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  4. Campus approves an additional $100K for LED Exit Signs

    Associated Project(s): 
    LED Exit Signs

    After the successful completion of the recent LED Exit Sign upgrades, the F&S Building Maintenance division has received approval for another round of LED Exit Sign upgrades.  Ken Buenting, Sharon Ball, Ryan Wild, and Morgan Johnston met to discuss the prioritization process for identifying the next buildings to address.  Buildings will be ranked according to student/transient visitor contact hours (if this information can be obtained), results of campus code fire safety reports, and coordination with other projects or funding.

  5. notes from meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team

    Dear Colleagues

    Thanks for a very productive meeting last week.

    As per our discussion last week, please send me the revised versions of our iCAP report by Wednesday October 8 in the morning.

    I am at home and I do not have my notes here but I believe to the best of my recollection, we agreed that we would work on the following sections

    • Bumsoo Lee, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning (SECTIONS 1-2; PGS. 2-3)
    • Peter Varney, Director of Transportation and Automotive Services, Facilities & Services (STRATEGY ONE – PG. 4)
    • Richard Langlois, Senior eLearning Professional, CITES (STRATEGIES TWO AND THREE – PG. 5-6)
    • Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, (STRATEGY FOUR – PG. 7)
    • Justin Licke, Student Member (NEW STRATEGY FIVE – HIRE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR)

    If I got the assignments wrong, please let me know.

    Wojtek

     

    Attached Files: 

  6. draft energy conservation plans

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    To all:

    Attached is a draft document of some of my best thoughts on where the campus is going and/or should go in the next several years as we try to reduce the campus energy consumption from mechanical equipment controls perspective.  This is an evolving document at this point.

    Thanks,

    Karl Helmink

    Attached Files: 

  7. notes from meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy Conservation and Building Standards (ECBS) SWATeam

    Dear ECBS SWATeam,

    Below are my notes from today's meeting.  It was a small crowd: Scott, Karl, Claire, and myself.  I hope we have a full crowd next week, because we have a lot of work ahead of us in just a few short weeks!

    Cheers,

    Ben

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

    Q: Are we starting with a "blank slate" for iCAP 2015?  A: Not really, because we have iCAP 2010 as a historical context, and we have done so much in the intervening years that cannot be ignored. But we are also not bound to the specific commitments of the 2010 iCAP, or even the format.

    Q: Can we simply re-use the 2010 iCAP as is?  A: It's a good foundation, but needs improvement.

    Fume hoods are an important issue to address; potentially big savings.

    Should we recommend again to charge units for energy?  Possible counterargument is that Auxiliaries already bear the cost of energy but are not aggressively reducing energy usage.  Counterargument to that is they have expressed interest, but somehow don't have expertise and/or capital.  RCx cannot go into Auxiliaries; ESCOs can.

    Scott suggested that someone needs to write a first draft of recommendations; he is writing the Energy Generation team's draft. No takers.  But Karl has written a nice document that most had not yet had a chance to read.

    Occupancy sensors for HVAC can lead to big savings ~25%.

    Can we expand ESCO program?  We've done ~7 buildings, why can't we do 100?  What is the financial model?  If campus cannot tolerate that much debt, can we foist the debt onto the ESCOs themselves?  We haven't done this because it doesn't generate as much savings, but maybe we should reconsider that if it would help us expand.  Some issues with quality of contractors, familiarity with campus facility standards.  Two ESCOs have been used so far: ESG for VetMed and Loomis&friends, Siemens for the Oak Street Chiller.  Typically ~5 ESCOs bid on our jobs; most are from Chicago.

    What is in the SAIC report?  Ben will send around (see attachment). Do we need another SAIC study?  Or can we just leave this in the rear view mirror?

    More discussion of energy billing; challenge is to fairly bill units only for the energy use they impact (i.e., lighting and equipment, not steam).  Can this team recommend a high-level study to devise a mechanism for fairly charging units?  External consultant?  Team of faculty, facilities folks, and students with relevant expertise?  If we just parrot the recommendation from 2010 iCAP, probably we'll get the same result.

    Behavioral change is so important, and has not really been tackled on our campus (except very recently with Green Office program). Really need to improve this, and also try to measure it (surveys?).

    Scheduling HVAC systems - when doing so, better to make the change first and then handle complaints, rather than announcing in advance and generating complaints from people who will never notice.

    Can someone compile a list of "bullet-points" to begin the discussion that will lead to our recommendations?  Claire volunteered to do this, but will be asking others for suggestions and input.  Goal is to have a draft set of bullet points before next week's meeting, and then discuss at meeting.

    Karl noted that Big Ten & Friends Energy conference is coming up Oct

    12-15 at U. Iowa.  Should we offer to host the next one on our campus? 

