Sustainability@UIC

Can We Inform Students and Affect Their Effort to be More Sustainable?

2014-01-09T12:47:00.000-06:00

(This blog post is courtesy of a student-group in the Fall 2013 Honors Seminar 201)

It is not uncommon to come across a sustainability related event or story happening at UIC. Yet, there is always room for improvement. The key demographic for minor improvements in results lies with the large student body. The question is, how do you get them involved?

We set out to study whether publicly displaying information regarding UIC’s current efforts to be sustainable would affect students’ behavior or opinions. Would they be more considerate of unnecessary power usage? Recycling? Would signs cause students to slightly change their behavior in a way that would successfully spread sustainability efforts?

We chose to focus on Lincoln Hall (one of UIC’s LEED Certified building) as our model of sustainability at UIC. The plan was simple, inform the students about sustainability in Lincoln Hall and later ask them if they felt in any way more inclined to participate in the sustainability movement.

Water and Lincoln Hall

The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day, but a person only needs 1 gallon a day to survive. When it comes to the bathroom, 27 of the 100 gallons come from flushing the toilet, with 3.5-7 gallons per flush on older toilets. The low flow toilets at UIC only use 1 to 1.6 gallons per flush, cutting down on the amount of water used. This information, along with the complete breakdown of the average American’s water usage, is found on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website (http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/indoor.html).

Nearly every student at UIC notices the huge difference with Lincoln, Douglas, and Grant Hall compared to the other buildings on campus, not many actually know how much greener these buildings are though. Most do not even realize that these buildings are LEED certified. The purpose of the poster that presented the above information regarding water was mainly not to get students to cut down on the water usage, but instead to get students to realize that UIC is making a huge effort to become more sustainable and “greener.”

Recycling at UIC

Perhaps the most effortless way a student can contribute to UIC’s sustainability effort is by recycling effectively. UIC provides the means to recycle by having separate bins for trash and recyclables. Over the last decade the recycling rate at the university has doubled and the amount of recycled material overall has increased year to year; however, there is still room for improvement. In every building there are separate bins for trash and recyclables, the goal is to maximize the efficiency of this system. By creating signs that inform students of the benefits of recycling, as well as showing UIC’s current efforts, we hope to appeal to their conscience and create a behavioral change that would hopefully become permanent. In theory, it seems a student would be more inclined to take an extra step to recycle if they are aware that others are partaking in the effort that ultimately benefits the community.

Urea-formaldehyde-free Lincoln Hall

Urea-formaldehyde is used commercially as insulation for homes and many basements. They were used drastically in the 1970’s in the United States. They were great for conserving energy especially heating in the colder climates. The danger comes from the breaking down of the material over time, which it emits a formaldehyde vapor. This vapor has health effects on the eyes, nose, and the respiratory system.

Modern construction techniques have started using replacement materials including melamine formaldehyde resin and polyurethane. While these materials have been proven to have less of a negative affect on the people’s health, they aren’t completely safe. Lincoln Hall’s composite wood and agrifiber use no urea-formaldehyde. This has helped the building achieve the LEED citification and has also has guaranteed that the building will be safe for people for many years to come.

Solar Energy and Lincoln Hall

The sun is an amazing resource when it comes to energy. For as long as we will be living the sun will be giving us what is essentially free energy, as long as we can harness it. Solar energy is a great alternate energy source, because not only is it not going to run out for billions of years, it is completely clean energy. It is amazing to see that the University of Illinois at Chicago is making such a great example by integrating solar power in its energy supply. Solar panels on Lincoln Hall have produced 249 megawatt hours to date. This is enough to power 24,900 homes for a year. This is also the equivalent of saving 4,497 trees. Not only is UIC producing clean energy and decreasing CO2 emissions that would have otherwise been produced from energy that comes from a power plant, It is actually saving them money, roughly $6,500 a year.

Conclusion

While we only hung posters in Lincoln Hall, we did see results indicating that people were in fact seeing our posters. Not only were people seeing our posters, but also almost half of the survey responders saw the posters and believed they were successful in their purpose. The ultimate goal was to inform students and create changes in their behavior to increase sustainability. In the span of time in which the project ran we determined that our posters were distributing information, but we lack the time to determine their effects on the behavior of students overall. Some made the choice to use less water at the sink, some recycled when they otherwise would have not, but ultimately we cannot conclude with certainty that the posters will permanently change behavior. The effects of the posters could be more positive over time, however, repeated exposure might change the outcome in a positive manner. Ultimately, any improvement and increase in awareness is a win, and although the success in behavior change is inconclusive, it is certain that the posters are effective in introducing students to sustainable efforts on campus.

Energy for Future Decision Majors (Physics 116)

2014-01-02T13:46:00.003-06:00

Looking for a general education credit?
Need to fulfill a requirement for the Global Learning Community certificate?
Going into a field where energy issues are central to your work (policy, urban planning, engineering, the sciences, etc.)?
Just curious about energy?

Join Dr. George Crabtree, Dr. David Hofman, and Dr. Kathryn Nagy this spring for

Energy in its various forms drives our universe and the many cycles that enable life on earth. The discovery and practical use of energy has also played a major role in human history and development. Dramatic changes in human energy use, in particular those involving the use of fossil fuels, over the last few hundred years is unprecedented in human history and drives our modern world and way of life. This course will examine important aspects of energy in the human context. We are also currently at the cusp of another major change. Sources, delivery, and uses of energy must undergo a global transition from the fossil fuels that power our modern world to more climate-friendly and sustainable alternatives. Topics involved in this change include, among others, solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, carbon sequestration, nuclear, electric transportation, zero energy buildings, and storage of electricity. This course will also examine the challenges and opportunities of non-fossil-fuel and more sustainable energy alternatives, with emphasis on evaluating their capacity, efficiency, environmental impact, and the barriers to their implementation.

UIC wins state award for sustainability

2013-12-30T11:40:00.000-06:00

Check out this UIC News article about the Illinois Governor's Sustainability Award.

