Editor's Note: This article was published in the Spring 2010 Year in Review issue.

The University increased its environmental initiatives this year as the student sustainability fee was raised, the Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research, or CABER, hosted a seminar series on alternative energy sources, and the Illinois Sustainability Technology Center, or ITSC, named a new director.

In March, students voted to pass a referendum supported by the Student Sustainability Committee that increased the Sustainable Campus Environment Fee from $5 to $14.

The fee funds a number of “green” projects on campus.

“The increase in the fee is going to allow a lot of great projects to be implemented,” said Tom Abram, sustainability coordinator for Facilities and Services.

He said that in the past year, the Student Sustainability Committee had seven times more projects submitted to it than it could take on due to funding issues.

“Sustainability is an incredibly important issue, especially on campus, where we can be leaders, and we can educate students,” Abram said.

He said students who work on the projects gain experience and first-hand knowledge about sustainability.

The project to build a wind turbine on campus is currently stalled and the $2 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation will expire on June 30. There is still no decision yet from the chancellor as to whether the University will go through with the project.

Abram said the project has not been canceled and that it should become a reality, as the University has expressed renewed interest in contributing to the funds.

“We’re talking about getting the grant extended. It’s in a good place right now,” Abram said.

This semester, the Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research, CABER sponsored a seminar series that dealt with the future implementation of alternative energy sources, such as bio-fuels and solar cells.

The series was part of the course ACES 501, but the seminars were also open to the public.

“We really meant to bring in nationally and internationally recognized experts that could provide particular details about the area they are involved in,” said Hans Blaschek, director of CABER.

He said the turnout was good and on average about 50 people showed up.

“In some cases, we filled up the Monsanto Room, which holds about 80 people,” he said.

On May 1, Manohar Kulkarni became the new director of ITSC.

“He has a good background, especially in energy and energy conservation,” said Gary Miller, associate executive director at the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability.

He said ITSC has a strong future with Kukarni. One on-going project of the center is the Sustainable Electronic Initiative.

“They are looking at how to make all electronic systems more sustainable and green,” Miller said.

The center also helps businesses in the state find way to conserve energy.

“We try to look at ways to improve the economy while improving the environment,” Miller said.

There is also a new project that deals with solar energy.

ITSC is working with the company ComEd to install solar cells in homes in Chicago, and they will be looking at the acceptance of the solar cells and if the behavior of the customers is changed by them.

The sustainable efforts of the University have been recognized, as the University received a B- on the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card in April, which is the third highest ranking among school in the Big Ten.