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Project Updates

  1. 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education Application Approved by the Arbor Day Foundation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has once again been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA member. Specifically, the Tree Campus High Education program reviewed the Tree Care Plan, in addition to other requirements, to grant our campus the title of an offical Tree Campus. Below is a brief summary of what is needed to obtain this recoginition, each year. 

    "To obtain this distinction, your campus has met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus Higher Education, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for your campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and...Expand »

  2. Engagement iCAP Team Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainability Engagement and Outreach
    Engagement iCAP Team
    Sustainability iCAP Portal

    The Engagement iCAP Team met on Friday, February 18 to discuss current ongoing recommendations, including: Sustainability TikTok challenge, College of Engineering Sustainability Leaders Learning Session, and a Sustainability Partnership with the ADV498 Advertising Capstone Course. Meeting minutes are attached.

    Attached Files: 

  3. February 16, 2022 Illini Lights Out Data

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illini Lights Out

    At the February 11 Illini Lights Out event, 4,297 light bulbs were shut off, saving $623.38 in energy costs. This also prevented 5.3 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, which is the same amount of CO2 as what would be emitted by fully charging 638,987 cell phones. That's a big impact!

    Illini Lights Out is a certified Green Event! Click this link to learn how to green-certify your own event.

    The next Illini Lights Out event of the semester is Friday, February 25th, at 5:30 pm, and you can sign up for that event using this link if you haven't done so already.

  6. Online LEED Green Associate Training

    Associated Project(s): 
    LEED Certification
    Educate Future Leaders

    The following text is taken from the February iSEE Newsletter, which is attached below.

     

    LEED Green Associate Training Offered Online. Students can prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam through this online course offered by LeadingGreen and taught by a U.S. Green Building Council faculty member. Register for a live webinar or complete the on-demand recordings at your own pace. Questions? Watch this introductory video or email Lorne Mlotek at info@leadinggreen.com.
    Live webinars Feb. 24, March 12,  April 2, April  23, May 15 | Register here

    Attached Files: 

  7. "Recycling 101: Start With Reduce, Reuse" -iSEE Newsletter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Increase Recycling Rates

    The following passage is taken from an iSEE February Newsletter (the newsletter is attached below).

     

    Recycling 101: Start With Reduce, Reuse 

    Did you know less than 10 percent of plastic is recycled each year? Or that cardboard contaminated with grease or food can't be recycled? In "Recycling 101," iSEE intern Maria Maring outlines what can and can't be recycled on campus, recycling rules and resources in Champaign-Urbana, and tips from sustainability experts about what you can do to recycle effectively and keep waste out of the landfill. Most important: Remember that recycling is just one of the "three Rs," and that "reuse" and "reduce" are just as important in shrinking your environmental footprint!

     

     

    Attached Files: 

  8. "Q Magazine: The Dark Side of Thrifting" -iSEE Newsletter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Certificate in Environmental Writing (CEW) [ARCHIVED]

    The following passage is taken from an iSEE February Newsletter (the newsletter is attached below).

     

    Q Magazine: The Dark Side of Thrifting

    When her clothing donation was denied at a secondhand store, Q Magazine author Nikki Palella was inspired to investigate behind the scenes of the thrifting industry. In "The Dark Side of Thrifting," she outlines the consequences of Western society's reliance on fast fashion, over-consumption, and clothing donations. Our unwanted clothes thread their way around the world, to the detriment of the environment, local industries, and people's livelihoods. Secondhand clothing and the thrifting industry, while well-intentioned and helpful to a small portion of society, can cause real pain.

     

     

    Attached Files: 

  10. Geothermal Urbana-Champaign 2.0 Spring Zoom Sessions

    Associated Project(s): 
    Geothermal Urbana-Champaign
    Geothermal on Campus

    The following text is from the February iSEE Newsletter, which is attached below.

     

    Geothermal Urbana-Champaign 2.0 Starts Feb. 23. Geothermal Urbana-Champaign is a public education and group buy program that makes getting geothermal heating and cooling easier and more affordable for Champaign, Piatt, and Vermilion County home and business owners. Register for a spring Zoom session to learn more! Spring dates include Feb. 23, March 29, April 12 (co-hosted by iSEE and F&S), May 2, and May 23 (times vary). Details>>>

    Attached Files: 

  11. Weekly Update: Build-a-bike, Uni High Agora Days class

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Support Youth Sustainability

    All, Picked up 4 – 5 bikes from Urbana last week which were promptly claimed as B-a-Bs or tagged for shop builds. This week we have our Uni High Agora Days class coming in Tues – Fri. This will reduce our open hours on Wed/Fri to 4 – 6p.

    I’ll be picking up 5 bikes from Champaign Cycle on Tuesday afternoon, too. That should get us towards a good number of bikes on hand.

    The numbers:

    visitors: 10
    Sales: $324
    Bike (refurb): 1 for $180
    Memberships: 3 for $90

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  13. HVAC and Air Quality Assessment Project Meeting (2-11-2022)

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy-Efficient HVAC Infection Control

    Dhuvaraj Gambhire and Ali Khan met with Morgan White on 2-11-2022 to discuss how they can acquire a Notice to Proceed and access to the Atmospheric Science Building for testing.

