White Roofs Better Than Dark, Vegetated Roofs, LBNL Study Finds
BERKELEY, Calif.—Compared to traditional dark-colored roofs and green or “vegetated” roofs, white roofs offer greater ability to lower temperatures that lead to the urban heat island effect, and they do it at less cost, according to a recent report. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report states that building owners “concerned with global warming should choose white roofs, which are three times more effective than green roofs at cooling the globe.” The authors analyzed 22 commercial flat roof projects in the U.S. and performed a 50-year life-cycle cost analysis. They assumed a 20-year service life for black roofs and white roofs, and 40 years for green roofs. Compared to black roofs, the report says, white roofs save $25/m2 ($2.30/ft2) and green roofs have an additional cost of $71/m2 ($6.60/ft2). The authors also concluded that black roofs should be prohibited in some areas. “We strongly recommend building code policies that phase out dark-colored roofs in warm climates to protect against their adverse public health externalities,” the report states.

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Excerpt:    However, unlike white roofs, green roofs do not offset climate change. White roofs are more reflective than green roofs, reflecting roughly three times more sunlight back into the atmosphere and therefore absorbing less sunlight at earth’s surface. By absorbing less sunlight than either green or black roofs, white roofs offset a portion of the warming effect from greenhouse gas emissions.

“Both white and green roofs do a good job at cooling the building and cooling the air in the city, but white roofs are three times more effective at countering climate change than green roofs,” said Rosenfeld.

Marika and Amy,

We would like to schedule a meeting with you to review a proposed project under the Illini Union/Student Sustainability revolving fund.  Please share your availability for the next two weeks so that we can identify a time for the key stakeholders to meet for one hour.

As you may already know, the IU/SSC revolving fund already has $400,000 of contributions from the past 2 fiscal years, with the Illini Union and SSC contributing $100K per year to the fund.  Another combined installment of $200K is due at the end of this fiscal year.

The proposed project we would like to review with you adds digital demand control to all of the food service hoods in the lower level food court and exhaust fans in the lower level of the Illini Union.  This will lower our loss of conditioned air from the building significantly as well as our associated utilities.  The calculated payback is 2.2 years.

Illini Union, working with Facilities & Services, has already completed a feasibility study and HVAC report for the Illini Union lower level hoods and exhaust fans with SSC concurrence.  We propose proceeding with design on the project before the end of the fiscal year.  Our intent would be to be in construction for Summer 2015, likely in a phased manner.  This would require two sets of funding commitments, but is necessary to execute the project.

Please find the feasibility report attached for reference and do not hesitate to contact me regarding the project or meeting schedule.

Best regards,

David C. Guth

Assistant Director for Facilities

The Illini Union

Launch of GRITS 1.0

On Earth Day, the Sustainable Endowments Institute will be launching the Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS) 1.0, a tool that streamlines tracking and calculation of project-level energy, financial and carbon data for sustainability and efficiency investments. On April 17, we will host a special webinar to provide a preview of GRITS 1.0 and the GRITS Affiliates program before its public launch (April 22). For information on the webinar and the GRITS Affiliates program, please see below for more details and how to register.

What is GRITS?

GRITS 1.0 is an online tool that offers a bridge between management and performance reporting by creating a space for institutions to track, analyze and share data on specific projects or groups of projects--well beyond the capabilities of spreadsheets. GRITS provides an accessible platform to better manage financial and environmental project performance.

What can you do with GRITS?

• Access and learn from the field-tested projects of peer institutions (the Project Library has hundreds of projects and is growing rapidly)
• Facilitate investments in efficiency projects by enabling fund administrators to easily and clearly communicate with stakeholders
• Simplify calculations of project-specific carbon and financial savings on both annualized and estimated life-of-project timeframes
• Create customized reports that tell the story of current and anticipated project performance.

The improvements offered in GRITS 1.0 are the culmination of more than two years of development and collaboration with participants in the Billion Dollar Green Challenge.

Interested in a tour? Email GRITS@GreenBillion.org to see first-hand the improved GRITS tool.

