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  5. Brent Lewis approves 17 more dual bin locations

    Associated Project(s): 
    Outdoor Recycling Bin Update

    On July 18th, Brent Lewis approved 16 more sites for installation, and the site on Champaign property was approved on July 6. On September 6th, these 17 sites plus the 7 additional sites sent to earlier this summer on June 7th (the eighth site at Siebel Center for Computer Science was installed on August 1st, so it was omitted from this spreadsheet), were sent to the iron workers for a total of 24 sites.

     

    55 dual bins remain in storage and need site proposals from the zero waste team and approval from Brent Lewis.

  7. Check in meeting from September 6, 2023

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night
    Community Bicycle Events and Rides

    Please see attached the agenda and documents shared during this meeting. Watch the meeting recording here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QZsmvj8CXrpSFk7BlJpjw4Pvm64c0u4V/view?u...

    Attached Files: 

  8. Green rolloff for recycling arrives!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Achieve Zero Waste
    Tailgate Recycling
    "Don't Waste" with Coca-Cola
    Fighting Illini, Fighting Waste
    Increase Recycling through the WTS
    Campuswide Zero Waste events
    Welcome Celebration Recycling

    It's here, it's here, it's finally here. Waste Transfer Station purchased a new green rolloff container specifically for recycling. We expect to use it for tailgate recycling, welcome week, and any other event that produces an excess of recycling or would benefit from a container dedicated to recyclables.

    Attached Files: 

  9. Building Services Specialist Cleaning Program Launched This Semester

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Cleaning Products and Practices

     

     

    Group photo of building service workers involved in receiving ISSA certification in the Campus Instructional Facility lobby

     

    		  

    Before the start of the fall semester, the F&S Building Services department launched a new Specialist Cleaning Program in five high-usage campus facilities. Almost 40 BSWs underwent professional development and received training certification from the ISSA, a leading organization for the cleaning industry worldwide.

    ISSA professional development at the university will organize detailed cleaning tasks and deliver many benefits of a more systematic approach that transitions from the current zone cleaning setup, where BSWs perform all cleaning tasks within a specified area. Streamlined processes for color-coding will help eliminate the potential for cross-contamination and promote the more efficient utilization of equipment and supplies.

    The pilot buildings are the Campus Instructional Facility, Talbot Laboratory, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, Lincoln Hall, and the Materials Science and Engineering Building. These high-usage facilities were selected based on the ability to successfully evaluate and replicate the program in other similar facilities moving forward. A list of departmental expectations is available to help further explain key aspects of this initial effort. 

    For questions about the Specialist Cleaning Program and Building Services Transformation Initiative, contact Director of Transportation & Building Services Pete Varney pvarney@illinois.edu, 217-333-7583.

     

  10. energy conservation question from CEE assistant professor

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation Efforts

    Hello,

     

    I have seen a number of emails this summer when it gets really hot about energy conservation.

     

    In Newmark (NCEL), the summer time temperatures are kept to ABSURDLY low temperatures. This is absolutely stressing the electrical grid for no reason. 

     

    Graduate students keep winter coats in their offices and sometimes even use space heaters in the summer.

     

    A colleague of mine's student office in NCEL measured a temperature of 58 degrees recently.

     

    Who can we talk to about changing the thermostat? It is ridiculous when it is 100 degrees outside that we are cooling our massive building to such a degree that we need to wear long pants, long sleeves, and coats.

     

    Best,

    Hannah

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

     

    Hello All,

    FYI

    David- Here is something for the control center- in case there are some alarms or setpoints that need adjusting. 

    Morgan- Karl has shared this bldg. is in need of deferred maintenance and a large scale upgrades.

     

    Let me know if you have any thing too add when responding to Hannah?

     

    Best

    Paul Foote

  11. [WUNA-Main] Will Styrofoam recycling continue post-Dart?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Styrecycle: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling program

    From Kathy's Mailbag in today's News-Gazette:

     

    “I'm wondering if Styrofoam recycling will stop when the Dart Container plant closes at the end of the year. Our community Styrofoam recycling program is one of just six in the state, with the other 5 located in the Chicago area. Will this program be saved for our community?”

