Sustainability@UIC

Green Fee funding for student projects!

2014-02-12T09:06:00.002-06:00

Request for Proposals for Funding by the UIC Green Fee

Letter of Inquiry Deadline: February 21, 2014

Final Proposal Deadline: April 18, 2014

The Green Fee Advisory Board (GFAB) is currently accepting student proposals for Spring 2014. Approximately $30,000 is available to support proposals that help to establish a sustainable campus environment by expanding such areas as composting, landscaping, and transportation initiatives while also reducing waste and conserving resources. Funding proposals must address the three pillars of sustainability - environmental protection, social equity, and economic benefit - and align with the goals of the UIC Climate Action Plan.

Who can apply: All UIC students and student organizations are eligible to apply. If needed, the GFAB will help provide access to campus resources and personnel to approve projects. GFAB can also suggest other entities that may provide funding or other assistance.

Application process: Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by February 21, 2014. Following the review of LOIs, the board will notify all applicants via email by the end of February if they have been selected to submit a full proposal. Full proposals must be submitted by Friday, April 18, 2014. Grantees will be notified by the end of the spring semester. The board reserves the right to issue a second call or directly invite one or more proposals of interest. For questions regarding the guidelines and the application, please contact UICGFAB@uic.edu or visit the website here: http://www.uic.edu/sustainability/greenfee/index.html

LETTER OF INQUIRY

The Letter of Inquiry allows the GFAB to pre-screen proposals for appropriateness and feasibility. LOIs should be a maximum of two, single-spaced pages and should describe the project, its appropriateness and campus impact. Furthermore, it should provide a rough estimate of the breakdown and total cost of the project, including expected completion and cost savings, if any. Projects that pass this stage will be invited to prepare a complete proposal for consideration by the board. The Letter of Inquiry form can be found here: https://uofi.uic.edu/fb/sec/3851863

Funding Criteria

In addition to the quality and completeness of the proposal, the board will evaluate projects based on the following criteria:

● High visibility and educational exposure on campus

● High level of student involvement or employment

● Long-term cost benefits

● Interdisciplinary collaboration and research

● Incorporation of the three pillars of sustainability - environmental protection, social equality, and economic benefit

Additional aspects of project that can add value:

● Indirect energy impact

● Budget effectiveness, cost sharing, and leverage of external funds

● Likelihood for success

● Creativity

● Education and outreach

Project Rules & Restrictions

Funding will not be given to projects that are fundamentally for research purposes only. Projects with a research component, however, will be fully considered.
Funding is subject to any University restrictions including bidding process and site approval.
All funding recommendations made by GFAB must be approved by the Office of Student Affairs and Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Administrative Services.
If the proposal is approved for funding, the board is permitted to post the entire proposal on its website, and/or publicly disseminate any and all information pertaining to the proposal.
Quarterly status reports and account statements detailing spending of awarded funds will be required until the completion of the project. Additionally, a comprehensive final report is required on project completion, a case study prepared for the NWF Campus Ecology Program (if appropriate), and a project presentation carried out (if appropriate).
The entity carrying out the project is expected to acknowledge the board’s support in any public communications, and carry out activities, as appropriate, to publicize the project and the board’s support.
All projects are required to be completed by December 2015. Exceptions are possible at the board’s discretion.
A member of the board will be assigned to track the project until completion.
Any changes in scope, timeline, or budget must be approved by GFAB.
GFAB funding can be withdrawn in cases of change of scope, inadequate progress, or lack of communication.

UIC Kicks Off its 2014 RecycleMania Collegiate Recycling Competition

2014-02-10T12:45:00.001-06:00

UIC Kicks Off its 2014 RecycleMania Collegiate Recycling Competition

14^thAnnual Competition Focuses on Student Engagement

Chicago, IL (Feb. 10, 2014) – The University of Illinois at Chicago has successfully kicked off its participation in the 2014 RecycleMania tournament, the national competition in which college campuses compete over eight weeks to see which can reduce, reuse and recycle the most on-campus waste.

In addition to UIC, 461 schools, with more than 5.3 million students and 1.2 million faculty and staff are participating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Schools compete in 11 categories to see which recycles the most on a per capita basis; which produces the least amount of waste; and which recycles the largest percentage of their overall waste stream. The competition runs through March 30.