Science complex retrofit to cut energy use 30 percent

2013-10-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

See more at: UIC News.

Science complex retrofit to cut energy use 30 percent

Anne Brooks Ranallo
October 2, 2013

An energy retrofit at a science complex at the University of Illinois at Chicago is expected to reduce energy consumption by at least 30 percent and save $18 million annually.

Science and Engineering Laboratories complex at Taylor and Halsted streets. (Click on image for larger size)

The energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades throughout the Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex will affect four laboratory buildings and a supporting office building, totalling more than 1.2 million square feet. Four of the buildings date from the mid-1960s.
“We expect the project to yield immediate cost savings for UIC, but more important is that it supports UIC’s Climate Action Plan and will help us meet our goal to reduce our carbon emissions at least 80 percent by 2050,” said UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares.
The project is expected to directly create 592 jobs, according to Ameresco, the energy management company contracting with UIC.
The energy reduction is consistent with the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Chicago 2015 Action Agenda for commercial buildings to reduce energy consumption by at least 20 percent by 2015.
“Energy efficiency is an excellent strategy that saves money, reduces environmental impact and creates jobs,” said Karen Weigert, chief sustainability officer for the City of Chicago. “The Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex, where future leaders in this space will be educated, is a wonderful location for this large project.”
The two-year construction project will include new and recommissioned air handling units, HVAC control systems and equipment, chilled beam, high-performance fume hoods, lighting retrofits, weatherization of the building envelope, and energy recovery systems.
Cynthia Klein-Banai, associate chancellor for sustainability, said the energy reduction of 9,219 metric tons of carbon dioxide is equivalent to taking 1,921 cars off the road or planting 71 acres of trees. The 81 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to be saved is enough to power about 2,500 homes.
“UIC is committed to becoming a more sustainable campus by reducing our environmental impact, generating economic benefit, and creating a more comfortable, healthier environment for the thousands of students, faculty and staff who use those buildings daily,” Klein-Banai said.
UIC ranks among the nation’s leading research universities and is Chicago’s largest university with 27,500 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state’s major public medical center. A hallmark of the campus is the Great Cities Commitment, through which UIC faculty, students and staff engage with community, corporate, foundation and government partners to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world. For information about UIC, visit www.uic.edu.
- See more at: http://news.uic.edu/sel-retrofit#sthash.zrzCIHAy.dpuf

Science complex retrofit to cut energy use 30 percent

Anne Brooks Ranallo
October 2, 2013

An energy retrofit at a science complex at the University of Illinois at Chicago is expected to reduce energy consumption by at least 30 percent and save $18 million annually.

Science and Engineering Laboratories complex at Taylor and Halsted streets. (Click on image for larger size)

Science complex retrofit to cut energy use 30 percent

Anne Brooks Ranallo
October 2, 2013

An energy retrofit at a science complex at the University of Illinois at Chicago is expected to reduce energy consumption by at least 30 percent and save $18 million annually.

Science and Engineering Laboratories complex at Taylor and Halsted streets. (Click on image for larger size)

The Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan

2013-07-23T12:42:00.001-05:00

“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.

"The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition, we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries, we must claim its promise. That’s how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure -- our forests and waterways, our croplands and snow-capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.”

-- President Obama, Second Inaugural Address, January 2013

Last year, about one-third of all Americans experienced 10 days or more of 100-degree heat. The 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15 years, and asthma rates have doubled in the past 30 years. Also, increasing amounts of floods, heat waves, and droughts have put farmers out of business, which contributes to dramatic increase in food prices.

Today, President Obama remains firmly committed to that goal and to building on the progress of his first term to help put us and the world on a sustainable long-term trajectory. On June 25th, President Obama released a Climate Action Plan. The plan, which consists of a wide variety of executive actions, has three key pillars:

1) Cut Carbon Pollution in America

Power plants are the largest carbon emission source in the United States (40 percent of greenhouse gas pollution!), therefore, according to Obama's climate plan, the goal is to establish carbon pollution standards for new and existing power plants. If we cut carbon pollution from power plants, it will be an enormous overall cut of greenhouse gas emissions.

However this cannot be done without accelerating clean energy leadership. This would include increasing funding and investing for clean energy technology by 30 percent. Since Obama's first term, the United States has doubled electricity generation through wind and solar energy. His goal is to double that again by 2020.

The second largest source of greenhouse gas pollution is from the transportation sector (cars, buses, vans, etc). The Obama Administration has and is in the process of creating more fuel economy standards for new car models. This would include reducing fuel consumption, and investing in research of new alternative fuel methods. The goal would be to set these standards in place for 2018 and on.

It is important to remember the fact that homes, businesses, and factories also emit greenhouse gases. This is considered in Obama's climate plan. Considering the emission of hydrofluorocarbons (potent greenhouse gases) are expected to double by 2020 and triple by 2030, it is important to address this. A goal for 2020 is set to create an inter-agency methane strategy and encourage private sector investments in low-emission technology.

Obama also believes that it is a responsibility of the federal government to be leaders in clean energy and energy efficiency.

2) Prepare the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change

It is clear that the consequences of abuse to the environment is upon us. We need to build stronger communities and infrastructure, manage our economy and natural resources, and continue scientific research in order to manage the impacts of climate change. This can be achieved through supporting climate-resilient investments, rebuilding and learning from superstorm Sandy, creating sustainable and resilient hospitals, maintaining agricultural productivity, and providing tools and resources for climate resilience.

3) Lead International Efforts to Address Global Climate Change

According to the Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan, we must not work alone. This is an international issue, and must be treated as so. Some of the recommended actions involve the participation of multiple countries and include: expanding clean energy use and cutting energy waste, phasing out subsidies that encourage consumption of fossil fuels, strengthening global resilience to climate change, reducing emissions from deforestation and mobilizing climate finance.