    Michael Westerfield, Dart Container Corporation’s vice president for sustainability, notified the City of Champaign that the community Styrofoam recycling program hosted by Dart will remain in operation until Sept. 29.

    Nichole Millage, the City of Champaign’s environmental sustainability specialist, said at this time she is not aware of any other companies or recycling processors in the area that have the equipment (densifier) to recycle Styrofoam. “If new options become available, I will make sure folks are aware.”

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

    Hi Morgan and Scott,

     

    Could the city of Urbana or the UIUC buy Dart’s densifier and operate it for the community?

     

    Jeff

  13. 2023 Competition Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    ReImagine Our Future

    Dear Friend of the Reimagine our Future student sustainability competition,

     

    We are writing to provide a brief update about Reimagine our Future.

     

    As you know, the aim of this competition is to harness the creativity and intelligence of undergraduate students, challenging them to develop ideas and solutions that will contribute to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and encouraging them to feel empowered as engaged problem-solvers.

     

    Registration is now open for the 2023 competition, and we have some exciting developments to report.

    Students from nine participating higher education institutions can enter the competition this year either as individuals or as members of teams. (Students from any higher education institution anywhere may be on a team that enters the competition provided that team is led by a student from a participating institution.) An up-to-date list of the participating institutions is here.

    This year we added two special awards for the best submission dealing with some aspect of climate change and for the submission that went furthest in implementation.

    Also, Mike Yao, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor with appointments in the College of Media and the Gies College of Business, will serve as a mentor to the winning entrants, irrespective of their home institution, as they attempt to develop and implement their proposal.

    The important dates for the 2023 competition are available here.

    If you are an advisor on student projects, you may receive – any time between now and November 19th - a request for advice from one or more students who are planning a submission in your area of expertise or interest.

    If you are a judge, we will ask for a few hours of your time during November 20-24 to help develop the list of finalists.

    Special thanks to those who are playing both roles!

    Our list of advisors and judges includes specialists from various universities, companies, and institutions and from many backgrounds, fields, and disciplines. This broad-ranging list encourages submissions from students in many areas.  We expect to continue to add to this list.

    Thank you again for your ongoing help with this sustainability competition and for bringing your unique background, skills, professional history and more to this project. If you have advice or suggestions about any aspect of the competition, please let us know.

     

    Yours sincerely,

    Leon Liebenberg (Teaching Professor, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering, UIUC) 

    Warren Lavey (Adjunct Professor, College of Law, School of Earth, Society & Environment, and College of Medicine, UIUC) 

    Robert McKim (Emeritus Professor, Department of Religion, UIUC) 

     

    (Reimagine Our Future co-founders and coordinating committee)

  14. Monthly meeting with Morgan and Stacey

    Associated Project(s): 
    2024 Campus Bike Plan

    I met with Morgan and Stacey on 8/30/2023 to discuss the progress of the 2024 Campus Bike Master Plan. The major discussion was about Chapter 3: Goals and Objectives, and I will be re-organizing the goals and objectives under three key goals:

    1. Infrastructure
    2. Programming
    3. Resources

    We also discussed the soft publish date to be 5/1/2024 and a hard deadline of 6/30/2024.

    Attached Files: 

  15. Meeting notes with Ethan Garcia - Capstone project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Independent Student Projects
    2024 Campus Bike Plan

    Prepare outline for bike audit

    • how to do it
    • What will we need
    • What information do I need
    • What information are we trying to get out of this
    • How are we trying to do this 
    • What resources will we need (GIS)
    • When are we doing the audit 
    • When do we think we can finish it (number of hours, dates not necessary)
    • Condition assessments of bike rack 
    • Looking at rack itself and concrete 

     

    Re-familiarize self with stuff

     

    Black racks are ground mounted, we want bike racks on rails (gray ones)

     

    Only university owned bike racks and paths 

  18. Toner and Ink Cartridge Recycling

    Associated Project(s): 
    Increase Recycling Rates

    Hi Daphne,

     

    Just to confirm, this is toner and not an ink cartridge for printer. We don’t have many inkjet printers, but I don’t want to assume which one you have.

     

    Thanks,

    Brad

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

    Hi Brad,

     

    That’s correct – toner is what we are referring to! Apologies for the confusion.

     

    Thank you,
    Daphne

     --------------

    HI Daphne,

     

    The vendors we work with for recycling toner quit accepting them. Unfortunately, they have to be thrown away.