UIC will compete in the formal competition, which ranks schools based on standardized weight measurements. Schools compete in 11 categories to see which can recycle the most paper, cardboard, cans and bottles, and food waste on a per capita basis; which can produce the least amount of waste; and which recycles the largest percentage of their overall waste stream. Additional categories recognize successful recycling at home basketball games and call attention to the recyclability of film plastic and scrap electronics.

Updated rankings published online each Friday allow schools to track their progress and rally to improve their standings against rival colleges.

UIC recycles many materials- from paper to plastic to electronics to laboratory materials and almost everything in between! You can participate in many ways. 1) Take the recycling pledge at http://americarecyclesday.org/pledge2) place all paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic in to the proper recycle bins. 3) Clean out your office by recycling all your old paper files. Request a “green tote” to be delivered to your door. 4) Send old electronics, batteries and computers to electronics recycling. 5) Recognize people around you that are going above and beyond to recycle! Got a co-worker or classmate that makes everyone recycle properly or know a UIC Building Service Worker busting their tail to get recycling done in your building? Let us know at recycling@uic.edu.

UIC will post updates about the Recyclemania competition to http://sustainability.uic.edu/recyclemania. You can also check to see how your specific building is doing!

“Every year UIC participates and we are among the best! In the category for total weight of recyclables, UIC placed sixth in 2013.” said Joe Iosbaker, UIC Recycling Coordinator. “This year, we hope to break into the top 5”.

“RecycleMania is exciting because it builds on traditional college rivalries by adding recycling to the list of things that schools can brag about when it comes to their archrivals," said Stacy Wheeler, president of RecycleMania, Inc. "The competition aspect of the event makes it fun and helps to encourage everyone on the entire campus to make recycling a part of their daily routines."

In 2013, 91 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials were recovered, which prevented the release of greenhouse gases comparable to the carbon sequestered by 99,535 acres of U.S. forests in one year.

Top schools in the 2013 competition included University of Missouri Kansas City in the Grand Champion category; California State University San Marcos, in the Per Capita Classic; and Valencia College, which won the Waste Minimization category for the second straight year.

“Encouraging waste reduction and recycling among college students is crucial to building and sustaining vibrant communities, both on campuses and beyond,” said Keep America Beautiful’s Brenda Pulley, senior vice president, recycling. “Supporting Recyclemania is a key component of KAB’s efforts to improve recycling on college campuses.”

The competition is made possible with the continued sponsorship support of the Alcoa Foundation, the American Forest & Paper Association, The Coca-Cola Company and SCA Tissue.

A complete list of participants can be found at RecycleManiacs.org. For more information about UIC’s RecycleMania program, contact recycling@uic.edu

About RecycleMania
RecycleMania was launched in 2001 as a friendly challenge between Ohio University and Miami University to increase recycling on their campuses. Today, RecycleMania is an independent program of RecycleMania, Inc. The program is made possible with sponsorship support from the Alcoa Foundation, American Forest & Paper Association, The Coca-Cola Company and SCA. Program management is provided by Keep America Beautiful with additional program support from the U.S. EPA’s WasteWise program and the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC). RecycleMania is proud to partner with UNCF Special Programs, the Campus Conservation Nationals, National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). To learn more about RecycleMania, visit www.recyclemania.org.

About UIC
UIC ranks among the nation’s top 50 universities in federal research funding and is Chicago’s largest university with 25,000 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 in hundreds of programs to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world.

One Earth Film Festival to Host 2 Free Pre-Fest Screenings at UIC

2014-02-07T11:19:00.002-06:00

One Earth Film Festival to Host 7 Free Pre-Fest Screenings

Documentary films aim to engage and educate viewers

about climate change and sustainability

OAK PARK, IL – In advance of its March 7-9 event weekend, One Earth Film Festival will host seven free pre-Fest screenings. These showings will give people a taste of the festival, which celebrates and shares the transforming power of documentary films with focus on environmental issues.

“These seven events offer entertaining and practical ways to explore ideas for sustainable living,”

says Ana Garcia Doyle, film selection committee chair for the One Earth Film Festival. “While the Festival strives to show compelling views of tough issues, we also want to emphasize that solutions are within reach. The films we have chosen, as well as the accompanying activities and discussions are geared to that idea.”

