurement (PWR019) recommendation was supplanted by ZW002 Join NERC Government Demand Recycling Demand Champions. 

    See PWR019 Sustainable Procurement Transmittal and initial Recommendation here. 

    See ZW002 Join NERC Government Demand Recycling Demand Champions - successful update here. 

    See State Recycling Organization Advocate with NERC project page here. 

  16. Interview with Ximing Cai (CEE Professor, Former Associate Director of iSEE)

    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:

    Ximing Cai - CEE Professor, Former Associate Director of iSEE

    On 3/8/22, the team met with Ximing Cai. He was able to provide us with useful information on biofuels, geothermal, and nuclear options for the campus. He suggests geothermal as a good option, with potential for biofuels or nuclear although there is still a lot to consider. A big issue with these technologies is cost. Also placed an emphasis on energy conservation and advised us to be bold with our plan because it is needed to reach the desired goals. From here, we plan to contact someone with detailed knowledge of nuclear and geothermal systems to learn more about their potential on campus.

    Attached Files: 

  20. Weekly Update: Retraining Staff; Spring is coming!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All, Warm weather last week brought in a good number of folks. On Friday we even had a wait for repair stands.

    Of the seven shop build bikes I safety checked last week zero passed inspection. This’ll be a good opportunity to retrain staff up on what constitutes a safely functional bike.

    Elsewhere, it was our first week being mask-optional but elective compliance was near 100% and we had zero conflicts with folks about the change in policy.

    This week I’ll finish up the aforementioned seven bikes, interview some prospective employees, and game plan for post-spring break when things are really picking up. Spring is coming!

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 24
    Sales: $567.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $170
    Memberships: 7 for $210

    Tire/tubes: 7 for $26

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

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