     

    Thanks,

    Brad

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

    Hi Morgan & Stephanie,

     

    Below is the response I received from Brad re: toner recycling. Sarthak was over at IT recently and noted that there was a box of toner cartridges that the IT team has been collecting for many, many years since the vendor stopped accepting them for recycling. I’ll do some research to see if there’s a solution in this region.

     

    Thank you,

    Daphne

  19. Meeting with BirdBike

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Share with BirdBike

    On 08/29/2023, Stacey, Sarthak and Hrushikesh along with city planners of Urbana and Champaign had an introductory in-person meeting with BirdBike. The agenda of this meeting was to get a demo of the BirdBike bicycles and have discussion on potentially introducing these bikes on-campus and the in both cities. 

    Meeting Notes:

    1) Membership opportunity

    2) BirdBike facilitating no bike zone in certain areas of campus .

    3) Demo of the Bikes and its parking system.

    4) Safety features and precautions. 

    5) Using GPS and VPS system for tracking and parking.

    6) Helmet Safety feature.

    7) Rider Quiz before every ride.

    8) Wayfinding for campus bike rack parking locations

    Attached Files: 

  20. Help with an Energy Modeling Class?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Models for Campus Facilities

    Hi Tony,

     

    We need to provide historical energy data to Professor Yi for his work with us this fall to create building energy models for selected buildings on campus, in his Architecture class.

     

    Can you please have someone on your team provide monthly energy data for the following buildings for the last five years, FY20 to FY16?  Also, if hourly data is available, please provide hourly data for these same buildings for the one year of FY19.

     

    ·       Personnel Services Building

    ·       Speech and Hearing Building

    ·       Children’s Research Center

    ·       Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.

     

    I have created a folder for the related files in Box, which you can access at https://uofi.box.com/s/uc18bm30ysb6fxk7q0e0iwy3hnav99lq.  We would appreciate receiving this information by the end of July, if possible.

     

    Thank you,

    Morgan

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

    Morgan,

     

    End of July should not be a problem.

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

     

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

    Could you handle this data request?  Thanks

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony

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

    Hi Morgan –

     

    Attached is the data you’ve requested.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Anthony

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

    Hi Yun,

    Please see attached files. 

    Thanks!

    Morgan 

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

    Hi Marge

     

    I am wondering if we can get these buildings' documents before the semester starts.

    I can ask TA to go over the documents and select documents that need for the class.

    So that we can reduce the number of documents to get approval.

     

    Also, I send an email related to meter data. 

    The Excel file doesn’t have units, could you help me what units were used for the meters.

     

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

     

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

    Hi Yun,

     

    I need to know what building documents you are seeking.  What specifically do you want to see?

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

     

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

    Hi Morgan,

     

    It will be good to get basic drawings like floor plans, elevations, and more specific drawings like HVAC schedule, zoning, section detail, etc.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Morgan, 

     

    Thanks to your help, today my class was able to site visit the new Campus Instructional Facility building and new Mech. building.

    Here is a photo of today's visit. Students learned a lot today and I got great feedback today.

     

    Also, I like to discuss some findings from initial energy modeling.

    The BNAACC building is one of the buildings that we are analyzing the energy consumption data. While we compare meter data to energy consumption from simulation results. We observed that the electricity meter is projecting energy consumption exponentially higher than what an average building of such size should be consuming.

     

    I am not sure this building is still in calibration on meter data or something but I will advise having the meter checked. If you need I can send you some of our findings or talk further on this.

     

     

    Best

    Yun

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

    Hi All, 

     

    Hope you had a nice break. I like to update you on building modeling.

    We have four Energyplus (DesignBuilder) models that I can share with you.

     

    I had to review the model made by students to make sure they are close to the actual building.

    Currently, I am adding detailed HVAC systems to the model that can be more realistic.

     

    Would you like to get access to the file? I can share the folder with you all. Also, would you like to discuss the next step?

    Here is one of a report done by a student. 

     

     

    Best

    Yun

     -----------------------

    Hi Yun,

     

    I would love to see the model(s) as soon s your review and detailed HVAC systems are modeled. I can also help assist with next steps.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    I will share the folder with you when I have them ready.