● In partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago, “The New Environmentalists” will be shown at 3:30 p.m. Wed., March 5 at the UIC’s Latino Cultural Center, 803 S. Morgan St., Chicago. Robert Redford narrates this multiple Emmy Award-winning series featuring inspiring portraits of passionate and dedicated activists. These are true environmental heroes who have placed themselves squarely in harm’s way to battle intimidating adversaries while building strong grassroots support.

● Also sponsored by UIC will be a showing of “Trashed” at 5:45 p.m. on Wed., March 5 at their Gallery 400,400 S. Peoria St., Chicago. The multi-award winning documentary starring Jeremy Irons looks at the risks to the food chain and the environment through pollution of our air, land and sea by waste. Prior to the film screening and discussion, the UIC gallery will host a reception beginning at 5:00 p.m.

The third annual One Earth Film Festival weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. Fri., March 7 with a Green Carpet Gala at the 19th Century Club in Oak Park. Billed as the Midwest's premier environmental film festival and produced by local volunteer organization, Green Community Connections, the Festival will feature 30 sustainability-themed films and facilitated discussions at about two dozen sites throughout Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, and River Grove on Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9. A Google Map of all venues is here: http://goo.gl/maps/emOhu. Most films are free, but donations are invited. The suggested donation is $5 per film or $15 for the entire weekend. Reservations are strongly advised since some screenings may “sell out.” Reservations and donations can be made at https://oneearthfilmfest2014.eventbrite.com.

For more information about the pre-Fest screenings, as well as the full One Earth Film Festival 2014 schedule, visit www.oneearthfilmfest.org. Find us on Facebook and Twitter (@OneEarthFF).

Green Community Connections is a deep-roots organization devoted to creating a sustainable future in the Oak Park/River Forest, IL area. We’re working to build a resilient, environmentally sustainable community locally, and we strive to be an environmental leader in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Visioning a Better UIC Transit Workshop

2014-02-04T11:50:00.002-06:00

Fellowship in Urban Forestry

2014-01-29T10:10:00.005-06:00

Application Deadline: January 31, 2014

The Garden Club of America (GCA) with the support of Casey Trees in Washington, DC, is soliciting applications for its national urban forestry fellowship. GCA has a history of interest in the health of the urban forest and would like to support young scientists in their undergraduate and graduate studies in this field. The study areas of interest are far reaching, including urban forest management and planning as well as topics in biology, ecology, or human health that will specifically move urban forest science forward. The GCA Fellowship in Urban Forestry will be awarded in early 2014. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee at Virginia Tech composed of practicing urban forestry scientists and professionals in related fields. Final selection is made by The Garden Club of America.

The fellowship is highly competitive and applicants must present clearly in their applications how they will advance the GCA’s goal of increasing future capacity in urban forestry research.

Eligibility:The fellowship is open to both graduate students and advanced undergraduates pursuing degrees in urban forestry, forestry, horticulture, environmental studies or a closely related field at any 4-year college or university degree program in the United States. Recipients must be students in the U.S. who will be enrolled as juniors or seniors or graduate students during the fellowship period (2014-15). The award is for $4,000 and recipients may apply for one additional year of funding. In 2013, four fellowships were awarded.

Application Process: For more information, online application forms, and past recipients, visit urbanforestry.frec.vt.edu/scholarship or contact Dr. Susan Dayat gcaurbanforestry@vt.edu or 540-231-7264.

UIC Green Labs Meeting

2014-01-14T12:05:00.001-06:00

Office of Sustainability's 2013 Accomplishments!

2014-01-13T11:52:00.001-06:00

As UIC’s Office of Sustainability enters its seventh year of operation, we would like to update you on our recent successes. Every one of these accomplishments are due to collaborations with our campus partners and brought forth by the dedication of the campus community to advancing our environmental sustainability, while providing social and economic benefit to UIC. Interested in learning more about the Office of Sustainability throughout the year? Visit our website or sign up for our biweekly newsletter.