    We have not hosted one since 1999.  Seems like we should. Possible F&S/iSEE collaboration?  Scott volunteered to be on organizing committee.

    --

    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: 

  9. audit plan for Recycling for the Quad

    Associated Project(s): 
    Recycling for the Quad

    Hi Ryan,

    Shantanu and I were discussing the waste audits on the quad.  If you agree, we would like the plan to go as follows:

    1.  On Tuesday morning we we like to place liners in the bins, just after they are emptied by your crew.  

    2.  On Wednesday morning we would like to pull each of the bags and take them to ISTC for weighing and auditing.  Your crew will not have to pick up the waste from the 45 bins on that day.  We will make sure the waste and recycling are taken to the Waste Transfer Station.

    3.  On Thursday your crew returns to empty the bins and we will again add liners shortly thereafter.

    4.  On Friday we will conduct the second audit so your crew will not have to make a pick up that day either.  Again we will take the material to ISTC and then drop it off at the Waste Transfer Station.  

    5.  On Saturday everything returns to normal. 

    I hope that sounds OK with you.  If so, please let me know what time would be the best to add liners to the bins.

    Thanks,

    Bart

  10. Challenge is Open

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illinois Green Office Challenge

    Hi All,

    The wait is over and the Illinois Green Office Challenge has begun!  Please go to the sign-up page to register for the competition.  In this first month the focus is going to be on creating a profile in the Energy Star Portfolio Manager.  That activity will establish a baseline so you can measure your improvement throughout the year.  For support, workshops are now being scheduled.  If your organization would like to host an event please let me know.  As always, please call or email me with any questions.

    Cheers,

    Bart

  13. files from Keith Erickson

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam

    Please note the two attached files.

    One is a recent storm water study for the Mathews Avenue drainage basin.

    The other is the water use, by building type, per square foot.  We discussed this type of analysis last week, and the F&S Utility Financial Service group was able to provide the data.

    Keith

    Attached Files: 

  14. Big10 Unplugged

    Associated Project(s): 
    Eco-Olympics

    Hello Big10 Unplugged! 

    I believe I have everyone on/off the list as requested but we have have any updates or other schools to invite, please let me know. 

    I'm hoping to schedule a phone conference after the AASHE conference for a quick check in on this year's Big10 Unplugged challenge. Please use this link: http://www.when2meet.com/?2122186-LoyHA to indicate your availability. Please convert your time to Central Standard Time. 

    You do not need to create an account. Just type your first name and click sign in. The click and drag to highlight times you are available. Hopefully scheduling this far in advance will give us at least a 30 minute block of time when everyone is available. Be sure to convert your time to Central Standard Time. 

    Sign up for CCN before the deadline on November 7th. http://www.competetoreduce.org/  You'll need to be signed up for CCN in order to participate in Big10 Unplugged. 

    Attached is our logo. Feel free to use in your communications and promotions. 

    Thanks and reach out to me at anytime with questions, 

    Stacey

    Attached Files: 

  15. press release about zero waste game day

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste Gameday Challenge Fall 2014

     

     

       

                                                                NEWS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     Oct. 1, 2014

    For more information contact

    Jim Dexter, Communications Coordinator (217) 244-3290

     

    ILLINI HOMECOMING GAME KICKS OFF MUCH MORE THAN

    A GREAT DAY OF FOOTBALL

     

    Illinois Moves to a More Sustainable Future at Its First Gameday Recycling Challenge 

     

    CHAMPAIGN, IL – This year’s University of Illinois Homecoming game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers is about more than Orange and Blue – it is also about Green.  For the first time, various campus and community partners are working together to raise awareness and have a positive lasting impact at the inaugural Zero-Waste Football Game.  Hundreds of volunteers from all over the Urbana-Champaign community will assist the thousands of spectators in reducing waste – from the money spent sending materials to landfill to the volume of materials that impact our water, air, and soil.

    “As our students, staff, faculty, and alumni gather at Homecoming, this game is a fantastic opportunity to get everyone involved in making a difference.  A recycling competition is a fun way for all to participate and in the end, know what they have accomplished.”” said Bart Bartels, sustainability outreach specialist for the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), a division of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who is coordinating this effort. “This is our first step to move Illinois to the top of the recycling competition’s leaderboard.”

    As our team takes the field and faces a fierce opponent, those involved in the Zero-Waste event face stiff competition from our Big 10 rivals, as this even is part of a National Competition divided up by conference and division.  Last year, Ohio State won the Big Ten challenge by piling up only 10 points (diverting 90 percent of their waste for recycling or composing).  Our Homecoming opponents, the Gophers, scored a 17 (an 83 percent diversion rate).  “While we always want to beat our Big Ten opponents, this year also serves as a baseline.  We will assess where we are and how to improve going forward,” Bartels said.