Special Preview Webinar of GRITS 1.0 on April 17

In partnership with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Endowments Institute will host a webinar to provide a special preview of GRITS 1.0 and the GRITS Affiliates program before its public launch on April 22. Many institutions in the United States and Canada have requested access to the GRITS web-based platform to better track project-level energy, financial, and carbon data, and we are excited to offer access to GRITS to all institutions.

The webinar will take place on Thursday, April 17 at 2:00 PM EDT. Please RSVP for this free webinar at gritswebinar.eventbrite.com.

Introducing GRITS Affiliates

What is GRITS Affiliates?
 
GRITS Affiliates is SEI's new program that opens access to GRITS 1.0 to all institutions and organizations.

Offering GRITS 1.0 to a wider community will build on the important work that is already being undertaken, strengthen best practices in the field, and help more institutions realize vital environmental and financial benefits. Members of the Billion Dollar Green Challenge will still have the advantage of a more cost-effective program for using GRITS. Challenge members will also benefit from new project-specific and fund-specific data provided by GRITS Affiliates that will help further expand the Project Library.

GRITS Affiliates will be available to schools and organizations outside The Challenge by subscription.

Interested in GRITS Affiliates? Sign up for free trial access by emailing GRITS@GreenBillion.org.

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Water SWATeam

Water purchasing at about 3.25/100,000 gallons. Plus you have to pay for sewer water as well. In other areas it is more expensive.    Decrease water consumption  Find uses for non-potable water Handle storm water quality and quantity   Kishore. How do we compare to other schools? Be the leader as far as water per square foot.   ICAP baseline to improve. Is one perspective? We are there now.    Eliana Brown storm water protection.    Most buildings have meters now. About 99%   ISTC study. There so much more to do on campus.    CEE 398 PBL water report.    Irrigation usage. Wasn't in the billing system.    Barrier to grey water. Have to repipe a building to be able to use it. BIF  Could make that connection. State law say that. In major remodeling projects should the facilities standard say that it should be fed with grey water   Excel list of water by building.  Irrigation information   South farms run off. Drainage tiles. To the embrass river. Florida avenue dividing line. For salt fork.    Low flow fixtures. Aerators on faucets.     

Hello Colleagues. I invite you to participate in a Sustainable Electronics Campus Consortium meeting, scheduled for 1:00-2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 9, in the Stephen J. Warner Conference room at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.   ISTC is working with Katie Kinley, a UI senior, to develop a prototype of her concept for an inductive charger for wireless microphone packs used in lecture halls and classrooms. The goal is to test this unit’s potential to save money and labor, while also reducing battery waste generated by the University. Katie will describe her project, show her progress on building her prototype, and discuss plans for testing the feasibility  of her idea, which will hopefully include testing the unit in one or more lecture halls. She would appreciate any feedback, contacts, and suggestions consortium members might provide.   -Joy Scrogum

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is one of the most established technologies for processing waste organics. This study investigated the feasibility of installing an Anaerobic Digester to produce renewable energy from available streams of organic waste (feedstock) within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. This study assumed that one on-site digester would be installed in the University’s South Farms. The best digester and energy conversion options were explored while considering UIUC’s existing resources and operations, as well as the goals stated in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).

The electric hedge purchase for campus will include an option to buy RECs.  The decision will be made by campus leadership when prices are known.

Ben,      The first thing that comes to mind for me is: what do we need to do to get some solar installed on campus roofs?   I think there is a lot of potential, but also a lot of hurdles.  For example, which roofs can support the weight of the modules?   Which can be reinforced to support the extra weight?    This is a nice mechanical engineering problem.         This is probably just the tip of the iceberg.  I think there are many hurdles to installing solar on roofs, but I am sure some roofs are going to be able to jump these hurdles with some study.  F & S has already had some requests for installing solar on roofs, so they problem already have a list of things they need to understand before they would be comfortable with proceeding with such a project.      I intend to spend some time on this issue in the coming months myself, along with my SWATeam.   Scott Willenbrock

Earth Week 2014

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites you to join us in celebrating Earth Week this April 21st through the 26th. Earth Week is a time to enact change and real movement towards consciousness about how our decisions affect our campus environment and good ol' Mother Earth. Whether you're already a passionate environmentalist or just looking to have some April fun, we hope to see you all out and about showing the Earth some serious love this week!