Our campus wide, Sustainability Strategic Thinking process, Going beyond Green: Excellence through Sustainability at UIC, now in its second year, has engaged the UIC community in a campus level charge to "make sustainability the lens through which we begin to view, assess and imagine our work in many areas, from our diversity initiative to curriculum innovations." This includes not only familiar "green" activities like recycling and increasing energy efficiency, but examining what sustainability means for how we operate at all levels, including teaching, research, processes, operations, and our impact on future communities. The most recent step in this process involved three interactive, townhall meetings that brought together a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff to further identify and explore strategies for sustaining all that we value as a campus. Phase 1 of this project is complete and the report is available here.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program and the Active Transportation Allianceare working with UIC to embark on an interactive, community-based process to create a Multi-modal Transportation Plan. The transportation recommendations of UIC's 2010 Campus Master Planwill serve as the framework to examine current conditions and plan future improvements. The intent of the multimodal transportation plan is to improve the flow of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles in and around campus to better serve the needs of all travelers, including persons with disabilities. During the planning process, there will be opportunities for UIC students, faculty, and staff, as well as local residents and stakeholders, to provide input. The first step in this process is to take this interactive survey.

The City of Chicago’s bike sharing program continued to grow with the installation of three more DIVVY Bike Sharestations on the east side. This supplements the stations on the south campus and west side, creating a network of 11 stations on campus. To locate stations, visit the website. Watch for notice on how to get your UIC member rate ($55 for students; $65 for faculty/staff).

The Energy Retrofit Project in the Science and Engineering complex started September; this retrofit will reduce energy consumption by at least 30% and save the university $1.8 million per year. More information about the specifics of the project can be found here. Many other small energy savings projects are happening as well. Sign up for our Greenlights newsletter to get this news.

The Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energymet in October 22^nd to discuss the CCSE 2013 report update. The CCSEis tasked with reporting to the Chancellor on sustainability progress around campus, how to improve and maintain sustainability programs, and setting goals for the committee and other entities on campus to further and improve sustainability on campus. In this report, the CCSE outlined specific recommendations for next steps in advancing operational sustainability initiatives. One overall item proposes using student projects to study the feasibility of proposed sustainability projects. To get involved or find out more information about the CCSE, please visit the website.

This year, the Governor’s Sustainability Awardrecognized the continued achievements of UIC, including: 40% of fleet uses alternative fuels, onsite renewable energy, lighting retrofits, electronics recycling, and 10% of staff participate in the transit benefit program. This award acknowledges organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices. See the entire list of winners here.

UIC received bronze-level recognition as a Bike Friendly University this past fall. The BFU program recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff, and visitors. The Bicycle Friendly University program evaluates applicants’ efforts to promote bicycling in five primary areas: engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement, and evaluation/planning, known as the Five E's. The requirements for this award, as well as a list of all bike friendly universities, can be found here.

The Student Green Fee, now in its second-year, is a $4 semester based fee charged to all students that serves to improve the quality of campus operations, reduce UIC’s environmental impact, and most importantly generate awareness about environmental issues by creating opportunities for students’ involvement. This fee has allowed the completion of various sustainability projects on campus including the Heritage Garden and Bicycle-Tool Kits stations which can be checked out for free by students at the Student Centers. To apply for funding and to read about other approved projects, visit the Green Fee website.

Other sustainability related accomplishments on campus include:

· UIC has once again received recognitionfrom the Tree Campus USA Program. The most recent addition to this recognition was a tree planting event in November next to the Daley Library, where student organizations, volunteers, and staff members planted seven new trees.

· Ride-Sharing via iCarpool, a social media website to find carpool matches for students, staff, and faculty.

· Collection of Food Scraps for composting from the Student Centers. This project started on January 15, 2013 and to date has collected over 216,900 pounds of food scraps from two dining halls.

· The Great Stuff Exchange (GSX), now it the fifth year, is an annual campus-wide event where units on campus donate and exchange unwanted office and school supplies. In 2013, the GSX collected 110 boxes of office supplies and only eight boxes remained at the end of the day. In addition, the Office of Sustainability operates a year round “free store” with office and laboratory supplies – contact Joe Iosbaker for more information or to come shop!

