The Solar Farm resumed full electricity production Thursday, January 25, after repairs to the site’s three inverters were completed. http://fs.illinois.edu/resources/newsroom/2018/02/01/solar-farm-back-online
The PWR SWATeam discussed the history and future opportunities and mechanisms for battery recycling on campus. They also talked about updates in the rearrangement of outdoor and indoor bins.
The Transportation SWATeam discussed the opportunities, challenges, and feasibility of campus fleet car-sharing to reduce emissions from the campus fleet. They also discussed air travel offsets
Bevier Hall currently has a number of spaces served by obsolete thermostat controls. While efforts to improve scheduling for heating and cooling have made improvements to energy consumption, the installation of occupancy sensors would improve the efficiency of the HVAC system, reducing energy use without sacrificing user comfort. This funding provides resources to install new occupancy sensors in 25 lab, classroom, and office spaces in Bevier Hall. When completed, the heating and cooling system will be able to work more efficiently, eliminating the need to constantly provide conditioning for unoccupied spaces. Individual spaces will have better temperature control, therefore improving occupant comfort and increasing productivity. This is a Student Sustainability Committee supported project.
See the attached files for detailed data on total purchased copy paper from OfficeMax in reams and dollar amount from FY08 to FY17.
Fall 2017 Semesterly Report Submitted to the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)
The BIF energy dashboard prototype is live in the production environment now.
Daily View https://ednaweb.illinienergy.illinois.edu/post/BIF/graph.html
Weekly View https://ednaweb.illinienergy.illinois.edu/post/BIF/graph.html?week
The previous project description began with this statement: "The University has adopted LEED Gold certification as a part of their design standards on all new construction." However, the Facility Standards and the Campus Master Plan were not aligned with each other. During the update to the Facility Standards and update to the Campus Master Plan in 2017, the campus leadership determined that the appropriate requirement for new construction buildings is LEED Silver, to comply with minimum state legal requirements.
The 2010 iCAP included a focused effort on the use of LEED Certification to incorporate sustainable design in new capital construction on campus. In the 2015 iCAP, campus sustainability advocates recognized that "While the utilization of current building certification programs such as LEED has helped raise awareness of sustainable building standards, the campus could accelerate progress in reducing building energy use by shifting to performance based building standards for new buildings and major renovations." The 2010 iCAP LEED goals are documented here, for the archive.
2010 iCAP LEED Goals:
Require all new construction to be LEED Platinum certified by FY15:
The LEED certification requirements were increased in fiscal year 2011 to require Gold level certification for all new projects. This has increased the visibility and sustainability of all new campus buildings. There is a proposal from the 2010 iCAP to increase the certification requirement to Platinum level in fiscal year 2015. This increase would require additional funding for new building projects, and in some cases there may be conflicts with building codes or campus Standards.
Completed LEED Goals:
Incorporate LEED principles into Facility Standards:
The Facility Standards for campus have been updated to incorporate many LEED principles. As of 2012, a building that meets all the Facility Standards, will qualify for a LEED Silver designation. Additionally, new buildings, additions, or major renovations are required to meet LEED Gold certification. The additional points to acheive LEED Gold are selected by the individual project teams, rather than prescribed specifically in the Facility Standards.
The 2010 U of I Facilities Standards have been published and are currently based on LEED Gold certification. The U of I Facilities Standards require compliance with all 8 Required Prerequisites and several additional Credits listed in the LEED Rating System. The Standards list some minimum technical requirements and make recommendations pertaining to energy conservation strategies, but allow the AE the flexibility to determine how the LEED Gold certification is obtained.
Require all new construction to be LEED Silver certified by FY10:
LEED Silver certification has been required for all new campus buidings since 2008, when the iCAP was signed. Thee are four levels of LEED certification: certified, silver, gold, and platinum. Silver certification requires a mimum of 50 LEED points. The Ikenberry Commons Student Dining and Residential Programs (SDRP) building and the phase A of the new residence halls in Ikenberry Commons is also LEED Silver certified. This designation is required for all buildings that were planned or begun before 2010. While many of the buildings planned at that time are completed or in construction, there are some future buildings planned before 2010, which will only be required to meet LEED Silver status.