Thank you to UIUC Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS), the Institute for Sustainability, Energy & Environment, and all of our co-sponsors and partners.

Check out the full detailed schedule of events below. Stay connected on our Facebook event page!

Clothing Swap Collection: Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18
April 17th: Drop off at University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL
April 18th: Drop off at Main Quad, Anniversary Plaza 
Clothes can be recycled, too! Do some spring-cleaning and drop off your gently used clothing – then swap out your donations for other students’ items. Every item you donate gets you one swap at Monday’s Clothing Swap & Drive. Choose to receive swapping rights for your items, or just to directly donate to the Champaign Salvation Army. Non-swap donations are welcome at the bin at the Y all week through Friday, April 25th. APO members will receive service points! Co-sponsored by APO Service Fraternity and SECS.

Build-a-Bike Raffle:
Entry all week at almost every event!
Final drawing at 5:45pm during Veggie Burger Cook-Off, Friday April 25th, Illini Grove Pavilion 
SECS Earth Weekers teamed up with the Campus Bike Shop to build a beautiful bike with their very own Earth-lovin’ hands – and now it can be all yours! And with the opportunity to enter the raffle at almost every Earth Week event, your chances of winning are sky high. Be on the lookout for event-specific codes and links to submit your entry each time. One entry per guest per event. Must be present at drawing to win. Entries are FREE!

Pledge Wall:
April 21st: YMCA, April 22nd-24th: Main Quad, & April 25th: Illini Grove
What’s your environmental pledge? Make it known on our Earth Week Pledge Wall! Share your pledge (for this week or beyond) about how you’re making a difference environmentally or what inspires you to change. We’ll be stationed at various Earth Week events throughout the week, as well as on the Main Quad.

Monday, April 21:

9-11:30am: iCAP Forum
Illini Union, Rooms A&B, 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 
Join iSEE and the Sustainability Working Advisory Teams (SWATeams) to learn about the progress the campus has made in meeting the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) goals, and to provide input into how the campus should move forward in the arena of sustainability. The program will consist of a light breakfast, overview presentations by the iSEE Associate Director of Campus Sustainability and SWATeam representatives, and roundtable discussions.

12n-1pm: UC Energy Star Challenge Lunch
Illini Union, General Lounge (210), 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL

12n-4pm: Clothing Swap & Drive
University YMCA, Latzer Hall, 1001 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL 
All of last week’s donations will be ready for picking at this APO + SECS swapmeet! Latzer Hall will look like your favorite thrift store, where you can swap out each clothing item you donated for something “new.” All leftover items will be donated to the Champaign Salvation Army at the end of the week. Non-swap donations are welcome at the bin at the Y all week through Friday, April 25th.

2pm-5pm: Sustainability Symposium
Illini Union, Rooms A&B, 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 
Check out the progress on the latest sustainable campus initiatives! Presentations and poster session from the Institute for Sustainability, Energy & Environment and the Student Sustainability Committee. Light refreshments will be provided.

6pm-7pm: DIY Green Supplies
University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL 
Give your cleaning and beauty supplies a green makeover! Join us for a student-led lesson in Do-It-Yourself environmentally friendly supplies. Learn how a few simple ingredients can become your new go-to daily products. Please bring along empty and clean containers to house your creations - glass jars, tupperware, plastic bottles, etc. Led by Jola Szkodon & SECS
RSVP REQUIRED online

7pm-9pm: "Symphony of the Soil" Film Screening
W-109 Turner Hall
Learn about the importance of the complex relationships within the stuff beneath our feet! Hosted by the Soil & Water Conservation Society. $3 suggested donation to benefit the RSO - and to cover popcorn!