· Building Energy Metering Initiative: the university will continue to install electronically-monitored meters throughout campus. Currently, 16 buildings on campus are fully electronically metered, 11 on east campus and five on west campus.

· Full implementation of recycling in all buildings on campus is completed and the recycling numbers continue to rise. Between 2011-2013, Bottles & Cans increased by 101%, while Paper & Cardboard increased by 106%. More information about recycling on campus can be found here.

· The number of sustainability-related events on campus continues to grow to over 90, up from 57 in 2012. All upcoming sustainability events can be found on our calendar.

· Campus Electronic Recycling Program: this yearly event now includes university property and personal electronics. The next recycling event will be held later in the Spring 2014 semester; be on the lookout for details.

· The addition of commuting information and options to all employee orientations

Position Available: Graduate Assistant Sustainability Internship Program

2014-01-10T15:48:00.000-06:00

The Office of Sustainability is piloting a structured internship that will place students in various campus units to assist in advancing the campus’ sustainability goals. We are seeking a Graduate Assistant to:

· Provide organizational support for the internship program;

· Create website content for the program;

· Develop campus partnerships for internship placement;

· Assist in curriculum development for the interns;

· Assist in recruitment of interns.

The preferred candidate will:

· Have an undergraduate degree in sustainability, an environmental field, or cultural anthropology;

· Be proficient in computer applications (Word, Excel, etc);

· Have excellent organizational and communication skills, both written and verbal;

· Be available to work during Spring 2014.

Additional experience as an instructor or teaching assistant, preferably in the area of sustainability studies, public health, or environmental studies is desirable. This position is a 25% graduate assistantship (10 hrs/week).

For full consideration, please submit a letter of interest and resume to Joe Iosbaker at iosbaker@uic.eduwith subject line “Graduate Assistant” by January 28, 2014. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

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.

UIC Multimodal Transportation Plan

2013-11-18T10:12:00.003-06:00

CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program and the Active Transportation Alliance are helping UIC embark on an interactive, community-based process to create a multimodal transportation plan. The transportation recommendations of UIC's 2010 Campus Master Plan will serve as the framework to examine current conditions and plan future improvements. The intent of the multimodal transportation plan is to improve the flow of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles in and around campus to better serve the needs of all travelers, including persons with disabilities.

To meet our vision for the future of UIC's campus, we need to understand what our priorities are. Please participate in this interactive survey to help us determine your travel priorities, how you get around campus, and comment on how to improve amenities and opportunities on campus.

This planning process has been developed in collaboration with the UIC Office of Sustainability and the Campus Master Plan Implementation Committee and will take place over the next 12 months. More information about the project can be found at the CMAP website.

Taking the Initiative at the UIC School of Architecture

2013-10-27T10:17:00.000-05:00

At the end of Spring 2013 Semester, the UIC School of Architecture studios were battle scenes of art supplies and takeout containers. With only a few bins for trash and recycling, the recycling bins were being ignored and used for anything and everything. Trash was piled high, and unused, while destroyed materials covered the floor. Cardboard models were left to fall apart, and bottles or cans were left empty on tables. Almost everything had to be tossed.

Considering the amount of specific material needed within the Architecture studios, it was no surprise that the standard bins and guidelines were no match for the chaos of finals week.

Seeing the issue at hand, the UIC Office of Sustainability and the UIC School of Architecture decided to take the initiative towards recycling and preserving materials used within the Architecture studios. This happened through a series of minor, easily-executed actions.

Organization of Work Space and Storage Space
Additional Larger Recycling Bins and Separate Trash Bins
Detailed Recycling Guidelines and Posters

This is the first semester with these recycling changes and additions, and it is great to see the students beginning to make the effort. Considering midterms just finished, the studios are still in good condition! The bins are being used properly, the studio environment is cleaner and more organized, and the informative posters remain in securely in place. Now you actually see students referring to the poster before disposing of an item, and talking to each other about what to throw away and what to recycle. Staff encourage students to recycle, and students also encourage one another.

There is a lot of progress that still needs to be made, but we are off to a good start with UIC School of Architecture! This is a proven example that if behavior is questionable, change can stem from even the smallest actions or a comment from a peer.