    They will get a quote from Sterling, which will allow them to get a Purchase Order (PO). After they get the PO, they can get a Notice to Proceed and access to the building.

  14. Walkability audit: Spring 2022, Meeting 3 & 4

    Associated Project(s): 
    Walkability Study

    On Feb 3rd and Feb 10th, Sarthak and Sutapa met to transport data from ArcGIS Survey 123 app to an excel spreadsheet. (attached)

    General Walkability study spreadsheet:

    1. Data was cleaned and transposed. Each question is located on a separate row. Each column accounts for 1 survey taken by a volunteer of the study.

    2. A separate sheet was designated for assigning each question with scores on a scale of 1-5.

    3. Using the function index and match, formulas were introduced for each survey answer in the database.

    A group meeting is scheduled in the end of February to finalize the scoring system of the map- blocks. The next step is to calculate averages for each map block and assign an average score out of 5 for each parameter.

     

    ...Expand »

  15. CR2ZW 2022 Week 2 Reporting, Week 3 Begins, Student Fellowships, Plastics Reduction Certification & More!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Race to Zero Waste

    The following message was sent on behalf of Kristy Jones, the Director of Higher Education Programs and RecycleMania Manager of the National Wildlife Federation:

    Hello Campus Race to Zero Waste 2022 Participants,

     

    Thank you for participating in the 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste competition!

     

    The CR2ZW team is excited that so many campuses are joining us for this year’s competition. This year’s competition will be flexible; we are encouraging campuses to track your waste and report as much as you can. If you are unable to track waste on campus, please consider hosting an online education and engagement campaign during the competition timeframe. Please reach out to me anytime with questions. (respond to this email,...Expand »

  16. Campus Tree Advisory Committee Meeting - February 2022

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    On February 10, 2022, the 2022 Campus Tree Advisory Committee met to complete the following:

    • Review the charge letter
    • Discuss the success of the 2022 Tree Campus Plan
    • Plan Arbor Day 2022 events
    • Discuss policy revisions regarding tree damage replacements
    • Discuss the creation of a campus nursery

    See the attached file to read the meeting notes. 

    Attached Files: 

  17. 2022 Tree Committee Formed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    The 2022 Tree Committee is now formed.

    Serving on this committee are the following individuals: Kevin McSweeney (chair), Brent Lewis, Morgan White, Ryan Welch, Jay Hayek, Andrew Lamoreux, Eliana Brown, Sinead Soltis, Julia Marsaglia, and Jack Reicherts. In the 2022 Tree Committee Charge letter, Dr. Ehab Kamara defines the responsibilities and duties for the advisory body.

    See the charge letter in the attached files.

    Attached Files: 

  18. ZW002 Join NERC Government Recycling Demand Champions - Successful

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

    Aaron Finder, Assistant Director of the Purchasing and Contracts Management office, sent the following email on 2/9/22:

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

    Hi Meredith,

    I have met with NERC a couple time to get a better understanding of NERC and its Government Recycling Demand Champions program. Their Director, Lynn Rubinstein, and I discussed membership levels and the Purchasing and Contracts Management Office will join NERC as a “Supporting Member.”

    Through our membership with NERC, we will also have the ability to participate in 4 active committees:

    1. Plastic & Paper Recycling Markets
    2. Bottle Bill Committee (Charge more for plastic at purchase but receive money back if you recycle)
    3. Glass Committee
    4. Organics – End Markets (Compost)

    There will be...Expand »

    Attached Files: 

  19. ZW004 Reusable Dining Containers Program - Successful

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste Recommendations Summary
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Beckman Cafe Reusable Containers
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Reusable Containers

    Dr. Jeff Moore, Director of the Beckman Institute, responded to Morgan White, Associate Director for F&S for Sustainability, with the following email on 1/18/22:

    "Thank you, Morgan and Jennifer.  We'll discuss this at our next meeting.  On first glance, it looks like a prudent practice to follow."

    See iWG assessment and transmittal of ZW004 Reusable Dining Containers Program here.
    See recommendation and submittal of ZW004 Reusable Dining Containers Program here.

    For future updates, please refer to the Reusable Containers project

  20. Big Ten & Friends Network Event, Exploring University Sustainable Lab Certification Programs

    Associated Project(s): 
    Big Ten & Friends Sustainability
    Green Research Committee

    The following email describes an online session about various Green Lab Certification Programs.

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

    From: Vandenbergh, Lydia Bodman
    Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2022 8:35 AM
    To: Vandenbergh, Lydia Bodman
    Subject:BTAF Sustainable Lab Programs Presentation and Discussion - Feb 24th

     

    As Higher Education Institutions develop their Climate Action Plans, one opportunity repeatedly arises: culture change in our approach to research. The US Department of Energy estimates that lab buildings consume anywhere from three to ten times the energy and water of administrative and classroom buildings and generate high amounts of single use plastics and hazardous wastes. One...Expand »

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