8pm-9pm: Earth Hour
Go dark to go green! Switch off all non-essential lights and electronics from 8-9pm, and take an hour to send some respect to good ol’ Mother Earth. All are welcome to partake, especially University Housing and Greek Houses. 
 

Tuesday, April 22: (Earth Day)

11am-2pm: Environmental Expo
Illini Union, Courtyard Café, 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 
Watch the Courtyard Café be transformed into a mini Quad Day – exclusively featuring environmental RSOs and local sustainable organizations! Pass through and learn about more ways to get involved with all things environmental on- and off-campus. Talk with reps, grab some info, and even partake in crafts like DIY planting!

5:15pm-6:30pm: Earth Week Chat with IEC 
University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL 
Looking to learn more about environmental policy and current issues? Stop by the Y to join in on the conversation with Jen Walling, visiting us from the Illinois Environmental Council. Have your Qs answered and your opinions shared - and grab some free food! RSVP online

6pm-7:30pm: Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Sustainability Film Festival “Living Downstream”
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 South Gregory St., Urbana, IL
This poetic film follows Sandra during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links. After a routine cancer screening, Sandra receives some worrying results and is thrust into a period of medical uncertainty. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. Films will be followed by discussions with expert guest speakers.

8pm-10pm: Bidder 70 Movie
Main Quad near Anniversary Plaza (Illini Union)
Join SECS for an outdoor screening of Bidder 70 on this beautiful night of Earth Day! You won’t want to miss this compelling story of one student’s act of civil disobedience towards climate justice. We’ll be watching on the big screen at the main quad near Anniversary Plaza (Illini Union). Bring a blanket and some buddies! Stay updated on the Facebook event in case of rainy backup location at the University YMCA.

Wednesday, April 23:

10am–11am: Campus Wide Bicycle Census
Urbana, IL—Every Bike Counts. Facilities and Services at the University of Illinois is partnering with Champaign County Bikes to count every bike on campus. The census will take place on Wednesday, April 23 from 10-11AM. The bicycle data collected is critical for future university decision-making and planning including: determining the location and quantity of additional bicycle parking needed to meet demand, estimating the increasing number of cyclists on campus, and prioritizing bicycle infrastructure projects. Volunteers are needed to help with the count and can register at tinyurl.com/kcbc4t4. Please contactbike@illinois.edu for additional information.

11am-3pm: Bike Tune-Ups & Blend-Ups
Anniversary Plaza on the Quad (Behind Illini Union)
Bring your bike by for the cheapest tune up in town! Tune ups from Bike Face start at just $5. In need of a rad refreshment on your way to class? SECS has got you covered! Use your own two legs to blend up a sustainable smoothie on our student-built Bike Blender. Choose from local dairy, juice and fruits (plenty o’ vegan options!) to create a $2 smoothie - ingredients brought to you by Common Ground Food Co-op. All proceeds will benefit Bike Face and SECS respectively. 

12n-1pm: ISTC Sustainable Seminar Series
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, SJW conference room 1 E. Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 
Presented by Margaret Guerriero - Director of the Land and Chemicals Division, USEPA
Born in the wake of elevated concern about environmental pollution, EPA was established on December 2, 1970 to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal statutes pertaining to research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection of air, water and land. Throughout the years, EPA has incorporated the concept of sustainability into many of its programs. Margaret Guerriero will be discussing the top ten ways EPA uses the principles of sustainability to accomplish its mission to protect human health and the environment. This webinar will be broadcast live and also archived on our websitewww.istc.illinois.edu for later viewing. If you cannot attend the event at ISTC, you may view the webinar live by registering at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/419336127. 

2:30pm-3pm: Chancellor Sustainability Discussion
Illini Union, Colonial Room 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 
Take advantage of this opportunity to directly connect with Chancellor Phyllis Wise! Hear a bit about her role in campus sustainability efforts, and come prepared with your own questions about the University. 