Are you involved in a college or department that is burdened by specific recycling needs or requirements? If so, contact Joe Iosbaker, Recycling Coordinator with the UIC Office of Sustainability, to start taking action!

Share your ideas! Going Beyond Green: Excellence through Sustainability at UIC

2013-10-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to invite you to attend a Townhall and provide your input to the Sustainability Strategic Thinking (SST) document and process “Going Beyond Green: Excellence through Sustainability at UIC.” We invite you to read it online at http://sustainability.uic.edu/thinking/resources.htmland to attend one of three town halls to learn about the exciting things UIC is already doing, beyond green, to think about how your work on campus is part of that, and to help us define where we go next. This includes not only familiar “green” activities like recycling and increasing energy efficiency but examining what sustainability means for how we operate at all levels including teaching, research, processes, operations, and our impact on future communities.

Tuesday, November 5th, 3:00 - 4:30p @ College of Medicine West, 1853 West Polk Street Conference Room 119A

Thursday, November 14th, 3:00 - 4:30p @ Stukel Towers Training Room [room does not have a number and may require temporary signs to direct people to it from the front desk] 718 West Rochford Street

Monday, November 18th, 12:00 - 1:30p @ Student Center East. 750 S. Halsted Street, Room 713 – light refreshments provided.

The SST Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Cynthia Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability, and Saul J. Weiner, Vice Provost for Planning and Programs, was charged to “make sustainability the lens through which we begin to view, assess and imagine our work in many areas, from our diversity initiative to curriculum innovations.”

Please also take the time to submit your detailed comments online at https://uic.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8GroS0FuRENHSm1.

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)

Green Fee Request for Proposals

2013-09-12T09:05:00.001-05:00

Currently, the Green Fee Advisory Board (GFAB) is requesting proposals to fund sustainability, energy efficiency and conservation, and/or renewable energy projects on campus. All UIC students and student organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) by September 20, 2013. Following the review of LOIs, the board will notify all applicants via email by October if they have been selected to submit a full proposal. Full proposals must be submitted by Friday, November 15, 2013. The Letter of Inquiry can be found here and further information about the Green Fee here.

UIC Sustainability Days!

2013-09-03T15:46:00.002-05:00

Transportation Fair & Cycling Extravaganza!

2013-09-03T14:36:00.004-05:00

to print as a flyer, right-click and "save image as"

GREAT LAB EXCHANGE

2013-08-30T11:12:00.000-05:00

Do you have items in your lab you would like to get rid of? Or, do you need items for your new lab? Well, come to the first annual

GREAT LAB EXCHANGE!

The Office of Sustainability and the Research Resource Center will be on hand to collect donations of usable lab items as well as pass out free items to take away.

Date: Friday, September 13, 2013
Time: 11AM - 2PM
Location: Moss Auditorium lobby
College of Medicine Research Building (COMRB)
909 S. Wolcott Ave., Chicago, IL

If you are taking items away

Please make sure to make accommodations to haul your items away such as bringing boxes, bags, etc. Make sure to wash all items such as glassware thoroughly before use. We do our best to only accept items in good condition, but using these items is ultimately up to your discretion.

If you are donating items

Please only drop off useful items. For glassware and other labware, this includes non-broken items. For chemicals, this includes unopened/ unused. For equipment, this includes non P-tag items or functional equipment with a red or white "State of Illinois" label (which can be cleared from your inventory). Please only bring items you think would be useful to your research colleagues.

If you wish to dispose broken/ non-functional equipment, please follow the steps to "process scrap/ surplus" on OBFS' FABWeb. Please note that The Office of Sustainability will hold a Campus Electronic Recycling Collection to receive all broken electronic equipment! However, the FABWeb paper work should be completed before dropping off broken items.

If you wish to dispose chemicals, please submit a request to the Environmental Health and Safety Office. If you wish to dispose broken lab glassware, please contact the UIC Chemistry Glass Shop to see if they can use it.

What if I can't make it on the 13th?

The Office of Sustainability has a free store that is open during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. You may drop off donations, as well as pick up items at the Office of Sustainability to 1140 S Paulina St., Suite 150. Please call 312-413-9816 before you come, as the store is typically locked.

DIVVY: Chicago's New Bike Share System - Discounted Annual Membership for State of Illinois Employees before August 31!