To read more and share information on President Obama's plan to fight climate change, visit here.

SISE 2013 Applications Now Open

2013-06-07T16:43:00.003-05:00

Announcing the 3rd annual

SUMMER INSTITUTE ON SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY

Hosted by the Energy Initiative at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory; Clean Energy Trust; Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (University of Chicago); Energy and Sustainability Engineering (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign); Initiative for Sustainability & Energy at Northwestern (Northwestern University); Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (Illinois Institute of Technology)

What is the Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy?

The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy (SISE) is a two-week intensive workshop and lecture series geared towards individuals interested in the title subjects: sustainability and energy. From August 5-16, a diverse body of participants will converge on the UIC campus and immerse itself in a broad spectrum of sustainability and energy related topics. Issues presented will be of interest to scientists, economists, political scientists, urban planners, engineers, architects, and entrepreneurs. Participants will engage these issues through interactive and interdisciplinary lectures and panel discussions, collaborative research projects that stress scientific innovation and entrepreneurship, networking opportunities with academics and professionals, and tours of sustainability and energy related sites in the Chicago area. This experience leaves graduates of the Summer Institute with a firm foundation for future careers in sustainability and energy, and inspires them to lead the next generation as thoughtful and informed global citizens. For 2013, SISE will look at sustainability and energy through the lens of transportation.

SISE is directed by Dr. George Crabtree, Senior-Scientist and Director of the JCESR program at Argonne National Laboratory, and Distinguished Professor of Physics at UIC. Check out his interview on the Washington Post here!

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.

Admission into the program is highly competitive. 60-80 participants will be accepted from a pool of national applicants. SISE will continue to accept applications up until July 1, 2013. Admissions is granted on a semi-rolling basis. Applications are reviewed near the beginning of each month. Applicants should 1) fill out the online application, 2) submit a resume, and 3) send in three letters of recommendation. Applicants will need a working LinkedIn profile to complete the online application.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US!

We invite you to learn more about the Summer Institute.

Visit us on the web at [ http://sise.phy.uic.edu/ ], and like us on Facebook at [ https://www.facebook.com/uic.sise ]

If you have any questions, please also feel free to contact [ 2013.sise@gmail.com ]. One of out SISE staff will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy

2013-02-10T12:54:00.000-06:00

3rd ANNUAL SUMMER INSTITUTE ON SUSTAINABILITY & ENERGY

2013 Program Theme: Sustainable Transportation
The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy (SISE) is a two-week intensive workshop and lecture series geared towards individuals interested in the title subjects: sustainability and energy. From August 5-16, a diverse body of participants will converge on the UIC campus and immerse itself in a broad spectrum of sustainability and energy related topics. Issues presented will be of interest to scientists, economists, political scientists, urban planners, engineers, architects, and entrepreneurs. Participants will engage these issues through interactive and interdisciplinary lectures and panel discussions, collaborative research projects that stress scientific innovation and entrepreneurship, networking opportunities with academics and professionals, and tours of sustainability and energy related sites in the Chicago area. This experience leaves graduates of the Summer Institute with a firm foundation for future careers in sustainability and energy, and inspires them to lead the next generation as thoughtful and informed global citizens.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED
Admission into the program is highly competitive. 60-80 participants will be accepted from a pool of national applicants. Those accepted into the program can expect to receive financial support including transportation getting to and from Chicago, lodging during the duration of the program, and most meals.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US!
We invite you to learn more about the Summer Institute. Visit us on the web at: http://sise.phy.uic.edu/

Hosted by the Energy Initiative at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory; Clean Energy Trust; Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (University of Chicago); Energy and Sustainability Engineering (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign); Initiative for Sustainability & Energy at Northwestern (Northwestern University); Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research (Illinois Institute of Technology)

Douglas Hall gets Gold!

2012-09-21T14:34:00.000-05:00


Surrounded by permeable pavement, allowing stormwater to return	to groundwater.

Native plants are low-maintenance and don't require irrigation

Douglas Hall is the second building on UIC's campus to gain a LEED honor by receiving gold certification. Douglas Hall shares the geothermal ground source heat pump system that Grant and Lincoln Halls currently use. Other highlights include solar panels, recycled rubber floors on the second and thrd floor and the photovoltaic system on the roof that was partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. More information about Douglas Hall can be found at the College of Business website. See also Press Release.

Floors from recycled rubber, natural lighting, high-efficiency windows

New Course this fall: Topics in Energy

2012-08-27T14:12:00.004-05:00

The Energy Initiative at UIC is now offering a course entitled "Topics in Energy" (LAS 493) to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The course will introduce local, national, and international energy topics to a diverse student pool. Students in all academic areas are welcome to enroll. Topics will include, but are not limited to, geopolitical energy trends, carbon sequestration, sustainable energy sources, nuclear technology, industrial ecology and life cycle assessment, green/sustainable energy careers, biofuels, and more.

Course Topics in Energy (LAS 493)

CRN UG 35086 (3 hours) / Grad 35069 (4 hours)

Time Wednesdays, 5-8PM

Location Taft Hall 216

Instructor George Crabtree

For any questions about the course, please direct them to Elizabeth Kocs (ekocs@uic.edu) or Thomas Lipsmeyer (talaan@uic.edu).

Conservation Alert: Lights at Night – its Value and its Harm

2012-06-25T12:19:00.001-05:00

Moonrise over the city, as seen from Ashland and Lake CTA Station

This conservation alert reminds me of a UIC Office of Sustainability Lunch Series talk we had on light pollution, presented by Prof. Roy Plotnick, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UIC.

