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  1. Award Letter - Solar Car

    Associated Project(s): 
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    This project is to build and test a scaled-down prototype of the electrical system of a solar car. The major parts of this prototype are the solar array, maximum power point trackers (MPPT), rechargeable batteries, and a load. The solar array will be made of flexible silicon crystalline solar cells encapsulated (to protect from debris and enhance performance) and mounted on a contoured composite panel that mimics the surface of our car body. The applicant will design and build our own MPPT which is a variable DC/DC boost converter that raises the voltage of their array. The MPPT has a feedback loop control to ensure maximum output from the array under different insolation and temperatures. The rechargeable batteries will be Li-ion batteries that will act as a buffer energy source when sunlight is not available or is insufficient to power the system. Although Li-ion batteries have a high energy density, they require a battery management system to ensure safe and optimal operation. Thus, they will purchase a battery management system that is suitable for our car. Lastly, the energy generated by the solar array will power a load, which will be a motor planned to be borrowed from another team.

    Attached Files: 

  2. Layout of Demonstration Plots

    Associated Project(s): 
    Native Plants at Arboretum

    Here is the layout of the 4 prairie plots just west of the pollinatarium building and wooded area.  They are designed to give decision makers and homeowners an idea of how prairie plantings of different heights can look.

    The plant mix is good for pollinators and will have something in bloom most of the growing season, it was however limited by what we could get late in the late spring. 

    ~John C. Marlin, PhD, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

    Attached Files: 

  3. bike warehouse cleanout

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Michelle,

    I have removed all bikes from the warehouse.

    James

    From: Wahl, Michelle
    Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 6:27 PM
    To: Roedl, James M
    Cc: Johnston, Morgan B; DeLorenzo, Stacey; Calloway, Jason Robard; Wise, Michael Anthony
    Subject: Re: Bike Pick Up!

    That is awesome thanks for the quick reply! I will let Kari know tomorrow! 

    Michelle 
    Sent from my iPhone


    On Apr 28, 2015, at 5:18 PM, Roedl, James M wrote:

    Michelle,

    I can work with Kari and should be able to get all of those bikes out by Friday the 1st.  If that works for you.

    Thanks,
    James

     

  4. Community Arbor Day Proclamation 2015

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Hello Campus Tree Advisory Committee,

    Tomorrow is the Arbor Day Celebration on the Main Quad at 11:30.  The signed proclamation is attached here.  Please also welcome our newest committee member, Maggie Thomas, a student volunteer. 

    We are working to spread the word about the event tomorrow, so please remind your friends and coworkers to attend.  Please join us if you are able! 

    Thanks,

    Morgan

    Link to benefits from Trees: http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/resources/benefits_trees.pdf

    Thank you Email and invitation:

    Mayors:

    Thank you for your staffs help in preparing for our first Arbor Day on campus.  Mike Brunk, in Urbana, has been very helpful with coordinating the joint proclamation with Urbana, Champaign, and UIUC.  We intend to hold a celebration on April 24 at 11:30 on the Main Quad by the Henry Administration Building.  Mike DeLorenzo will read the proclamation, our staff will share a short explanation about the benefits of trees, students from Uni High will be there supporting the event, and then our Grounds division will plant a new tree.  There will also be a trivia contest for the attendees, and we will hand out white pine saplings.   

    I know your schedules are very busy but I hope that you will be able to stop by during our celebration, and we would be happy to share information about your Arbor Day events as well.

    Thanks;

    Al Stratman

    Executive Director, Facilities & Services

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    1501 S. Oak Street, 135C PPSB, M/C 800

    Champaign, IL 61820-6905

    (217) 333-2500

    Attached Files: 

  6. Quad Day registration

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    From: quad-day@illinois.edu [quad-day@illinois.edu]
    Sent: Monday, April 13, 2015 1:03 PM
    To: Roedl, James M
    Subject: Quad Day Registration Confirmation

    This is to confirm that we have received your 2015 Quad Day registration. However, this does not guarantee you a spot for Quad Day until a balance check has been done on your credit card or RSO account.
    If you have any questions, please email quad-day@illinois.edu.

    Organization Name: The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign
    Organization Type: Non-Profit, Community Organizations
    Primary Name: James Roedl
    Primary Phone: 217-244-1196
    Primary Email: jmroedl illinois.edu
    Second Contact Name:
    Second Contact Email:
    Payment Type: CreditCard
    Payment Amount: $28.00

  8. Arbor Day celebration information

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Arbor Day Celebration Plan

    MBJ 4/3/2015

    Arbor Day Celebration: In support of designating the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a Tree Campus USA through the Arbor Day Foundation, the Chancellor is proclaiming Friday April 24, 2015 as a day of celebration.  An Arbor Day Celebration will occur on the Main Quad at 11:30, with the planting of a new tree near the Henry Administration Building.  Please join Associate Chancellor Mike DeLorenzo to hear the proclamation, watch the tree planting process, and participate in a fun trivia game to earn a personal tree sapling.

