The ECBS SWATeam submitted a recommendation to the iWG stating, "The ECBS SWATeam recommends conducting the ‘Illini Lights Out’ program on an ongoing basis. It is currently being implemented two Friday nights each month during the academic year (September – April). This recommendation is based on the current successes of the project that originally was piloted on April 15th, 2016. The ECBS SWATeam led the pilot event and the Illini Lights Out events in fall 2016 with support from iSEE for promotion on Facebook and in the iSEE Newsletter. Starting in spring 2017, iSEE staff have begun coordinating the effort with support of the ECBS SWATeam. We recommend that as an ongoing program, iSEE assume coordination of Illini Lights Out, with help from students and the ECBS SWATeam

Pairs of students accompanied by campus security/other personnel (as necessary) are assigned buildings to audit on the main Quad to turn off non-essential lights in classrooms/bathrooms not in use. Volunteers meet at a designated location to sign in, review safety protocols and receive their tally sheets. Students use these sheets to indicate any empty rooms where they turned off lights. After the audit is complete, students return all forms to designated staff and are then eligible for their free meal (pizza/burritos).

Previous buildings audited include: Altgeld Hall, English Building, Lincoln Hall, Gregory Hall, David Kinley Hall, Foreign Languages Building, Davenport Hall, and Noyes Laboratory. Recently, additional buildings such as Morrell and Medical Sciences and Engineering Building were added. Two to three students per building are needed for a total of about 24 to 36 student volunteers needed. At a recent Illini Lights Out event, 2018 lights were turned off for an estimated savings of $615.62 if those lights had stayed on all weekend. Over the five ILO events so far in the 2016 -2017 academic year, 6394 lights have been turned off and 41 windows closed."

See attached the SWATeam recommendation ECONS005 Illini Lights Out Continuation complete with comments from all the ECBS SWATeam members.

On the agenda at the ECBS SWATeam meeting:

1) Comments needed on Illini Lights Out (ILO) recommendation;

2) Illini Lights Out final planning for 10th of March;

3) Building level energy consumption report;

4) Participation in Earth Hour and Earth week activities on campus;

5) Updates on the Green Labs Coordinator;

6) Planning for a campus walk focused on space utilization.

On the agenda at the ECBS SWATeam meeting:

1) Discussion of recommendation process as developed and described in the iCAP;

2) Illini Lights Out final planning for 10th of February;

3) Update on fume hood work;

4) North America Laboratory Freezer Challenge update;   5) Planning for Earth Week.        

On the agenda at the ECBS SWATeam meeting:

1) Associate Director for Campus Sustainability at iSEE replacement;

2) Status of recommendation for Green Lab Coordinator;

3) Discussion: How the SWATeam recommendation process working for us;

4) FYI: Discussions are ongoing on campus about higher expectations for building standards;

5) Illini Light Out” will transition to iSEE and dates for the rest of the year;

6) Certified Green Office Program. How ECBS SWATeam can promote this;

7) Status updates: 2017 Freezer Challenge and Eco-Olympics Planning.

Article written by Mikayla Johnson, a student at UIUC.

Here is a link to the article: https://thetab.com/us/illinois/2016/04/13/need-talk-destroying-campus-1408

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