Please see attached November 2020 progress report for the Red Oak Rain Garden.

Wes Ifft at Lanz, Inc. received the purchase order from campus in late November and ordered the related equipment before Nov. 30, 2020. The item had to come from the factory, as there was not one in the regional warehouse.

         Geothermal heat exchanger systems consist of two main components: (1) heat pumps, and (2) ground loop. The heat pump capacity is associated with the capability of a GHP system to extract heat from the ground. The size of geothermal heat pumps is measured in tons where 1 ton = 12,000 btu/h, and determined according to the profile of the heating and/or cooling demand of the facility. Meanwhile, the loop field and its size in terms of length and depth are based on the size of equipment, soil type, and average temperature, and climate conditions.  

Furthermore, other metrics measure the system performance and its efficiency. Coefficient of Performance (COP) is the ratio of useable thermal energy to the thermal equivalent of the electricity used to operate the system. Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) represents the ratio between the cooling output (in Btu/h) and the energy (electricity) input (in Watt). Also, The SEER is a measure of central air conditioning efficiency over an entire season. Higher COP, EER, or SEER means higher heat pump efficiency.

         The ground source heat exchanger system can be implemented in conjunction with an existing heating system that depends on another type of energy such as liquid propane. To accurately calculate the reduction in energy usage after the installation of a ground source heat exchanger, the system has to be modeled as a hybrid system. Detailed information (system type, fuel, capacity, power consumption, time of usage) of this hybrid system is needed to assess the adequacy of a GHP system's performance in addressing the building’s heating and cooling needs. Assuming that the ground heat exchanger design data and the existing system are known, then the actual performance metrics of the system may be simulated using commercially available software such as eQuest or GLHEPro.

          Once the system is installed, a data collection system can measure, track, and report the actual performance of the ground heat exchanger system. First, determining the electricity consumption of a GHP system requires sub-metering of the GHP system. Second, is heat exchange performance data. This includes the measured entering/exiting water temperatures and circulation rates for the heat pump over time.  Modern GSHP units already incorporate sensors to monitor energy usage and the entering and exiting fluid temperatures.

Instructors Get Course Development Funding to Incorporate Sustainability

The 2021 Levenick Teaching Sustainability Fellowship offers funding for U of I instructors to integrate sustainability components into an existing course ($1,000) or develop a new course with a sustainability focus ($2,000). To maximize student reach, iSEE especially encourages applications from instructors of 100- and 200-level courses. Read more and apply at go.illinois.edu/LevTeachingFellows

Tony Mancuso • Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)

BK Sharma at ISTC identified these specifications for IBI to meet. 
 

1) B6751 for B100

2) B7467 for B6 to B20

In Fall 2017, University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) Erica Myers and ACE Ph.D. Candidate Mateus Souza conducted a study to gauge whether detailed energy reports would influence student energy-saving behaviors. The project received funding through the Levenick iSEE Fellows Program, and ultimately determined that although similar experiments had proven effective in standard residential settings, the impact was negligible in residence halls where students do not directly pay for energy. On the other hand, simple nudges sent prior to winter break were effective in promoting the reduction of thermostat setpoints and energy consumption. Results from the study were later published at the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.

Morgan White: I was thinking about the comprehensive energy planning document, and I'd like it if we could start compiling some of the goals and scope for the proposed document. To get us started, I'd say, we need to establish the capacity/capability of each of the energy solutions we are pursuing and the associated costs and carbon footprint impacts. What else do we need to include in this envisioned document?

Andy Stumpf: Besides the energy solutions, we need to consider how it will be integrated into the campus system. For example, Mike Larsen has mentioned in the past that geothermal systems are most adaptable to buildings with hot/cold water lines, but their efficiency would increase if they are tied into district chilled water systems that service several buildings… so decentralize chilled water production. Do we also want to consider solutions that are in the experimental/perfecting phases or technologies that are not previously considered (e.g., advanced energy storage, stormwater/wastewater hydropower, etc.)?

Good news to share regarding the status of the Champaign County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan dated November 17, 2020.

On 11/24/2020, our FEMA reviewer signed off on revisions included in this version, finding the plan to be “Approvable Pending Adoption”.

Sinead Soltis (F&S intern) presented an overview of the SmartWay Program to Dan Hiser of F&S Transportation & Automotive Services. Representing the department, Dan was very excited to be a part of this conversation and offered helpful suggestions for having a suscessful campus rollout. Adding the SmartWay logo to the keychains of the cars used for carpooling, along with adding it to his own signature were some of the many suggestions offered. We plan to also collaborate with F&S Transportation in the future to add the importance of our affiliate status in this program in the training for new employees within the department and throughout the whole campus staff.

See the attached pdf for presentation slides. 

Sinead Soltis and Morgan White of F&S Sustainability presented an overview of the SmartWay Program to different members of the Illini Union staff. The meeting included: Dave Guth (Illini Union Director of Operations), Tod Petrie(Director of Illini Union Bookstore), Erik Riha (Illini Union Marketing Director), and Todd Moeglich (Illini Union Asst. Director for Procurement). An engaging discussion led to ideas of where the SmartWay program can be shared to staff members across the Illini Union, along with the importance of our affiliate status as a model to the community.

See the attached pdf for presentation slides.