You are here

All Project Updates

Search



Pages

  1. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    Here are my updates from last week:

    • I attended the PWR SWATeam meeting, during which the team decided to finalize and forward its recommendations for a CAM paper policy. I need to obtain a document showing the recommendations, as I did not see a final version of it. They also discussed comments they had provided for the Ethics Office video supporting recycling compliance. They will cc Morgan and Micah on the message containing the recommendations. The group discussed avenues to promote sustainability and the behaviors that support it at the marathon, at Quad Day, and during EOH.
    • I communicated with Jessica Tran to set up a meeting regarding recycling options for Family and Graduate Housing.

    Sincerely,


    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  2. April 21st, 2017 Meeting

    Meeting Minutes 4/21/17

    In attendance:

    Ximing Cai

    Pete Varney

    Brian Farber

    Yanfeng Ouyang

     

    Summary:

    This meeting serve to continue discussion on campus fleet, bike parking, and campus parking. Also, Ximing Cai was introduced to the team.

     

    Topics:

    Discussion on Campus Fleet

    Pete led a discussion on campus fleet efforts. He stated that converting campus fleet to EVs and CNG vehicles would have a large effect on campus emissions, and that campus utility is interested in learning about electric vehicles, but there are certain obstacles to converting campus fleet. First it would cost about half a million dollars or more. These costs are largely attribute to building infrastructure for CNG refueling systems. In addition, campus fleet vehicles for Facilities and Services as well as housing do not drive very far, so the fuel savings would be small. However, converting campus fleet would be practical as the vehicles do not travel off campus, meaning there will be no inconvenience in refueling the vehicles.

    Bike Parking

    We continued our discussion on bike parking from the last meeting. One of our concerns, given the cost of the permits, is security. Anyone who is paying for a permit must be certain that there bike is secure. We might want to have security cameras.

    Parking

    We discussed efforts to encourage less driving through parking incentives. Pete suggested having a passenger-car-free campus zone by placing parking outside of certain zones of campus. This idea was well received by the group and generally liked. However, we discussed challenges to any parking changes. We discussed specific proposals to adjust parking prices, shown here:

    -          Try to price people out of parking and mitigate this by reducing the price at other locations

    -          Allow flexible payment in percentage of salary

    -          Have and “auction” in which whoever pays the largest percent of their salary gets the closest location.

    -          Remove or lift parking cap so that wealthier parkers pay more and thus provide more revenue

    -          Have a private company raise rates on parking

     

    Then, we discussed challenges to these proposals:

    -          Parking is important to unions – any changes may result in strikes or political conflict

    -          The sentiment of Parking and Campus master plan does not necessarily agree with people parking farther away – an objective that would be achieved through a passenger-car-free zone

    -          Hiring private company likely not a good idea – their primary motivation is profit

    -          City of Champaign changed parking ordinances so that spaces at churches, fraternities, etc, decrease

     

    Our next meeting is TBD.

     

  3. Water & Stormwater Meeting Minutes 4/13/2017

    Discussion of upcoming joint meeting with Agriculture, Land Use, Food and Sequestration (ALUF) SWAT. Development of ideas for student projects, including georeferenced inventory for F&S, analysis of green roofs and solar panels, and phoshorus monitoring of stormwater. 

  4. Weekly update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello all,

    Here is a summary of my activity last week:

    • I spoke with Joy Scrogum about the state of battery recycling on campus and thoughts for its future. Then Morgan, Micah Kenfield, and I met with Robert McKim and Clara Bosak-Schroeder, two faculty members who want to help with promoting battery recycling on campus. I provided them with a link to the Call2Recycle website, where they can purchase battery recycling boxes.
    • I met with Jonathan McClintock from Kimberly Clark to learn more about the RightCycle program under which we are recycling gloves. I also stopped by an event at Krannert, where companies affiliated with Fisher Scientific were showcasing their products.
    • Morgan and I spent time on Friday catching up on various recycling efforts and defining the next steps, with particular attention to communications about source separation and my assignment to map where the outdoor bins are around campus.