Donnie R. Dann
Volume 16 Number 4 July 2012

During the long history of life on earth, both for animals and plants and then for humans when they came on the scene, the source of visibility at night was primarily celestial objects. Next in our evolutionary history came controlled firelight which provided limited night illumination until the relatively recent development of electric lighting.
Today we've become so acclimated to artificial light we don't even think about its impact, both on people and wildlife. Granted, night lighting is essential to our industrial society and the lifestyle to which even remote outposts of civilization have become accustomed. But consider its downsides and the well-documented adverse impacts extensive night lighting hasworldwide:
• Research shows our natural body clock and circadian rhythms (and potentially our health) are affected by lights at night .
• Night lighting increases air pollution .
• Birds, bats and other migratory wildlife use several clues in their (mostly) twice yearly journeys but starlight is an important one, and extensive night glow can be highly disruptive to the celestial clues these migrants track.
• Plant life is also seriously affected. One example are the many species of cacti that bloom only at night and their pollinators that are night flying insects and bats. One especially beautiful cactus, the Queen of the Night, opens at night for only a few hours or so and they simply can't reproduce with excessive light. And if the flowers are gone so too are their plant specific pollinators.
• Does this even matter to humans? Scientists estimate that 1/3 of all human food is dependent on pollinators and disrupting the food chain on a planet that evolved for millions of years with fixed daylight and nighttime time periods could ultimately wreak havoc on our food supply and on us. See the National Academies Press' booklet “Resourceson Pollinators”
• Lighting that reflects upward not only lightens the night sky but is wasted energy. The International Dark Sky Association estimates we waste 22,000 gigawatt hours a year, which at 10 cents per kilowatt hour amounts to $2.2 billion annually.
• Populated areas have lost the ability to see and experience the wonder of our starry sky. Safety is paramount in considering the benefits of night lighting. Can we be safe by lighting our way at night without bringing harm to ourselves and our ecosystems? Here are just 2 examples:
• Outdoor lights for roads, businesses and outside your home can have a shield on top, directing all beams downward.
• Several cities, including Chicago have adopted “Lights Out” programs whereby many tall buildings voluntarily turn off their office lights during migration, thereby minimizing collision danger as well as lessening the confusion factor to which birds and bats are prone. This is to say nothing of the energy savings and potential pollution that's avoided (see bullet 2 above).
For an excellent resource on this entire problem I urge you to consult a book edited by Catherine Rich and Travis Longcore, “Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting” (Island Press). These issues have been extensively reported and the editors summarize the seriousness of the problem and most importantly the solutions, many of which we can all adopt.
This Newsletter may be excerpted, reproduced or circulated without limitation.

Sustainable healthcare and a call for action

2012-02-08T16:27:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, I attended my first lunch series event at UIC. The topic was about the environmental impacts of healthcare practices completed by U.S. hospital. It was presented by Peter Orris, the Chief of Service and Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois Medical Center.

Let me start off by saying I am not a pre-med or an environmental or science-related major. The information below is a review from someone who knows very little about the topic.

Despite not knowing or needing information about the topic, I learned a lot. Here are some facts I learned from the presentation that are pretty scary when you consider the impacts they have on our environments:

In 1995 medical waste incinerators were the largest sources of dioxin and were responsible for 10% of mercury emissions

Kids exposed to mercury and other toxic things have been known to have mental disabilities and/or significant drops in IQ.

At least 250 million pounds of pharmaceutical waste is generated annually from hospitals and long-term care centers

Poor air quality has been identified as the most frequent cause of work-related asthma in healthcare

Healthcare is the second most energy intensive sector in commercial buildings

I wondered - why haven't medical care centers noticed this a long time ago? Luckily, my question was answered very simply: Physicians in the forefront are not in charge of the allocation of certain materials they use; those working behind the scenes of medical care centers have not been carefully looking into where the materials that make up their tools come from.

It seems like the solution to this problem isn't complicated - Practicioners and distribution centers or purchasers need to examine where the materials from the items they use come from. However, it isn't that simple, as money and timing issues may come into place. It is important that medical care centers start putting more effort and care when making decisions that could affect their patients and the environment.

The good news is that there have been some good advancements in the past years. Some of these include the fact that medical waste incinerator usage in the U.S. has decline from 6, 200 in 1988 to only 83 in 2007. Also, mercury usage in healthcare has been rapidly decking. Currently, 5,000 U.S. health care facilities have pledged to go mercury free. Furthermore, designers and architects are beginning to make healthier and safer facilities for patients and employees.

All of the information I gathered was important and useful; however, although it is great to know, I really don't need this information as a Communication major. As I looked around this room on the west campus, I asked myself: "Where are all the students?"

Our school has great resources that many students need to take advantage of - this lunch series could very well benefit those medical students who want to make a difference by implementing sustainable practices in their future careers. A new generation of medical care practitioners, my classmates, are the ones who could changing the way health care facilities run their practices. Information sessions like these are great supplements for learning and will help students become the best practitioners they can be.

So to my fellow students, I'd like to make a call for action - Take notice of all of the UIC events that are held and take advantage of them! You can find more events like this one on our or UIC's website - links below:

Thanks for reading!

Links:

Office of Sustainability Calendar

UIC Calendar of Events

Energy Efficiency & the Green Practice Path

2011-12-15T11:44:00.000-06:00

In my day to day work, I think a lot about energy conservation and efficiency in a traditional sense (using less electricity on campus, trying to fund projects like lighting retrofits). In a different, spiritual sense Chogyam Trungpa, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master, says the greatest energy loss comes from inner conflict between body, heart and mind. In essence, conflict is a waste of energy.

This thought returns to me often, especially at times when I glance askew at humongous SUVs, berate myself for forgetting my reusable cloth shopping bags, or worse yet, when I run across yet another “Easy Tips to Living Green!” article. If all this is supposed to be so easy, why is the world still so messed up? Can mental energy spent on irritation and anxiety be reduced? Redirected??

In MindfullyGreen, Stephanie Kaza says that making truly meaningful changes is neither quick nor easy. Nor should it be. Enabling real change begins with an intention to come to terms with the harm that has been (and is being) done to the Earth, and with awareness of our emotional reactions to it. In a compassionate and direct way, Kaza explains how our anxieties about our plight can be used to manifest healing and life changes “that will take us in a kinder direction, one that can sustain our lives as well as the rest of the life on Earth.”