    Leading this cooperative initiative are ISTC, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Facilities & Services, and the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment.  They hope to encourage more sustainable recycling practices across the community.  Anyone who is interested in getting involved is welcome to join in the efforts.  To volunteer for the event, sign up at: http://bit.ly/1vN44SK. We are looking forward to having a large student involvement in order to make this event a success.

    Nationwide, the Game Day Recycling Challenge is a partnership of the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), RecycleMania and Keep America Beautiful (KAB), and is supported by EPA’s WasteWise program.

    Also do your part as a fan by liking the Fighting Illini Gameday Recycling Challenge Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/events/518311078270593/

    For more information, contact Bart Bartels at bbartel@illinois.edu.

     

    10114                                                                                -30-

    		  
     

     

  16. comments from Grace Kyung

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team

    Hi all, 

    Unfortunately, I will not have time to review and offer detailed feedback as things have caught up with me trying to do preliminary work for being out of town for the rest of the week.

    Some things I would like us to consider though for our future is:

    • To work closer with parking and thinking of how we can create incentive programs. I thought it’d be a good discussion to have with the Director of Parking or someone else who could help make decisions on this behalf 
    • I believe in order for the Campus Bike Plan to be implemented then there needs to be a Campus Bicycle Coordinator
    • However, if we do want to push for a Campus Bicycle Coordinator then I was thinking we could push for something larger which would encompass this role but instead push for Sustainable Transportation Coordinator. I believe a sustainable transportation coordinator would be beneficial for our university because this will connect all forms of transportation and there is large room for growth in this area of sustainability. I believe this person would be the bridge between transportation and the university in aiding in the completion of our iCAP goals. In addition, be able to push for the Campus Bike Plan, creating better walkability plans, working with MTD, and so forth 
    • I believe for bike sharing program the university should work with community partners like MTD, City of Urbana, City of Champaign, and CUPHD to pull together funding together to fund a community wide bike sharing feasibility study in order to help us implement our campus bike sharing program. In addition, I think it should be discussed if its best to have a bike rental program for students instead of bike sharing and how to best create a departmental bike sharing program

    Those are some initial thoughts. I look forward to hearing how the meeting goes. Please let me know if I should clarify anything. I will limited access to email prior to our meeting. 

    Thanks,

    Grace

  17. F&S student LAS projects

    Associated Project(s): 
    LAS Honors College - Sustainability Partners [ARCHIVED]

    These students are working with Morgan Johnston for LAS Honors College credit in the James Scholar program for Fall 2014.

    • Ethel Liao – BIF crosswalk
    • Sicong Fang – BIF crosswalk
    • Jack Carrera – Bike Census
    • Cara Ruan – Communication about Climate Change
    • Vicki Prince – tree campus
    • Ricki Runions – tree campus

  18. comments on draft from Marcus Ricci

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team

    I like the revisions, Warren and SWATeam.

    I know that this is late – and I meant to mention it on the earlier draft but forgot – are you making any recommendations for handling C&D waste? Thoughts:

    • Campus and contractors must weigh all C&D waste generated at a worksite (scale is available for free at the WTS) and report to the Capital Projects office (and iSEE, or the STARS reporter)
    • All C&D waste must be disposed of at an approved C&D recycling center, such as MidAmerica Recycling, which accepts it for free (but doesn’t weigh it or provide any receipts)

    Cheers,
    Marcus

  19. comments on draft from Junhua Jiang

    Associated Project(s): 
    Zero Waste iCAP Team

    Warren and SWAT Team:

    Thank you very much for your time and the new version. I think that it is in great shape. I will be available on October 13.

    Best regards,

    Junhua Jiang

    Senior Research Engineer, PhD

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

  20. note from Amy and Kishore

    Associated Project(s): 
    Water and Stormwater SWATeam

    From: Rajagopalan, Nandakishore
    Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 5:36 PM
    To: Amy Liu
    Cc: swat-water@dib.illinois.edu
    Subject: RE: Update

    I think that’s a great idea. Do contact the wolverines

    From: Amy Liu
    Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 5:13 PM
    To: Thayer, Danielle J
    Cc: swat-water@dib.illinois.edu; Nishant Makhijani
    Subject: Re: Update

    Hi all,

    I will probably be unable to attend tomorrow's meeting due to a time conflict with SSC. 

    Along the lines of something I conveyed before, there are minor differences between the inputs we've entered for UIUC water use and the data that is shared in "iCAP Water Emissions". These might need to be resolved in order to propose the most useful benchmarks. And for our special interest University of Michigan, I am considering whether I should contact someone from their water institute to gather more information about their use statistics and strategies. I assume that such information will be be more related to our later goals. Let me know what you think.

    Best regards,

    Amy Liu

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