    Location of the Event:  The tree location is circled in orange on the aerial image below.  The area for the celebration is designated in orange as #8 on the map image below, in front of the Henry Administration Building.

    Schedule of the Celebration:  There will be a hole pre-dug for the tree on Friday morning.  The hole will be fenced off to prevent the danger of falling.  Everything for placing the tree (equipment, tree, soil) will be placed near the tree location by 11:15.  A podium, sound system, and table for the trivia game will be in place and arranged by 11:15.  The official event agenda will occur from 11:30-12:30.  Take down of the event items will occur early afternoon.

    Agenda for the Celebration:  The agenda includes a welcome, proclamation, speech, tree planting, and trivia game.

    • Welcome by Carl Wegel 5-10 minutes
    • Proclamation by Mike DeLorenzo 5-10 minutes
    • Speech about trees by Brent Lewis/Ryan Welch 10 minutes
    • Placing of the tree into the hole by Grounds crew 15-30 minutes
    • trivia game facilitated by volunteers with prizes (hopefully seedlings) during the tree placement and through remainder of the hour

    Publicity for the Celebration: The event will be listed on the Earth Week calendar of events from SECS and iSEE.  F&S will send out a press release and an e-week.  Invitations will be sent to sustainability groups and appropriate academic departments.  Al Stratman will invite people to the event, during the Earth Day master plan presentation.

    Attached Files: 

  9. iCAP Working Group Agenda for 4/2/2015

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Reduce Emissions from Transportation
    Develop Scenarios for Converting the UI Fleet to Renewable Fuels
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Zero Waste iCAP Team
    Appropriately Staff Sustainable Transportation Efforts
    Appropriately Staff Zero Waste Efforts
    Waste Stream Characterization Study Phase 1

    Dear iCAP Working Group Members,

    As a reminder, we will be meeting this Thursday at 1:30 (and also next Thursday, 4/9, at 1:30).

    This week we will discuss the timeline for completing our work on the iCAP, and then turn our attention to the 7 attached formal recommendations we've received from the Transportation and Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeams.  Please review these in advance of the meeting, so that we can discuss them most efficiently.  If you will not be able to join us due to a schedule conflict, please email me in advance if you have any particular concerns.

    Next week (4/9), we'll be joined by Kent Reifsteck and Mike Larson from F&S, and also Scott Willenbrock from the Energy Generation SWATeam, so that we can discuss what the iCAP should say about charting a pathway for clean energy for our campus.

    Thanks,

    Ben

    Professor Benjamin J. McCall

    Associate Director for Campus Sustainability Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus-sustainability@illinois.edu

    Attached Files: 

  12. Vermicompost update from Matt Turino

    Associated Project(s): 
    Vermicompost
    Sustainable Student Farm

    Yes it is implemented and we are currently getting 3-6 40 gallon bins of food waste a week from Busy Evans and harvesting vermicompost out of the bottom.  We are still perfecting our technique for sure, for a while we were letting it get a little too hot for the worms which made them eat less than they would otherwise because they couldn't be in the zone where the food waste was due to the micro-organismal composting causing high temperatures.  Then we were making it too dry and now it's too wet, so we are still perfecting our vermicomposting skills but it is getting better for sure!

  14. Status of F&S truck availability

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Biodiesel Initiative (IBI)

    F&S Garage and Car Pool had provided IBI with a truck that could be used for moving waste vegetable oil as well as biodiesel.

    Unfortunately the truck that was used has been transferred to another department. At this time I am not aware of any other suitable truck becoming available. The University's fiscal situation is such that it is highly unlikely that another truck will be available in the near term.

    Collection and transportation of the biodiesel requires tanks and pumps. The size can vary depending on scale, but the equipment is needed regardless for efficiency. 

  15. Notes from discussion with Mike Brunk, City of Urbana Arborist

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    Morgan Johnston spoke with Mike Brunk with the City of Urbana about the Arbor Day Celebrations held by the City of Urbana in previous years. 