The process of fully experiencing the discomfort of our anxiety and other emotions (aka mindfulness) leads to deeper understanding of our values and adds clarity to our thinking. Further, by thinking more deeply about our choices of what to eat, what to buy, and how we use our energy (including our OWN), we can move toward peace - peace with ourselves and, most importantly, with others.

Kaza coined the term "Green Practice Path" to suggest that change involves intention to keep going, keep learning, knowing that real change is slow and difficult, but we have lots of company on the journey.

The final chapters are devoted to drawing the connection between peace and the environment, saying that conflict causes harm. This is most obvious in wars, but it's also true for smaller, inner conflicts. Learning how to create peace within ourselves - to be compassionate with ourselves - allows us to feel greater compassion for others. This, says Kaza, is the way to create the healing that we, and the Earth, need so much.

Next time you start to grumble silently at someone loading cases of bottled water into their gas guzzler, take a moment to think about how you want to use your energy most efficiently.

UIC Receives Award for Environmental Protection

2011-11-04T11:44:00.001-05:00

I was proud to accept the 25th Annual Governor's Sustainability Award for 2011 last week, on October 27.

UIC was recognized for its commitment to improving the environmental health and sustainability of Illinois. We were one of 19 first-time winners, along with 4 other colleges and universities. In his recognition letter, Governor Quinn wrote that "implementing energy efficiency upgrades, fuel savings, pollution and waste reductions, and other sustainability improvements requires vision, strong leadership, and the dedication of individuals throughout an organization. I applaud your prioritization of these important objectives and your accomplishments in these areas."

I would like to thank the Chancellor and VCAS for their support in these initiatives and thank the entire campus community for its participation. This award is a recognition of all our efforts.

Keep up the good work!

Call for Clean Energy Challenge UIC team members - $100,000 prize

2011-11-03T09:38:00.000-05:00

With support from Professor George Crabtree and the Office of Sustainability, students at UIC will be preparing an application for the Clean Energy Challenge, a competition involving solutions using renewable energy and offering a $100,000 prize. This team will explore and develop the concept of a "Green Bus Stop," and will require a diverse team of students with skills and interests that include:

Forming a business plan and conducting market analysis
Designing architectural elements using urban design best practices
Creating a safe, secure place that is engineered to use renewable energy
Documenting and promoting the entire project in a 3-minute video pitch

Much preliminary work has already begun, and the team should submit their proposal by December 5, 2011.

Potential team members could be upper-level undergraduate students or Master's degree candidates.

To express an interest in joining the team, send a resume and letter of interest to baghab2@uic.edu before November 10th; please include "UIC Green Bus Stop" in the subject of the message.

For more information about the Clean Energy Challenge, see http://www.cleanenergytrust.org/events/about-the-challenge/

Douglas Hall PV System

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

On August 24, 2011, the new and improved Douglas Hall was introduced by the UIC family. Also known as the College of Business Administration's home base, the building has been drastically improved both in interior and exterior. Besides the many student exchange areas, classrooms, and other renovations, it is what has been done "underneath the hood" that stands out at Douglas Hall.

The building is on the path to being UIC's second LEED certified building, with an official announcement to be made by mid-2012. In addition to the light, water, and space conservation in the building, Douglas Hall has a unique Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system in place on the building rooftop. The PV array is unique because it uses microinverter technology to optimize the production of electricity from the panels. Think of it like a string of modern holiday lights - if one bulb goes out, all the other lights don't.

Partially funded by a generous grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the PV system allows the solar panels on building to convert the solar radiation gathered into direct current electricity. Douglas Hall contains 261 solar panels mounted on ballasted racks. With a rated capacity of 54.81 kW, this PV system is expected to generate 67,000kWH of electricity annually, or approximately 8% of the building's needs.

As a student, I see as the PV system on Douglas Hall to be a trendsetter. I remember reading the Chicago Flame before renovations were complete about the upcoming renovations in Douglas Hall; however, I never actually understood the direct impact that this would have. As UIC begins to renovate other buildings around campus, the PV system will be looked on as innovative technology for the UIC community. In both the short and long run, the PV system allows energy to be made from natural sources - less and less harsh environmental impacts will be made by UIC. The PV system reaffirms to the world: UIC is a leading example of education and sustainability successfully joining forces.

To learn more about the additions in Douglas Hall, please go here.
For more information on PV systems, please go here.

Also, check out a video about Douglas Hall and the PV system:

Losing My Cool

2011-10-06T16:12:00.000-05:00

How much do we really need air-conditioning? Stan Cox, author of Losing Our Cool, argues that Americans rely too much on air conditioning, and research shows that we resilient humans can acclimate to higher temperatures than we think.

In my house, anything higher than 70 degrees is “hot” even with fans blowing full-blast. By 2 a.m., my teeth are chattering, and I beg my parents to turn down the air-conditioning. I don’t know about other Chicagoans, but apart from the one week we usually have in late-July when we hit 100 degrees with heavy humidity, I never use the air-conditioning in my car. I actually prefer natural wind from open windows to the frigid air circulated through my car’s vents.

Certainly, in the sun, the atmosphere can get stuffy, but what about enjoying our natural environment?

A friend of mine lives in Baltimore, and, interestingly, Maryland has developed a “stoop” culture in which folks who live on the upper-floors of the 18^th- and 19^th-century three-flats migrate to their front stoops to avoid the rising heat and humidity that overwhelms their window-installed air-conditioners. We walked through the streets of Baltimore on Memorial Day (a fairly mild time of the year for Chicago) in 80 degree weather with 90% humidity, and almost every stoop was occupied by those who lived on the second and third floors of their buildings. Despite the heat, the stoop occupants were friendly.

What if we could adopt something like this for Chicago? Why don’t we turn our air-conditioners off for most of the summer and make a pilgrimage to the outside world and say “hello” to passers-by?