Require all new construction to be LEED Gold certified by FY11:
With the successful attainment of LEED Silver certification for some campus buildings, the Campus advanced the LEED certification requirements to a minimum of Gold certification at the beginning of fiscal year 2011. All projects which began the planning process after May 2010 are required to be LEED Gold certified. To acheive LEED Gold, the construction or renovation project must qualify for a minimum of 60 LEED points.
Letters of Support for an ITEP grant for a bikeway along First Street from Windsor Road to Curtis Road.
The Purchasing, Waste, and Recycling SWATeam met to discuss a variety of updates and challenges regarding recycling on campus. The group discussed progress on the rearrangement of outdoor dual bins on the North Quad and standards for the placements of bins inside of buildings. The group also discussed their long-term vision for trash and recycling operations on campus and brainstormed various methods for increasing recycling at the Waste Transfer Station. An update was also given on the status of SmartWay certification on campus.
FOR RELEASE
Contact: Peter Murphy, MREA Solar Program Manager, peterm@midwestrenew.org
Solar Urbana-Champaign Bulk Solar Purchase Program Finishes Strong
Urbana, IL– November 20, 2017. Claire Johnson and Jill Houser have just finished installing solar panels on Andy Robinson’s roof as part of the Solar Urbana-Champaign 2.0 program. They are members of New Prairie Construction’s solar installation team, and part of a mostly female crew. They and other teams from New Prairie Construction will be installing 446.95 kilowatts of solar on 58 properties across Champaign County as a result of the program, which helped people save on solar through volume purchasing. Robinson not only went solar through the program, he also helped to lead it.
Please find the full story below, along with installation photos of Andy Robinson's system. Photo credit Andy Robinson.
Kaitlyn Kohl
Communications Coordinator
Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)
7558 Deer Road, Custer, WI 54423
Learn from the leaders in our year-round, professional courses.
Become a proud member of the MREA!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2017
Contact: Peter Murphy, MREA Solar Program Manager, peterm@midwestrenew.org
Solar Urbana-Champaign Bulk Solar Purchase Program Finishes Strong
Claire Johnson and Jill Houser have just finished installing solar panels on Andy Robinson’s roof as part of the Solar Urbana-Champaign 2.0 program. They are members of New Prairie Construction’s solar installation team, and part of a mostly female crew. They and other teams from New Prairie Construction will be installing 446.95 kilowatts of solar on 58 properties across Champaign County as a result of the program, which helped people save on solar through volume purchasing. Robinson not only went solar through the program, he also helped to lead it.
“I’ve thought solar was a cool way to reduce our carbon footprint ever since seeing the 2007 UI solar decathlon house in DC, but it also needed to make financial sense for our family,” said Robinson, who was hired by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to facilitate the education sessions, called “Solar Power Hours,” for the program. “Now we will offset nearly all of our electric use and it was a good financial investment. New Prairie laid out the panels on the front and back roof in a way that looks like it is a part of the design of our 1920 house. We were especially happy to meet the diverse install crew of local women and men, and a highly qualified refugee.”
“In the 1980’s, Jill and I got our start in construction through the woman-owned company Working Women Construction,” said Julie Birdwell, owner of New Prairie Construction. “When we started New Prairie Construction, we made a commitment to providing opportunities for women. We never regretted it. Our New Prairie women contribute more than just diversity. They help contribute to a positive work culture and maintain a high level of attention to detail and craftsmanship.”
“When we think about the benefits of solar energy, we often picture environmental benefits, of which there are of course many,” said Peter Murphy, Solar Program Manager at Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). “But what often gets overlooked is the growing number of solar jobs, which are local and by nature cannot be outsourced.”
“One out of every 50 new jobs added in the United States in 2016 was created by the solar industry, representing 2% percent of all new jobs,” according to The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit organization that conducts a national solar jobs census.