5:30-6:00 Conservation Reception for Craig Cox at the Alice Campbell Hall hosted by the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in honor of Earth Day in partnership with the Student Chapter of the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Society, the Agriculture Watershed Institute, Faith in Place, Illinois Stewardship Alliance and Prairie Rivers Network!   The event is free and open to the public.  Free parking will be available after 5.00 in lot D22 904 W. Oregon.  

6:00-6:50: Craig Cox Senior Vice President of the Environmental Working Group will be at the Alice Campbell Hall to discuss how the elimination of direct payments to agriculture and their replacement with programs that provide revenue and price guarantees will affect taxpayers, farm income, and resource conservation.  He’ll explain how the recent Farm Bill fixed some glaring problems associated with crop insurance programs by establishing a quid pro quo between farmers and taxpayers by asking farmers to take steps to cut soil erosion on their most vulnerable cropland, protect wetlands and refrain from breaking out native grassland and prairie in return for crop insurance premium subsidies and other federal farm program benefits.  He will consider whether these provisions offer sufficient protection for working lands at a time when high crop prices, biofuel mandates and competition for land have spurred substantial intensification and expansion of row crop production that is tied to soil degradation, water pollution and loss of habitat.  Craig, who has spent his life working for conservation and worked on the last four farm bills, will discuss what will be needed to harmonize agriculture and the environment in this challenging century. If you’d like to meet with Craig during his visit contact mwander@illinois.edu.

6pm-7:30pm: Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Sustainability Film Festival “Terra Blight”
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 South Gregory St., Urbana, IL
Terra Blight is a documentary exploring America’s consumption of computers and the hazardous waste we create in pursuit of the latest technology. Terra Blight traces the life cycle of computers from creation to disposal and juxtaposes the disparate worlds that have computers as their center. From a 13-year-old Ghanaian who smashes obsolete monitors to salvage copper to a 3,000-person video game party in Texas,Terra Blight examines the unseen realities of one of the most ubiquitous toxic wastes on our planet. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. Films will be followed by discussions with expert guest speakers. 

7pm-8pm: Keynote Speaker Stephen Ritz
Student Dining and Residential Programs Building (SDRP) 2025 Multipurpose Room, 301 E. Gregory Drive, Champaign, IL 
Join us in welcoming Stephen Ritz, a teacher and activist from the South Bronx who believes that students shouldn’t have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. Stephen will document his journey as a classroom teacher turned urban farmer and how the mantra of "no child left behind" can include "no child left inside." Thirty-thousand pounds of vegetables later, his favorite crop is "organically grown citizens." It's all about planting seeds - seeds of hope, engagement and opportunity! Learn about his innovative work and be inspired by his passion that’s making a difference. Q&A after presentation. Free and open to the public. View TED talk.

Thursday, April 24:

12n-1pm: ISTC Sustainable Seminar Series – iSEE a Sustainable Campus
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, SJW Conference Room, 1 E. Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL
Presented by Ben McCall - Associate Director for Campus Sustainability, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment (iSEE), Learn about an overview of iSEE, a look at how well our campus is meeting the targets set out for 2015 in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), and a vision of how our campus will set concrete plans in place to meet our long-term sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by 2050. If you cannot attend the event at ISTC you may view the webinar live by registering athttps://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/869934591. The webinar will also be archived on www.istc.illinois.edufor later viewing.

3pm-4pm: Facilities & Services Utilities Master Plan
University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL 
As part of Earth Week on the Urbana campus, Facilities & Services will provide an update on the Utilities Master Plan from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 at the University YMCA (1001 South Wright Street). The plan examines university energy production and distribution systems, integrating with the energy conservation targets and strategies outlined by the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).  The presentation will focus on the Utilities Master Plan’s current progress, highlighting the tools and processes being used to meet desired campus outcomes related to projected growth and associated energy demand.