    • The tree planted on the west side of Follenger Hall was for the tenth anniversary of Urbana’s Tree City designation in 1986.
    • Urbana does a proclamation that the Mayor reads, usually signed by the Mayor of Urbana and the Mayor of Champaign. Urbana facilitates it,and they could add UI.
    • They work with the park district, and build trees in the parks, invite a particular school with one or two grades.  They pre-plant the trees and have mulch piles, so the kids get to mulch the tree. Talk about the eco benefits of trees with a barrel of water and a five gallon bucket and a milk jug. 
    • It is actually bird and tree day.  Entertain the kids, proclamation from mayors, newspaper, and event for kids.  Tree planting of some sort and an acknowledgement.
    Attached Files: 

  16. Media Hits

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-01-20/solar-farm-construction-start-spring-ui.html

    http://www.illinoishomepage.net/story/d/story/south-farms-to-include-sol...

    http://www.wics.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_20693.shtml

    http://sustainability.illinois.edu/big-news-from-facilities-services-sol...

    http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2015/01/21/dd-obama-no-challenge-poses-...

    http://wgil.com/v3/2015/01/21/u-of-illinois-gets-ok-to-hire-california-f...

    http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/4798ffaa7e8a4a4d869ef07afe8be884/I...

    http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/ui-gets-ok-to...

    http://www.energycentral.com/news/en/34977147/-Solar-farm-design-work-co...?

    http://www.bnd.com/2015/01/21/3621109/ui-gets-ok-to-hire-california.html

    http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/9878155-solar-farm-construction-to-start-in...

  17. Newsletter January 2015

    Associated Project(s): 
    USGBC Student Chapter
    Eco-Olympics

    Come join us for our first general meeting of the semester! Several students who attended the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo this past November will be discussing various education sessions they attended. These sessions cover a wide range of metrics in the realm of sustainability, so you definitely do not want to miss out!

    We will also be giving a general run-down of our events and projects for this semester, including the 3rd annual Student Sustainability Initiatives Symposium (SSIS), our LEGO LEED Engineering Open House project, LEED Study Sessions, and much more!

    As always, food will be provided! The meeting will be Wednesday, January 27th at 5pm in Newmark 2311

    Contact Dhara Patel at dhara.x.patel @ gmail.com if you have any questions!

     

    Projects Chair position available!


    Interested in joining our USGBC Students UIUC team? We are currently looking for a Projects Chair to run our Projects Team! This person will be in charge of running various sustainability and green building projects in the C-U area, such as Engineering Open House, Campus Conservation Nationals, and more! This is a great position for those interested in obtaining networking and leadership experience in a casual setting.

    If YOU are interested in this position, please attend our general meeting on Wednesday and talk to one of the board members indicating your interest! If you cannot make the meeting, please email our organization account at usgbcstudents.uiuc@gmail.com!

     

    Membership


    USGBC Students membership is $10 for the semester and $15 for the year. Only members can attend Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, run for Executive Board positions, apply for Intern and Chair Positions, and participate in non-meeting activities that require funding. Members also receive a $10 discount for LEED Study Sessions!

    As a new additional benefit, becoming a member will give you access to the official US Green Building Council internal "Facebook": National Field. This is an invaluable resource that will allow you to network with USGBC staff in Washington D.C., all state and regional chapters, and USGBC members across the nation.

    Contact John Shapely at jshaple2 @ illinois.edu to become a member!

     

  18. 2015 Campus Tree Advisory Committee charge letter

    Associated Project(s): 
    Tree Campus Higher Education

    From: Johnston, Morgan B
    Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 3:18 PM
    To: Welch, Ryan B; Johnston, Morgan B; Lewis, Brent Christopher; McSweeney, Kevin; Kling, Gary J; Lage, Stephanie M; Brunk, Mike
    Subject: Campus Tree Advisory Committee

    Hello,

    I am writing to formally ask for your participation in the new Campus Tree Advisory Committee for calendar year 2015.  Superintendent of Grounds Ryan Welch and I will co-chair this committee, under the purview of Facilities and Services Executive Director Al Stratman.  Our goal is to achieve the Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation by the end of this calendar year.  To that end, we would like your advice for the following items, as listed in the attached charge letter.

    1. Assist with Tree Campus USA application by December 31, 2015.
    2. Recommend policies for the maintenance, removal, planting, and landscaping of trees. 
    3. Recommend a tree protection plan process for construction and trenching. 
    4. Recommend a policy for enforcement, penalties, and appeals related to tree damage.
    5. Develop a communication strategy to help make the campus community and contractors aware of policies, procedures, and goals of Tree Campus.
    6. Plan an Arbor Day observance event for Arbor Day (last Friday in April).
    7. Review annual expenditures related to tree maintenance.

    We expect to meet for one hour approximately once per month, except during the summer months.  The first meeting will be set for early February.  Please let me know if there is someone who manages your calendar for you, and I will work with them to schedule the first meeting.

    Thanks in advance for your help with this process!  I look forward to meeting with you next month.

    Sincerely,

    Morgan

    Attached Files: 

  20. Solar Farm Agreements Signed

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar Farm 1.0

    CHAMPAIGN, IL (January 20, 2015) –  Construction of a 5.87 megawatt (MW) Solar Farm on campus will begin in Spring 2015 after university and state officials approved power purchase and land lease agreements with Phoenix Solar South Farms, LLC.

    See the attached release, fact sheet, and poster for more details.

    Attached Files: 

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