Results are still coming in from the Office of Sustainability's involvement in RecycleMania, but preliminary data looks positive, according Graduate Recycling Coordinator Anders Abelman. The UIC Office of Sustainability entered the competition in the benchmark division hoping to gauge the effectiveness of their communication and data collection.
The fact that numbers are still coming in, said Abelman, indicates one of the things that the office hopes to improve. "Most of the units have the numbers, but we need to get them to get the data to us faster."
Once all of the data is collected, the Office of Sustainability is going to compare their results to other urban, research colleges with medical schools to determine areas for improvement.
The UIC Office of Sustainability has a lot on its plate. One of the biggest things they're working on is finishing the UIC Climate Action Plan, which will address greenhouse gas emissions at the university, and is slated to be finished by September.
In the meantime, there have been significant efforts to stave off energy use and cost. Earlier this year, The Office of Sustainability oversaw the change-out of 8,286 light fluorescent fixtures in University Hall. The new fixtures save enough energy every year to power 159 houses, saving UIC over $172,000 per year.
That change-out underscores one of the most important aspects of sustainability at UIC. With recent budget cuts and a rescission coming down the line from the Illinois State Congress, every penny that can be pinched makes a significant difference.
"People are looking for ways to save money," says Monique M. Rausa Williams, director of Outreach Programs for the Office of Sustainability. Even in departments that can't afford costly renovation, people are greening their office place with the way they work.
"Infrastructure costs money, but actions are free," said Williams.
Cynthia Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor of Sustainability sits on the board for the Master Planning Committee. She is consulting with engineers, architects and urban planners to green the campus during the University's large-scale makeover process.
Possibilities for this redesign include planting native grasses in existing green areas, building a "green roof" on the second floor patio of the Behavioral Sciences Building, and making the campus "more walkable, more bikable and better connected" to ease fossil fuel consumption, according to Klein-Banai.
Other initiatives include working with cafeteria food service provider Sodexo to utilize more environmentally-friendly take-out materials, integrate more recycling and composting, and to curb tray use, due to high energy and water consumption required for cleaning.
The Office of Sustainability isn't alone in promoting a greener future for UIC. Student organizations and research projects alike have rallied together from a broad spectrum of interests on the common goals of sustainability, often collaborating with the office itself.
One group, EcoCampus, will be holding an entire weeks worth of events for Earth Week, April 20-24 to promote green living awareness in the student body. The week will culminate in on Friday with Ecojamapolooza, a festival of music, games, crafts and presentations on sustainability.
On Earth Day itself, Apr. 22, the Chancellor's Committee on Sustainability and Energy is scheduled to meet to discuss current initiatives and create new priorities. Students are encouraged to attend, as Chancellor Allen-Mears is expected to sign the Talloires Declaration, an international action plan to incorporate sustainability in higher education.
Former Chancellor Sylvia Manning made UIC a signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Committee in September 2007, and Interim Chancellor Gislason continued UIC's Commitment to sustainability by signing the Sustainable Universities Compact in February 2008.
To learn more about UIC's Office of Sustainability, or to become involved in promoting sustainability on campus, visit www.uic.edu/sustainability.
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