2013-08-16T13:39:00.001-05:00

Have you seen those new blue bikes parked at Harrison & Morgan and Halsted & Polk? They are part of the new Divvy transit system that offers Chicagoans and visitors more options for getting around the city. Here's how you can get $20 OFF an Annual Membership that gives you access to 1000s of bikes at 100s of stations across the city.

JOIN

To receive your $55 discounted Annual Membership (regularly $75), please email govtdiscount@divvybikes.com with "Divvy IL Discount" in the subject line and we will email you a gift certificate code to use at DivvyBikes.com/signup at checkout. Offer ends August 31, 2013, so get your Membership today!

You'll enter your information and pay $55 with your credit card at checkout. Divvy will then send you a key in the mail that can be used at any Divvy station across the city.

TAKE

To use a Divvy bike, simply dip your key into a dock with an available bike at any station. Locations can be seen at DivvyBikes.com/stations.

RIDE

Communute to work. Run errands. Take out a bike as many times as you'd like - the first 30 min of every ride are included in the Annual Membership. Incremental fees are incurred for trips longer than 30 min. More at DivvyBikes.com/pricing.

RETURN

At the end of your trip, return your bike to any Divvy station. The light will blink green when your bike is securely docked.

Great Stuff Exchange and Campus Electronic Recycling Collection

2013-08-14T10:33:00.005-05:00

Save the date for upcoming Sustainability Days events that focus on the issues of recycling and reuse on campus:

Great Stuff Exchange
Tuesday, September 24
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
SCE West Concourse

Campus Electronic Recycling Collection
Thursday, September 26th (UIC East Side)
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lawn South of Hull House

Campus Electronic Recycling Collection
Thursday, October 3rd (UIC West Side)
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lawn South of SCW

More information can be found at Sustainability Days Calendar or our website.

The Four Star Bike & Chow 2013

2013-07-30T10:58:00.000-05:00

Bike, Snack, Repeat!

Whether you have just moved to Chicago, or you have lived here all your life, the Active Transportation Alliance's Four Star Bike & Chow event is a great way to explore the culture and streets of the city!

There are various routes available for riders of all experience levels - 12-mile, 22-mile, 35-mile, and 62-mile routes. Once on the route, there will be volunteers helping guide you in the right direction, and various historical landmarks, museums, parks, restaurants and other unique Chicago locations you are free to stop and explore on the way. Sites such as Oz Park, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and the Green Mill Jazz Club are all places you could stop at! All potential stops could be marked on your complementary route map.

Each route is carefully chosen for experience levels of all types. Even if you have limited experience riding a bike, you are invited to participate in the Four Star Bike & Chow. You can even sign up for Safe City Cycling Instruction, and learn from experts how to ride in the city safely before you go!

The routes begin and end at UIC Campus, and after finishing, you are invited to enjoy Goose Island Brew Pub Beer, have a Caribou Coffee, and talk to Active Transportation Alliance about other events!

If you are not biking yourself, you are free to volunteer to support and help out other bikers. If you belong to a large group or organization and a large number of you volunteer, you could receive a donation to your organization!

Pace, The Chicago Cycling Club, UIC Office of Sustainability, and the City of Chicago are all partners helping make this event happen. Sponsors include SRAM, 93XRT, and Chicago Athlete Magazine. Food Sponsors are Arya Bhavan Indian Cuisine, The Red Apple Buffet, and Star of Siam.

We hope to see you there!

Sign-up here and view route details here.

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.

Divvy Bike Sharing at UIC!

2013-06-24T12:04:00.000-05:00

Divvy, the new bike-sharing program in Chicago, will be opening up bike stations throughout Chicago neighborhoods this summer. UIC is fortunate to have several docking stations in close proximity to campus, including the Polk Pink line station, the Racine Blue line station, and the corner of Halsted & Polk. For Metra commuters, there are also stations near Ogilvie, Union, and LaSalle stations; an interactive station map can be found here. For commuters, this could be the last step for a wait-free, eco-friendly travel to school or work. For more information on Divvy, or to become a founding member, visit the website.

Find a station close to you! Pictured here is a Divvy bike station located on the corner of Loomis and Taylor

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.