If the folks of Maryland can handle their four to five month high humidity percentages, certainly, we can deal without air conditioning. After all, we’re cooped up inside for half the year due to our long, arduously cold winters, why don’t we enjoy the outside, regardless of the mild heat?

View the original article that discusses Stan Cox's view on air-conditioning here.

EPA Offers Energy Tips on Summer Cooling to Help Save Money, Reduce Pollution

2011-05-23T16:18:00.001-05:00

From the U.S. EPA's weekly newsletter:

WASHINGTON – With summer around the corner, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program today issued its annual list of ideas to help the public cut cooling costs, protect their health and stay comfortable at home.

The average home spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. Increased energy production to run cooling systems not only raises costs, it also can contribute to pollution that adversely affects the quality of the air we breathe. Here are seven simple things that can be done to help protect your wallet and the environment:

Change to More Efficient Light Bulbs. Change out incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting choices. Energy Star qualified lighting not only uses less energy, but also produces approximately 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting, so cooling bills will be reduced, too.
Find the Best Thermostat Settings. If you have a programmable thermostat, program it to work around your family’s summer schedule—set it a few degrees higher (such as 78 degrees) when no one is home, so your cooling system isn’t cooling an empty house.
Use Ceiling Fans Optimally. Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember that ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so when you leave the room make sure to turn off the fan.
Maximize Shade. Pull the curtains and shades closed before you leave your home to keep the sun’s rays from overheating the interior of your home. If you can, move container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to serve as shade.
Reduce Oven Time. Use a microwave instead of an oven to cook, when you can. Ovens take longer to cook food and can make your house warmer, requiring your AC system to turn on to keep the house at a comfortable temperature.
Check Air Conditioner Filters. Check your cooling system’s air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. A good rule is to change the filter at least every three months. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool—wasting energy. Also, remember to have your system serviced annually to ensure it’s running at optimum efficiency for money and energy savings.
Plug Duct System Leaks. As much as 20 percent of the air moving through your home’s duct system is lost due to leaks and poor connections. Seal duct work using mastic sealant or metal tape and insulate all the ducts that you can access (such as those in attics, crawlspaces, unfinished basements, and garages). Also, make sure that connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet floors, walls, and ceilings. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.

Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 as a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficient specifications set by the EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved approximately $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emission of 33 million vehicles.

More information on ways to cut energy costs this summer: http://www.energystar.gov/cooltips

More information on being more energy-efficient and protecting the environment in your area through “Energy Stars Across America”: http://www.energystar.gov/starsmap

Growing the Clean Energy Economy - Should UIC buy wind energy?

2011-05-23T13:50:00.001-05:00

Last Wednesday morning, I participated in a symposium on Growing Chicago's Clean Energy Economy, put on by the Environmental Law & Policy Center. We discussed the progress so far - for example 14 wind power companies are headquartered in Chicago with over 100 businesses in the supply chain and over 10,000 jobs. We also heard about the barriers to clean energy in Illinois and proposed policy changes that are needed to advance progress. The presentations are posted at www.elpc.org/ChicagoCleanEnergy.

That afternoon, I attended a special meeting of the Energy Management Committee that is a University of Illinois committee that follows and advises the purchasing of energy for the UI campuses. We have an arrangement that allows us to purchase natural gas and electricity on the wholesale market. This group, Prairieland, issues requests for proposals (RFP) for power purchase agreements (PPA). Up to now, the driving consideration has been cost. However, an RFP for wind energy was issues to explore the opportunities and costs involved. The RFP would allow UI to commit to buying wind energy from a new wind farm that would be located in the midwest, possibly Illinois, and create the opportunity for new clean energy to be developed. As I learned in the morning, it would create local jobs and generate revenue for the state wherein it is located, not to mention the environmental benefits of non-polluting, renewable energy. However, the investment is significantly higher and there are a number of factors that affect the availability of wind energy. The result of the meeting is that each campus needs to examine if investing in this kind of project is the best way to spend money to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. What do you think?

Cindy

UIC Geothermal Case Study

2011-03-02T13:59:00.003-06:00

National Wildlife Federation Campus

GOING UNDERGROUND ON CAMPUS:

Tapping the Earth for Clean, Efficient Heating and Cooling

A Guide to Geothermal Energy and Underground Buildings on Campus

As a founding organization of the climate action movement, the mission of NWF’s Campus Ecology is to foster climate leadership on campuses nationwide and to protect wildlife and our children’s future against the growing threat of global climate change. This report presents a scientific overview of global warming and a review of the business, educational and moral arguments for confronting this problem. Case studies from a diverse group of leading campuses illustrate energy-conserving and emissions-saving projects, effective financing strategies and creative ways to involve the campus community.

Article on UIC (p. 33)

University of Illinois at Chicago

System – A large vertical closed-loop field provides heating and cooling for two renovated buildings on campus, and a third structure will soon be added to the system. In total, the system is calculated to satisfy eighty percent of the maximum load of all three buildings. It started with Grant Hall, a 15,000 square-foot office and classroom building which was renovated in 2007. Its loop field required 14 boreholes drilled 500 feet deep. Based on Grant Hall’s success, a 50-borehole loop field drilled 500 feet deep was added in the same area and hooked up to the newly renovated 25,000 square-foot Lincoln Hall. This 1960s-era classroom building reopened in late 2009. The loop field also was designed to accommodate nearby Douglas Hall, the 25,000 square-foot home of the business school which is undergoing renovation in 2010.

Highlights – Grant Hall’s $190,000 geothermal system cost was primarily funded by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, with the remainder from UIC funds designated for renovations of classroom and laboratory space. (The subsequent 50 wells cost approximately $650,000 to install.) To date, the Grant Hall system is performing better than originally expected, achieving an estimated eighteen percent in energy savings over the former heating system and contributing to a fifty percent cut in overall energy use for the building since the renovation. As reported by Cynthia Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability, the

geothermal HVAC equipment provides more comfortable heating and cooling than was delivered previously by the central heating plant. With geothermal, it is easy to maintain a 72° temperature year-round. In the past, complaints about inconsistent temperatures were common, especially during the transition seasons of spring and fall.