“We recently had an opportunity to hire an Afghan national who worked in construction for the US military in Afghanistan,” said Birdwell. “Hiring such a refugee is a way of acknowledging the risks and sacrifices he and his family have made to support our country. In addition, he and our other employees from different cultures and countries provide positive contributions to our work culture, and we feel, our overall product.”
“In the first day of solar production, our kids said that we were vacuuming with sunshine,” said Robinson. “And they are right.”
“The electricity produced by the 446 kW of solar the program has contracted will offset around 639,035 lbs of CO2 being released into atmosphere in the first year alone,” said Scott Tess, Environmental Sustainability Manager at the City of Urbana. “That amount of solar energy will also save almost 10 million gallons of water from use in thermoelectric power plants that run on coal or natural gas.”
The program was administered by the MREA at no cost to the city or the county. MREA has successfully implemented similar programs in other jurisdictions in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin as seen in Milwaukee, Cedar Rapids, Bloomington-Normal, and elsewhere. Solarize programs have taken place all over the country, from California to Maine.
"The solar branch of New Prairie Construction Co. is a natural extension of our commitment to providing high quality, environmentally responsible solutions for homes and businesses," says Julie Birdwell, co-owner of New Prairie. "Solar Urbana-Champaign 2.0 provides an excellent opportunity for our community to use the power of bulk purchasing to get premium quality installations for a great price. We are excited to work with our neighbors to help increase sustainability and energy independence in Champaign County."
MREA issued a request for proposals to solar installers in January. A local advisory committee reviewed proposals based on professional certification, experience, and cost. They selected New Prairie Construction Co., based in Urbana. They were chosen as the solar installer for the second Solar Group Buy because of their high-quality solar installations, building science expertise, and emphasis on customer service.
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The MREA was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit shortly after the first Energy Fair in 1990. MREA’s mission is to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. To learn more, call 715-592-6595 or visit www.TheEnergyFair.org or www.midwestrenew.org.
The Student Sustainability Committee funded Local Grains and Locally Processed Foods for Dining Services in October 2017.
This project aims at developing methods that promote locally processed grains for U of I students. This project connects to the Vegetable Crop Farm, FSHN Pilot Plant, and Sustainable Student Farm, offering the final puzzle piece required to offer campus grown grains to UIUC community members. This project will purchase reusable containers to transport grains, and other campus products, between campus farms and campus processing facilities. Moreover, project leaders will analyze both taste and nutrients for Vegetable Crop Farm product.
The SSC funding will go directly towards:
Facilities and Services division Engineering and Construction Services (ECS) has three bikes for employees to share for campus business. Check out is easy and the same as checking out a department car or truck. Two helmets are available for borrowing and lock keys are color coded to the bike they go to.
Two of the three bikes were purchased through the Campus Bike Center, with locks and front baskets. The helmets came from Neutral Cycle. The whole project cost less than $750 and will have minimum maintenance each year.
For questions about use please contact Lily Wilcock, lwilco2@illinois.edu.
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) has listed its policies for sustainably purchasing, using, and managing IT equipment at the end of its life. These policies, which include ideas adapted from both campus and beyond, are in the attached file.
Here’s a link to Penn State Extension’s Rain to Drain Slow the Flow Youth Curriculum for stormwater: https://extension.psu.edu/downloadable/download/sample/sample_id/149/.
For general information about their youth water education programs, see: https://extension.psu.edu/youth-water-education.
| Occupant Action Category |
% Improvement |
Incentive Award |
| 1. Foellinger Auditorium | 41.0% | $61,994 |
| 2. Natural Resources Building | 21.0% | $38,543 |
| 3. 1207 W. Oregon | 19.4% | $15,677 |
| 4. Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building |
13.6% | $12,986 |
|
Energy Advancement Category |
% Improvement |
Incentive Award |
| 1. Early Child Development Laboratory |
25.2% | $10,000* |
| 2. Administrative Information Technology Services Building |
24.1% | $10,000* |
| 3. Astronomy Building | 23.4% | $10,000* |
| 4. ACES Library, Information & Alumni Center |
23.2% | $10,000* |
see file
The committee approved the bike share scope change to purchase bike parking.
