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- Associated Project(s):Attached Files:
ZW002 Join NERC Government Recycling Demand Champions - Transmitted
Associated Project(s):Following the completion of iWG assessment for ZW002 Join NERC Government Recycling Demand Champions, the recommendation was transmitted to Brad Henson and Aaron Finder at the UIUC Purchasing Office.
See iWG assessment of ZW002 - Join NERC Government Recycling Demand Champions attached.
See iCAP Team Recommendation ZW002 - Join NERC Government Recycling Demand Champions here.
Attached Files:Update on Registration and Advertising for the 2021 Sustainability Competition for Undergraduates
Associated Project(s):“... We have 12 registered teams so far.
The registration deadline is Sept. 20...
We have seen an uptick in visitors to the competition website. Last week we were up from around 50 visitors in the first week of the semester to 2000 visitors in week 3.
But, those numbers have not translated to an increase in registrations.
We also have ads in The Daily Illini and on digital advertisement boards around campus. The Daily Illini last week reported 600 visitors a day to our digital ad.
Students will also be bombarded with social media messages this week. Illinois Public Affairs are doing that for us…”
-Leon Liebenberg (09/12/2021)
Teaching Associate Professor
Fellow: Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaigniCAP Team Charge Letters
Associated Project(s):Attached are the charge letters sent to each of the iCAP Team members, on September 10 by iSEE interim director, Dr. Madhu Khanna.
Attached Files:Energy iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
Engagement iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
Land and Water iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
Resilience iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
Transportation iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
Zero Waste iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
Education iCAP Team Charge Letter 2021-2022.pdf
SSC Semesterly Report: NSRC Composting
Associated Project(s):SSC received a semesterly report for Spring 2021 for the NSRC Composting project on 9/9/2021. Please see attached.
Attached Files:Video promoting Bike to Work Day and Light the Night 2021
Associated Project(s):iSEE produced a video to promote Bike to Work Day and Light the Night 2021 on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
See the video here Bike Day 2021 on September 14 - Bike to Work Day and Light the Night!
August and September e-update
Associated Project(s):Please see the attached newsletter for both August and September updates from the EPA's SmartWay program.
Attached Files:F&S Announcement about Bike Day events!
Associated Project(s):Celebrate CU Bike Day 2021
Be a part of two great upcoming bicycle events on Tuesday, September 14. You can participate, volunteer, or do both!
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign achieved the Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University status in October 2019 because of its ongoing commitment to improving bicycle education, infrastructure, and programs. Visit the Bike at Illinois website to learn more about the many efforts that support bicycling on campus.
Bike to Work Day
Champaign County Bike to Work Day returns this semester. There will be 17 welcoming stations open between 7 and 10 a.m., with nine on the Urbana campus. Grab a snack and get some free Bike at Illinois merchandise and a T-shirt! To get the free T-shirt, you must register and bring your bicycle!
Light the Night
The 14th annual Light the Night, a free bike light giveaway, will be held that evening from 4 to 7 p.m. at three locations:- Alma Mater Plaza
- Hallene Gateway (intersection of Illinois Street and Lincoln Avenue)
- Campus Bike Center (51. E. Gregory Drive)
Participants must bring their bicycles to receive the free light sets; lights will only be installed on bicycles without lights. Volunteers are needed in the afternoon and evening for three shifts. Fill out the volunteer sign-up form to assist. All volunteers will be required to wear face coverings during the event.
Weekly Update: Grand Re-opening on Sept. 16; New hires!
Associated Project(s):All, Another busy week. Only managed to replenish our stock of For Sale Bikes by a few this week but sold them all within an hour of being open each day. Demand for bikes is still sky-high. Accordingly, most—if not all—of the Build-a-Bikes have been claimed. We did receive a couple of viable donations we’ll fix up this week.