Challenges –Proving that adding the geothermal systems provided an economic benefit was a challenge with each of the three buildings. Savings were calculated based on energy models for Lincoln Hall, but the data has been inconclusive, due in part to the fact that, in the past, the buildings were not metered individually for the steam or chilled water coming from the

central plant. Also, the combined square footage of the three buildings adds up to only about one percent of the total 7,000,000 square-feet on campus. While it is clear that overall energy consumption in the buildings is lower, electricity use has increased somewhat due to running the geothermal pumps and compressors.

Takeaway – Asked about the future of geothermal at UIC, Klein-Banai noted that “UIC has a mandate from campus administration and the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to reduce its energy consumption. Now that we have seen the success of geothermal, the board would like to see it used to the extent possible on all three University of Illinois campuses.” The success of geothermal systems is also helping propel the university’s sustainability dialog among students, faculty and staff. UIC currently is developing a formal policy on green building and energy through the Chancellor's Committee on Sustainability and Energy which will be an integral part of UIC’s climate action plan.

“The geothermal system is a good example of how the three interlocking circles of sustainability work together; environmental—by reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions, social— by making a better learning environment, and economic— by saving money.”

–Cynthia Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability

EDF: Climate Corps Fellowship

2011-01-12T12:13:00.001-06:00

The Environmental Defense Fund partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions. EDF strives to help companies bridge gap between the knowledge of energy costs and the resources to quantify and curtail the financial and environmental impacts.

EDF recruits forward thinking companies and selects qualified MBA students for a summer fellowship. Matching the companies with a student, they train the student to help the companies become more efficient.

Summer 2011 Fellowship:
EDF Climate Corps seeks top MBA students with analytical and project management backgrounds who are excited to make an impact through energy efficiency in corporate America.

Minimum qualifications:
Superior oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills
Self-starter with strong project management experience
Graduate-level background in financial analysis
Consulting, corporate advisory or large company experience
Eligibility to work in the United States during the summer 2011
Resourcefulness and ability to work both independently and on cross-functional teams

Preferred qualifications:
MBA candidate and/or graduate
Engineering background
Demonstrated experience working on energy efficiency, energy or sustainability projects or initiatives
Familiarity with climate change and energy issues
Environmental passion

The application for Summer 2011 is now available. Please sign up to receive updates on the application process.

CNT's Sustainability Agenda 2011

2011-01-07T10:36:00.000-06:00

The Center for Neighborhood Technology’s 2011 Mayoral & City Council Agenda for Sustainable Development was released on December 22, 2010. The 22 priority agenda was created as guide for Chicago's next mayor to use to create a stronger economy and ensure Chicago remains one of the top prosperous and sustainable cities in the US.

CNT noted that Chicago's unrealized potential when it comes to increasing productivity of its urban economy is present because the city is not investing enough in assets that make organizations run more cheaply and efficiently. CNT’s four overall strategies will bring help Chicago realize these potentials enabling us to further our sustainable development. They are:

Energy

Ramp up energy conservation with efficiency retrofits of the city's buildings and other cost- and energy-saving measures.
This can be reached by retrofitting more housing units each year, demanding energy usage disclosures in building leases, and using less energy during peak periods.

Transportation

Improve transportation alternatives, encourage development around transit, and champion Chicago's rail assets so people and products can travel affordabley.
This can be reached by finding new innovative ways to create funding for alternative transportation, secure a higher percentage of funds from the state, ensure higher costs for drivers, and create public transit incentives.

Stormwater Management

Strengthen benchmarks and incentives to encourage value-enhancing green infrastructure to manage stormwater and avoid costly flooding to private property.
This can be done by creating incentives for property owners to use green infrastructure, strengthen stormwater ordinances and policies, and devise a city retrofitting plan.

Climate Change

Reduce climate change emissions by pursuing the above strategies and implementing low-carbon, low-cost goals for municipal operations.
This can be done by implementing the Chicago Climate Action Plan, making energy efficiency Chicago's highest priority, adapt to climate change with stormwater management, set a zero waste emissions goal, and institute low-carbon municipal operations.

CNT's has created this agenda based on the belief that sustainable development is economical development. Putting their strategies into play will increase job creation, increase Chicago resident's income, protect the environment, give Chicago companies a competitive advantage, and save the city a lot of money.

View all 22 priorities here.

Chicago has the opportunity to become the most productive city to live and work in the United States. As we begin to champion these priorities, innovation and leadership will emerge from Chicago.

This reminds me of The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken; he speaks about how sustainable development is innovation. Creating products and jobs through sustainable guidelines will create jobs and modify those jobs that would be eliminated by more efficient operations. By the elimination of externalizing costs and the implementation of green fees or the like, companies will be enticed into looking at alternative, more cost effective ways to operate.

It will be interesting to see how the new mayor reacts to the agenda.
Will the notion of already having a set guide/agenda make the mayor more likely to embrace Climate Action in Chicago?

ACCC print labs eliminate cover pages

2011-01-06T14:23:00.003-06:00

ACCC labs have eliminated cover pages in most of their computing labs to conserve paper at UIC. Where they haven't, due to heavy printing traffic, recycling is available or students may grab the paper and use the other side for note-taking. For example, Lubia and Holly from the Office of Sustainability make notepads out of their cover pages.

In addition, all paper used in the UIC printers are not only set default to 2-sided printing but also use 100% recycled paper content.