6pm-7:30pm: Illinois Sustainability Technology Center Sustainability Film Festival “Waste=Food”
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 South Gregory St., Urbana, IL
WASTE = FOOD explores this revolutionary "cradle to cradle" (as opposed to "cradle to grave") concept through interviews with its leading proponents, American architect William McDonough and German ecological chemist Michael Braungart, coauthors of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. Their ideas are increasingly being embraced by major corporations and governments worldwide, unleashing a new, ecologically-inspired industrial revolution. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. Films will be followed by discussions with expert guest speakers.

8pm-10pm: SECS Benefit Concert
Red Herring, 1209 W. Oregon, Urbana 
Come out and share a night with fellow music and Earth lovers at one of the hippest spots in town! Proceeds will benefit the University YMCA and their funding of SECS projects toward a more sustainable Earth. $5 suggested donation. Stay tuned for the official lineup of local CU bands. Doors open at 7:30pm. List of bands include Ashland, 
The Ars Nova, Illini Contraband, Justin Rondon, and Alec's Band..

Friday, April 25:

12n-1pm: ISTC Sustainable Seminar Series – Agricultural Plastics: Progress and Barriers in Closing the Loop
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, SJW conference room, 1 E. Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 
Presented by Roger Springman - Agricultural Plastics Consultant (Madison, WI)
Plastic provides agriculture with many options to cost-effectively store commodities, ensile forage, contain fertilizers/pesticides, protect crops, etc. But, at the end of its life cycle, agricultural plastic is more likely to become a waste than a resource. What is happening? Why hasn't more progress been made? Are there any technologies or break-throughs on the horizon? This seminar will examine the current state-of-the art and offer directions for the future. If you cannot attend the event at ISTC, view the webinar live by registering athttps://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/577612959. The webinar will also be archived on www.istc.illinois.edufor later viewing.

3pm-6pm: SECS Veggie Burger Cook-Off
Illini Grove Pavilion 
Spend an afternoon outside with the SECS Sustainable Landscapes & Food project group! Each team or individual enters their recipe into the competition for best Earth Week veggie burger of 2014. Grills will be available for use at Illini Grove. Remember to keep it veg and be creative - no store bought burgers, please! Even if you're not competing, come hang out with us and some locally donated snacks. Make sure to sign uphere. so we know you're competing! Full list of rules here. 

5:45pm: Build-a-Bike Raffle
Must be present to win
You’ve waited all week – it’s time to draw the winner of the Build-a-Bike! Built with love by the SECS Earth Week team and the patient guidance of the Campus Bike Shop, this beauty will be matched with its new owner when the raffle winner is drawn. Your journey in sustainable transportation can begin immediately as you join us on the Bike Face Friday Ride!

6pm-7pm: Bike Face Friday Ride
Leave from Illini Grove
Bike Face enjoys a group bike ride through town every Friday – and this week you can join them! Meet us with your bike (and helmet) at Illini Grove and we’ll tour the streets of Champaign-Urbana with this bike-lovin’ RSO!

Saturday, April 26:

9:30am-2pm: Prosperity Gardens Workday
Prosperity Gardens, First Street, Champaign, IL 
Looking for a hands-on way to give back to Mother Earth? Join us for this volunteer workday at one of Champaign’s fastest growing urban farms. We’ll get a tour of the garden sites and help out with preparing for the busiest time of the year – growing season. Lunch will be provided. RSVP Required online.

Dear SWATeam Chairs,   Last year F&S, in collaboration with iSEE's predecessor, started a new program for Sustainability Faculty Fellows.  The idea was to engage our faculty in addressing sustainability-related issues that directly impact the F&S mission.  F&S generated several potential project ideas, and then an RFP was issued to the campus community; faculty could propose to tackle these projects themselves (with summer salary support) and could also request funding for an RA to support the work.   We're looking into the possibility of running this program again for the next academic year, and I wanted to solicit your (and your team's) suggestions for potential projects that F&S and iSEE could consider including in the RFP.  The ideal project would be one where a particular topic really needs to be studied in more depth to facilitate campus sustainability efforts related to F&S, and where there might be faculty on our campus who could complete such studies in a one-year period.   This is not intended for pure research, but more for applied research, feasibility studies, analysis, etc.   If you and your team have any ideas (even if they're not entirely fleshed out), please let me know.  It would be most helpful to receive your suggestions within the next two weeks.   Thanks very much,   Ben

Earth Week 2014 is going to be a week packed full with environmental education and awareness events! Among these events will be showings of the environmental documentaries, "Living Downstream", "Terra Blight"and "Waste Food".  Interactive events will include DIY Green Supplies where participants will be given recipes to make green cleaning items, Bike Blender + Bike Fix It, as well as a Clothing Swap at the University YMCA. Keep checking back here for a more detailed calendar regarding these exciting events!