     

    Sincerely,

    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

     

  5. 14 hours left!

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hey teams,

    We have just 14 hours left in the competition. Have an impromptu study hour, post some pictures on FB, get more people to sign up for next year! It's never too late to make an impact.

    As the competition winds down, I want to send out a couple of important reminders.

    1. The goal of Eco-Olympics is behavioral change. Remember to carry the things you've learned with you!
    2. If you still haven't gotten your shirt, its not too late. Just reach out to me.
    3. Tomorrow is the deadline to RSVP for a leadership certificate.
    4. If you had events, SEND ME YOUR ATTENDANCE SHEETS. I can't give you participation points if I don't know you had an event or I don't know how many showed up.

    Thanks for all you've done teams!

    Best,

    Jessica Mondello
    Eco-Olympics | Director

    Think Globally. Act Locally.

     

  6. Update on Eco-Olympics and the Leadership Certificate

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello team members,

    You have worked hard to make a difference in your hall by creating awareness and influencing behavioral change during the Eco-Olympics competition. Now it’s time for your recognition, we have worked with the Chancellor’s office to bring you Leadership Certificates for your stewardship and positive impact on campus. See the attached certificate for a preview.

    Please RSVP by Monday April 17th at midnight  if you would like to add this certificate to your achievements in outstanding leadership on campus.

    Thank you for an Awesome job and keep up the Great work!

    Jessica Mondello

    Eco-Olympics | Director

    Think Globally. Act Locally

    Attached Files: 
  7. EGEN SWATeam Meeting (4.13.17)

    The EGEN SWATeam held another bi-weekly meeting. Topics covered include:

    • Ximing Cai's [in attendance] vision for iSEE and SWATeams
    • Developing a recommendation to expand UIUC solar farm.
    • Developing a recommendation for another clean energy PPA
    • Cost savings for geothermal systems and opportunities for implementation at solar farm and new building sites
  8. ECBS SWATeam meeting minutes

    On the agenda at the ECBS SWATeam meeting:

    1) Report from Karl on projects he has been working on:

       a) Enterprise Works - proposed revolving loan project.  Awaiting departmental funding of $350K to complete project. 

       b) Memorial Stadium RCx work - This appears to be getting $500K in funding.

       c) National Soybean Research space walk preview.  

    2)  Discussion on LEED requirements as iCAP goal

    3)   BIF lighting follow up

    4)  Final planning for ILO on Friday, April 14

    5)   Updates:

       a) Eco-Olympics

       b) Recommendation for ILO continuation submitted by Marian

       c) Green Labs Coordinator position

    6) SWATeam next meeting time and date:  April 27th, from 3:30 to 5 pm. 

  9. Our last big push!

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hey everyone!

    Just 5 days left! Plenty of time to make a significant change. Nugent, you're so close to Taft, catch them! Trelease and Van Doren battle for 3rd! Halls in the red, don't give up. With a group of friends, walk around the hall a couple times this week and flip lights off. Wardall turn your A/C off.

    Here are some reminders:

    • Take pictures of your efforts! Programs, posted fliers or energy tips, your team in your shirts, anything advertising the competition. Post them on our wall or tag us @EcoOlympicsUIUC
    • Big energy suckers are A/C units, mini fridges, heating cold water, and hair driers/straighteners. Unplug your fridge, wash your clothes in cold water, and go all natural for the next week.
    • We have shirts left! Let me know if you want yours!

    Check out the live results, here.

    Best,

    Jessica Mondello

    Eco-Olympics | Director

    Think Globally. Act Locally.