We encourage UIC students and faculty to print at the no-cover print stations instead of the smaller proportion of UIC printers that still print the cover page. The no-cover printers are:
ACCC-Printer-BHB11
ACCC-Printer-SPHPIB34
ACCC-Printer-GRC105A & B
ACCC-Printer-SEL2058,2249F, 2263,2265A & B
ACCC-Printer-SSB2300A & B
ACCC-AA2306-HP130C, E, G & H, HPZ3100A
ACCC-AA3510-CopierA, B & C, HP5500A-J
ACCC-Printer-EPASWL270A & B
ACCC-Printer-GH105 & 306
ACCC-Printer-SEO1200 & 430
ACCC-Printer-SES201 & 205B
LIB-DALEYPRINT1, 2 & 3

The cover-printing stations are:
ACCC-Printer-BSBB001A, B, & C
ACCC-Printer-LIB1444, B
ACCC-Printer-SCE401A, B, C, D, E, & F
ACCC-Printer-SRC2027A & B

If you are in a situation where you are using from the cover-printing labs, remember to recycle or reuse them!

Would it become a problem eliminating covers in high-traffic the labs?

Do jobs pile up too often in the printers, etc?

Conservation Alert: Climate Legislation – Rest in Peace (and why)

2010-12-28T09:15:00.000-06:00

Posting for: Donnie R. Dann

Volume 15

Number 1

January 2011

In the current Congress, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), passed the House of Representatives but never even came up for a vote in the Senate. This inaction took place against a background of: the worst environmental disaster in American history; the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and resulting oil spill in the Gulf. Here are just a few other events from this past summer:

Arctic sea ice that fell more than 25% below the 1979-2009 31-year average, and its volume reached the lowest level ever recorded
Hundreds of walruses on Alaska's North Slope were stampeded to death when they beached themselves because there were no sea ice floes available
10 U.S. states had their hottest summer on record and all but 7 states were above normal. Summer nighttime heat records were set in 37 states and the June-August global land surface temperature was the warmest on record
A record Russian heat wave caused massive wildfires, brought drought that may have killed up to 15,000, cost the Russian economy $15 billion, destroyed 1/3 of their grain crop and skyrocketed Moscow's carbon monoxide levels.
Devastating floods inundated 1/5 of Pakistan, made millions homeless, and resulted in 1,600 deaths
In the waters off the Philippines, 95% of the coral has died

Notwithstanding these tragedies and more, climate legislation appears to be dead for the foreseeable future. Why? 98% of all professional climate scientists recognize global warming is happening and is caused by human activities. Pew Research Center tells us that 4 years ago close to 50% of Americans believed global warming is real and caused by human activity. In October 2010 it is down to 34 %. What accounts for this drop in the face of these world-wide events? Could the following partially explain it?

The Center for Responsive Politics reports that during the first six months of 2010 the fossil fuel industry spent $75 million lobbying Congress and outspent environmental organizations by 7 to 1
Koch Industries, a giant oil company and the second largest privately-held company in America, contributed $50 million to groups that work to oppose policies and regulations intended to fight global warming, and promote doubt. See Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine
Overplaying the East Anglia computer hacking fiasco, where stolen emails from a single research center and concerning only a fraction of available data (hardly enough to overturn the entire body of climate science), portray this as “evidence” that the science of climate change is wrong
Alleging ‘Climategate’ to sow further doubt and suggest that the evidence demonstrating global warming is all part of some great hoax
Ironically, as a recent study from University of California, Berkeley suggests, the more severe the prediction, the greater the likelihood of disbelief!

This Newsletter may be excerpted, reproduced or circulated without limitations.

What is UIC's Ecological Footprint?

2010-12-21T08:48:00.000-06:00

Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA) is used as a measure of land and water ecosystems needed to provide the resources for a given population and process the waste that it produces in a globalized metric (global hectares), generally on an annual basis.You may have tried to calculate your own personal "footprint" (if you haven't check out our links). But have you ever wondered what UIC's footprint is? Click here and you'll find out what contributes to our 97,601 global hectares (2.66 global hectares per total faculty, staff and students) of footprint and some ideas for making it smaller.

LED: Lecture Hall E1

2010-12-20T11:44:00.001-06:00

Before the 2010-2011 Academic School Year, LED lighting was incorporated into Lecture Hall E1. An LED lighting system implementation helps gain energy efficiency because the lights burn very cool instead of producing 98% of their energy as heat like regular bulbs. The lights last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 hours compared to incandescent and fluorescent bulbs lasting merely 1,000 to 10,000 hours. These bulbs are not only without the fragile filaments allowing them to withstand heat, cold, and shock, but they also give off more lumens (light power) per watt.

Keyser Visual provided the installation of four types
of LED lighting into the Lecture Hall.

Par 38 lights replaced 90w track lights

Saving 76 Watts per Product

8in can conversion kits were used to replace the old 26w 8 in cans

Saving 45.6 Watts per Product

1x4 Troffers replaced T12 Liner-Chaulkboard

Saving 18.8 Watts per Product

Cove lighting replaced Fluorescent Blubs

Saving 63.6 Watts per Product

Assuming an investment cost of around $19,600.00 the payback period of the lighting including installation is going to be approximately 28months. The estimated energy savings of 42,863kwh reduces costs by $3,000.43 and maintenance & disposal costs are reduced by $12,219.81 giving Lecture Hall E1 a total savings of over $15,000!

Over the lightings useful life, 325,761 kWh of savings will reduce Carbon Dioxide damage by 229.7g, Sulfur Dioxide by 115.4g, Nitrogen Oxides by 267.6g, and Mercury by 32.0g, all totaling $133,903!

Analyzing the total savings further, maintenance savings take 52%, products savings hold 26%, light energy savings hold 19%, and HVAC energy savings hold 3%.

As an initial testing for further lighting implementations throughout UIC, Lecture Center E1's LED feature will provide a healthier environment for students and faculty. The absence of flicker caused by conventional lighting will help to reduce headaches and eye strain when students are in lecture and the absence of hum will reduce irritability, hyperactivity, fatigue and attention deficits. In addition, LED lights will not cause burns due to temperature and do not contain mercury or emit UV rays.