This week, I’ll also be promoting our Grand Re-Opening that’s happening Thursday, 9/16 from 4 – 7p. We’ve got flyers we’re handing out and talking it up to everyone who comes into the Bike Center. Here’s a blurb we can share out to relevant contacts:
On Thursday, September 16th, from 4-7, Campus Bike Center is celebrating their Grand Re-Opening at their new location on 51 E. Gregory Dr., Champaign, IL 61820. Come enjoy fun activities, games, and a chance to win a free bike! UIPD will be doing an escorted ride around the block at 5:00 for riders who would like to join. There will be tabling from campus and community organizations, and on the basketball court side you will get a chance to make a basket and be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a refurbished bicycle. We plan to give away an adult bike and a child one. See you there!We’ve got a couple new hires in the pipeline that should be onboard in the next week or so—fingers crossed.
The numbers:
Visitors: 105
Sales: $1,732
Bikes (refurb): 3 for $675
Build-a-Bike: 3 for $120
Memberships: 17 for $510
Tires/tubes: 17 for $82Thanks!
Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Coordinatorarchived info - prior project description
Associated Project(s):In coordination with the Chancellor’s Office work with representatives from Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, MTD, and the Regional Planning commission to evaluate the potential for a region-wide Climate Action Plan.
By working with businesses, community members, and local governments to develop a Regional Climate Action Plan, the University can foster solutions to regional sustainability issues.
prior name: Contribute to a Regional Climate Action Plan
Walkability Audit: Week 4 meeting
Associated Project(s):On Tuesday September 7, 2021, Sutapa and Sarthak met to discuss the Survey Questionnaire of the Walkability Audit. Each question of the MAPS tool was analysed and a decision to restructure the questionnaire was taken.
On Thursday September 9, 2021, Sutapa, Sarthak and Prof. Lindsay Braun met for discussing the Survey questionnaire and the Deficiency report. The decision of focusing on 5 major categories was agreed on, which are as follows:
- Context
- Safety
- Accessibility
- Connectivity
- Walk Appeal
In conclusion, the database of the Walkability audit is to be collected using two methods: The Survey Questionnaire (focuses on the sub-block area as a whole) and the Deficiency report (focuses on individual locations within each sub-block).
General Meeting - 8/31/21
Associated Project(s):This was our first general meeting of the year. We informed everyone about the progress of planning the Sustainability Summit, as well as heard updates from various organizations. See meeting minutes attached.
Attached Files:September Red Oak Rain Garden e-newsletter
Associated Project(s):A link to the September Red Oak Rain Garden e-newsletter is provided below.
Attached Files:Walkability Audit: Week 3 meeting
Associated Project(s):On September 2, 2021, Sarthak and Sutapa met with F&S-TDM, F&S Grounds, DRES, F&S FIR, and faculty from the Urban Planning departments to discuss the updates regarding the Walkability Audit. Following is the brief outline from the meeting:
Proposal to do a 2-step data collection was finalized during the meeting.
- The Survey Questionnaire (using 123 survey app)
- The Deficiency Report (using maps of sub blocks) - also using the survey123 app
The study is to be performed using four main parameters ( Safety, Accessibility, Connectivity and Walk Appeal). The study will also include entrances to the buildings as well as ADA ramps.
The next steps to be performed for the Project is to finalize the survey questionnaire and the individual maps of each subdivision (showing sidewalks, crosswalks, and entrances). The training manual is scheduled to be worked on right afterwards. Call for volunteers in the newsletter to be posted soon.
Attached Files:TED Talk: Eco-Edition - Environmental Action - Resources!