  10. John Marlin speaks at Campus Appreciation Day

    Dr. Marlin spoke on how student initiated projects in the 1970s carried over to the present including recycling, river protection, highway policy and bikeways. The majority of his presentation focused on student involvement in local native planting projects to help preserve biodiversity, especially of pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

  11. Eco-Olympics update

    Associated Project(s): 

    Eco-Olympics is off to a great start to our 2017 competition! In order to increase student participation, we created a prize for the hall with the highest amount of participation. We have 11 buildings in the competition and 110 total number of students signed up to participate. You are invited you to look at the current results by going to the following page: https://buildingos.com/s/illinoisurbanachampaign/storyboard217/?chapterId=864.

  12. Final week, finish strong!

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hello everyone!

    We have one week left, it's time to kick into overdrive! Here are some reminders:

    • Hosting short events like study hours are easy, require little set up, and allow you to inform a ton of residents about Eco-Olympics.
    • There is a participation award this year. Even if your hall is doing so hot conserving energy, there is more than one way to win!
      • Post picture to our FB page, get people to sign up, hold events!
    • SHIRTS! Shirts are a great way to advertise the competition at events. Let me know if you need yours!

    Check out the results here: Right here!

    Here is the current sign up standings:

    ?ui=2&ik=8d2f1c97fa&view=fimg&th=1604787f468d12a5&attid=0.5.0.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ_F7gFVbOLpulGLBixJCy1lOTVO-VMzTnqXwBgXTa-1tE4lWG2g4wCtbAzlY_zjIZbyX9HUwEXcTdVak95nOGYsYOuj8MxIToLRHm4_Z3XgGITh-4dbgj-N68o&sz=w882-h488&ats=1513369805199&rm=1604787f468d12a5&zw&atsh=1
    ?ui=2&ik=8d2f1c97fa&view=fimg&th=1604787f468d12a5&attid=0.5.0.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-ifvboGcYHdPoGPZXmVMLApjsmfm1TmZk39Ggi5ZZ_0JY8_PGoD4dQk8UZ0RKg4UszAfHX_5FC4UoeoUO1vt5GMx2ZguHY1rklUh_jKAnkRGc2xJricAgUhpA&sz=w882-h488&ats=1513369805199&rm=1604787f468d12a5&zw&atsh=1

    Let's make this year amazing! Attached our energy saving tips you can post around your hall. Just print them off and tape them up!

    Cheers!

    Jessica Mondello
    Eco-Olympics | Director

    Think Globally. Act Locally.

  13. Weekly Update for Zero Waste

    Associated Project(s): 

    Hi Tracy—

    Last week, my main activities were

    • Meeting with you to learn the online time reporting system and to discuss limitations at WTS related to locating additional recycling drop-off bins there; relaying information back to Morgan
    • Organizing meetings related to glove and battery recycling
    • Meeting with Jordan Powers and Tanya Lisowsky of Fisher Scientific about glove recycling

    I can provide more detail on any of these items if it’s helpful/useful to do so.


    Best regards,
    Marya Ryan
    Zero Waste Coordinator

  14. update on flowers at Chi Omega plaza

    Associated Project(s): 

    John Marlin provided the following update: Attached are shots of woodland wildflowers beginning to emerge.  The photos are at the Chi Omega planting between the English Building and Lincoln Hall.   There are others that are not up yet.  Other woodland plantings are in front of the Natural resources building, Burrill Hall and the north Side Lincoln Ave residence Hall.

     

    The Chi Omega planting looks good at this point , especially the big areas on the east and west sides.  There is good diversity of species, but some could be moved around to mix them in more with the geranium dominated areas.   The east sides will have issues with the cone flowers that were not part of the original plan and that Red Bison helped thin last fall.   We will see how the violets come up. 

     

    Those of you interested in how location impacts blooming time will want to see the timing of blooming etc at the various sites as they have different light conditions.

  15. Parking Lot F-4 potential site

    Parking Department facility manager, Mike Wise, shared the following information.  "I will be submitting the resurfacing project for lot F4 as a FY19 Project in June/July of 2018. Then an Architect will be selected and design begins. Bidding and Construction will follow. Ideas can start now though so that we can vet them and include a finalized Program with the project request."

Pages