    Do you have a designbuilder on your computer? Or do you prefer to get it as an energyplus file?

    We have an annual license with DB and we can share it with you if you like.

     

     

    best

    Yun

     ----------------------

    Yun,

     

    Is it easy for you to give us both versions? Otherwise energy plus would be good.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi Tom, 

     

    I thought I send files to you and realized I didn’t today.

    Sorry for the late. Here is the files for the 4 buildings that we modeled.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

     

    best

    Yun

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

    Hi All,

     

    Hope everyone is relaxing little bit from busy semester. Finally, I am done with grading and other things for the semester. 

    Also, it is not official but I have a good news that I got tenure so I will stay longer here.

     

    Anyway, I am trying to see if you are interested to continue the building energy modeling in the Fall.

    If we like to continue, I like to prepare some more buildings for the class this summer.

     

    Let me know your thoughts

     

    best

    Yun

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

     

    That’s great news, Yun!!! Congrats on your impending tenure!!!

     

    I’m adding Kelly Jo Hoffmann the new Associate Director for Engineering Services, here.  She’s been with F&S and was recently promoted into this roll. 

     

    I’m interested in continuing this, but I suggest we hold a meeting with a few more F&S folks to talk about what effort went into the modeling and how we are using them.  I will look for an available time to do a zoom call.

     

    Thanks,

    Morgan

      ----------------------

    Hi Morgan and Tom

     

    Hope you are getting some good break during the summer.

    I like to see if f&S is interest to continue the building energy modeling project.

    If you are, I need to inform school that I will teach the same course next semester.

     

    Many thanks,

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Yun,

     

    Nice to hear from you. I would support that. However, I am not in a decision-making role for such things. I believe that Morgan or one of the others can help answer that more succinctly.

     

    Thank you,

     

    Tom

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

    Hi All

     

    Hope all is well. Just to check, can we get support from F&S to hire a TA for the fall semester?

    It would be a great benefit to have a TA who can assist the class and ensure they build energy models properly.

    I appreciate your support.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Tom and everyone.

     

    Just to check on the building energy modeling.

    Let me know if any of you have a list of buildings that we would like to model for this semester.

    I would also love to get some help to hire TA for the class. Without TA, I will be difficult model several buildings like last year.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

     

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

    Hi Yun Yi,

     

    Have we modeled geothermal? I'm thinking Ripe Greenhouse (Gates Foundation), and Campus Instructional Facility.

     

    I can assist in TA. I am copying Bruce K. as a possible TA too.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Tom

     

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

    Hi Tom,

     

    Some update with the class. It had some issues with our school, but things are clear now.

    I don't know why but our school canceled the class.  So, I have to reopen the class registration.

    Because of cancel and reopen for the registration, we have 6 students registered for this semester.

     

    With the small number of students and no TA, I decided to build an energy model for one campus building for this semester.

    I like your idea of Campus Instructional Facility to build and test, I am wondering if it has more than 1 year of meter data.

    Also, do you have access to LEED certification on this building? I like to see if the building meet with LEED or not.

    What do you think? Any suggestion will be a great help. 

     

    Also, like last time, it would be great to schedule a visit to the building and show students the new systems installed in the building.

     

    Many thanks

    Yun

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

    Hi Yun. I bekieve Morgan, Joe, and Kelly-Jo may be delinquent (as usual),

     

    I acknowledge your plight. Yes, CIF has historical energy data (through our usual channels). Yes, the building is LeeD and I can assist. And yes to the walkthrough.

     

    Mr. T

     -----------------------

    Mike, Dave, or Kent,

     

    Would any of you be capable of assisting YK with his class this year?  I believe they build a model for a 1 campus building each year.  You can read more below and discuss with Morgan.   If any of you can help, it would be with collecting the information to share with the class (check with Beth), participating in a building tour, and potentially providing some technical assistance with the building modeling questions.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Kelly Jo

     

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

    Idea...  Have him work directly with dbHMS.  We have been getting to know Sachin (principal) and he has been eager to accommodate.  They will have all the LEED design and energy calcs readily at hand. We can easily provide as much energy usage data as is available.  It seems to me this would be an optimal solution if it is acceptable for the class instructor to work directly with the private sector.

     

    David Green

     

     

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