From: Lisa Brooks Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 9:57 PM To: Dempsey, John Garrett Subject: School Composting Project   Jack Dempsey,   My name is Lisa Brooks, and I am a student at UIUC. My class and I are collaborating with the Urbana Environmental Sustainability Division to establish a school composting program throughout Urbana schools. The goal of the program is to lower the amount of food waste in the school while producing rich organic top soil. We are currently in the development phase of the program, and we did some research on the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment. I was wondering if you would be interested in scheduling a time to discuss the details of the project and any suggestions or ideas you might have for how to make our program as effective as possible. If there is anyone else at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment that could also provide insight into this project that would be greatly appreciated as well. Feel free to contact me at any time if you are interested in discussing this project.   Thank you for your help,   Lisa Brooks

Three student groups presented information about their group, including mission statements, group function on campus, and future plans.

• SSC – Student Sustainability Committee
• Green Observer
• SECS – Students for Environmental Concerns

Some suggestions that have come from our Sustainability committee are: Regardless of which route we take, we should update the Business Travel page, http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/travel/, to include something about scheduling inter-campus meetings between UIC and UIS or UIUC to accommodate the Amtrak schedule, perhaps with a table with this information:

Inter-campus travel: In order to facilitate sustainable and convenient travel between campuses, meeting organizers are encouraged to schedule meetings around the Amtrak schedule. For Chicago meetings, start after 10:30, end by 3:30; in Springfield start after 10:45, end by 4:30; in Champaign, start after 11:00, end by 6:15 (as of October 2013 Amtrak schedule)

1. We should definitely include the following sustainability drivers:
   1. Economic – less expensive
   2. Environment – reduces emissions and energy consumption
   3. Society – you can work while in transit – benefits office
2. Consideration of video-conferencing. Perhaps even a listing of where facilities are or how people identify them on their campuses.
3. Consult with Scott Speegle.

Thanks,

Cindy

IGBA is reviewing their certification checklist - this is the second version, so creating a 3.0 version.  To add additional credibility to the program they are bringing in outside experts to review the process, look through the checklist, edit it line by line, make suggestions from small changes in wording to large changes like adding, combining the credits, and suggest weighting factors.

1. create a more streamlined and up to date checklist
2. create a smaller more focused checklist

There were 9 sections - now there will be 8.  There is a TAG for each section, plus the certification steering committee looking at the broader picture.  Ryan is the staff representative - no voting rights, organize meetings, and conduit between the groups. 

To become certified a business must complete the required credits and 50% of the program in each section that applies to that business (based on operational control).  The goal of the weighted checklist is to incentivize businesses to choose some of the harder items.  For example in energy, you can upgrade your entire HVAC system for one credit or you can add stickers to light switches for one credit.

Hoping to have the review process completed by fall 2014, with a draft by August. Additional members would be nice - especially from a larger transportation area.  This will be all types of transportation, so Morgan suggested Scott Spegel with Amtrak and Ed Barsoti with the League of Illinois Bicyclists.

Ryan will send the existing checklist and transportation assessment.  He will also highlight the items that only a few businesses have used and provide staff information about the questions businesses have asked about existing items.  Please read those docs and make any changes in Word, with track changes turned on.  Next meeting is last Friday in April.

The University of Illinois has a rich history of partnering with the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District to reduce single occupancy vehicles and increase the use of public transit.  This presentation includes a timeline showing the history of the partnership.