Associated Project(s):The August TED Talk: Eco-Edition event on environmental action was a great conversation to kick off a new semester at Illinois! Alexandra Gergova was a terrific host at the event and showed an inspiring TED Talk by Majora Carter, “Greening the ghetto”. Learn more about Majora’s work and environmental activism here. In addition to the resources outlined in Alex’s presentation (see attached), below are additional and resources that were shared during the conversation:
- Nan Holda shared information about the International Climate Action Challenge: If you and at least one other person want to have a big impact on the environment in 90 days, form a team and join the 2021 International Climate Action Challenge (ICAC): https://www.climateactionchallenge.net/challenge. Free to join by Sept 10! Every registered member of your team will receive the digital “Climate Action Challenge” book and workbook, weekly trainings, weekly check-ins, and access to the ICAC community portal. This is all geared to help everyone #BeTheChange!
- Urbana Sustainability Advisory Commission
- Moms Clean Air Force
- Defend our Future
- Students for Environmental Concerns, UIUC
- Bike at Illinois
- Continue the conversation and interact with others on the Waste Reduction @ Illinois Facebook group
- Sign up for the iSEE newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things sustainability (like future TED Talk events!)
I hope that you enjoyed the discussion on Tuesday evening and that you learned about a new opportunity or way to take action and get involved. Every action has an impact – it is up to all of us to talk about it, tell someone else, and empower others to show up and take action, too! As always, please reach out with any questions, feedback, or to share additional resources/opportunities!
Attached Files:University's first ever Bike Shelter installed!
Associated Project(s):A first of its kind at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a 14’x63’ covered Bike Shelter has been installed and is ready for use in the Ikenberry Commons area between Flagg Hall and Noble Hall. It can accommodate up to 96 bicycles at a time utilizing side stage (vertical) bike racks.
See attached the pictures from first week of August!
Funding Approval for Resilience Development Proposal
Associated Project(s):Madhu Khanna and Ehab Kamarah approved $18,025 of funding from the Carbon Credit Sales Fund for a Resilience Development Proposal.
"The Resilience Commitment, signed in 2016, was incorporated in the iCAP for the first time in the 2020 version, with a list of seven specific objectives. iSEE is the primary department responsible for helping campus achieve these ambitious goals. We request approval to fund a 20-hour/week contract with ARI to have Stacy Gloss work to develop the structure and plan for completing these objectives. The cost of a six-month agreement is $17,500" (the cost was updated with the new fiscal year due to a salary change) -Morgan White (08/13/2021)
An email of the approval is attached below.
Red Oak Rain Garden Expansion
Associated Project(s):The following information is from an email Elaina Brown sent to inform the Red Oak Rain Garden "neighbors" about the upcoming changes to the Red Oak Rain Garden. The full email is attached below.
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There will be some prep work near the garden and Dorner Drive Retention Pond. Vegetation will be treated to remove invasive/non-native species to make way for high-quality native plants.
Starting Sep 13 volunteers will install more than a thousand plants west of the garden. Additionally, F&S Grounds will treat the pond's banks to prepare for prairie/woodland restoration but leave some areas as mowed grass for students to relax and gather in the future as they do now. Finally, at the end of the month, Country Arbors will plant new trees in the area between the garden and McKinley's parking lot.
In time, these new landscapes will provide pollinator habitat, water quality benefits, and serve as a model for future restorations on campus and throughout the state. You can expect that by spring 2022, your experience of walking through this part of campus will be even better than it is now!
Layne Knoche, Red Oak Rain Garden’s designer, worked with F&S Campus Landscape Architect Brent Lewis on the attached plans (see the attached images below).
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International Climate Action Challenge
Associated Project(s):Are you ready to go from passion to action in 90 days?
Be part of the 2nd Annual International Climate Action Challenge beginning August 18, 2021!
If you haven't been able to make a big impact yet, don't worry.
We have a proven method for regular people to step up and make a difference fast! The 2021 International Climate Action Challenge offers a proven process, with video course, live trainings and a fun, supportive global community to keep you inspired and energized.
Eco-Counter installed at the intersectoion of Wright St and Healey St
Associated Project(s):We have installed a set of Eco-Counter's pedestrian and bicycle counter at the intersection of Wright St and Healey St on August 31, 2021. This counter location is now active and collecting data!