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Events

Resources

Oil at $100 a barrel is a reminder of public transportation's importance

Yesterday's headlines that the price of crude oil hit the $100 a barrel mark for the first time ever is a reminder of the importance of public transit -- a vital lubricant of our region's economy. Transit underpins our prosperity and sustainable growth. While the new poured drink tax now in effect in Allegheny County is lamented by many, it was the only option the state allowed and is a necessary funding source to this critical public service. While adequate funding will continue to be a concern for the Port Authority and other transit agencies, residents will have significant opportunity to shape the future of transit by participating in Connect '09. Connect '09 (see link below) is the name of the Port Authority's process for re-examining service delivery, facilitating regional service integration, and growing the transit market. Stay tuned for public input opportunities. In the meantime, kudos to the Allegheny County Executive and Council for doing the hard work of implementing the new transit taxes.

Port Authority Announces Connect ’09 Initiative

Sustainable Pittsburgh's statement before County Council

Allegheny Conference on Community Development's op-ed

On Day One, drink tax still not potable to many

Swallow hard: Pass the county drink and car rental taxes

Resources Continued

Needed: female representatives in Harrisburg

The Winnning Edge
January 25-27, 2008
Chatham University, Pittsburgh
Tuition fee: $200 (Covers registration, all instructional materials, and meals) Scholarships may be available to assist in the cost of registration, travel or childcare.
Registration and Scholarship Deadline: January 9, 2008
Registration materials can be downloaded at www.chatham.edu/pcwppp and www.pawcf.com.

As you may or may not know, PA is one of the lowest ranked states in the country for female representation in its State House.

Run Baby Run is a bipartisan initiative Chaired by Elsie Hillman and Jeannie Caliguiri to encourage women to run for State Legislature. Thanks in part to Run Baby Run's efforts in 2006, Western PA has three new female representatives in Harrisburg.

If you have considered running for office yourself (and you're a woman), consider attending the Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy's bipartisan women's campaign school. Enrollment is limited in order to allow maximum personal attention and instruction. Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, so register early.

Contractor/Consultant training for PA Home Energy Program

Rater Training: Jan 14 - 18 from 8:30am to 4:30pm
BPI Training: Jan 28 - Feb 1 from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Fee: See below
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington PA
For more information, please contact Kathy Greely at (814) 558-8082 or kgreely@psdconsulting.com.
www.pahomeenergy.com/events2.html

PA Home Energy is announcing another round of training Building Professionals seeking to participate in the PA Home Energy program. Limited to 10 participants per class.

Pre-requisites:
To attend the Rater Training, you need a commitment to certification and performing work in accordance with the PA Home Energy program. To attend the BPI training, you must have already taken the Rater test.

Cost:
*Rater training is $1200 and includes testing.
*BPI training is $1000 and also includes testing.
A percentage of the cost of the training will be refunded upon completion.

Rising energy prices and environmental concerns have increased consumer, professional and trade interest in green building technology and energy efficiency. In response to this combination of need and demand, the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) has developed "PA Home Energy(TM) to help connect consumers with energy consultants and service providers who can provide high quality green energy services.

GHG Inventory Software Workshop

Save the Date!
February 7, 2008
More details about the February 7 workshop will be available in the weeks ahead. Immediate questions can be answered by Dr. Stan Kabala at 412-396-4233, kabala@duq.edu or Lindsay Baxter at 412-396-4749, lindsay_baxter@hotmail.com.

The Center for Environmental Research and Education (CERE) of Duquesne University and Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) will offer a free, half-day workshop to demonstrate how individuals can use software tools to conduct inventories of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from campus activities and operations. This workshop is designed for faculty, students, and staff who are interested in completing an inventory of the carbon footprint of their campuses.

A CERE team of faculty and graduate students completed an inventory of Duquesne’s GHG emissions in 2007. The team, headed by Dr. Stan Kabala, will share practical insights about the inventory process that they learned along the way. Jennifer Andrews of CA-CP will discuss campus carbon footprints and carbon calculators and describe the support that is available from CA-CP.

Resources

100-dollar crude is good and bad news for environment

Surging oil prices are a mixed blessing for the environment, experts say. Clean renewable energy and recycling are getting a major boost from 100-dollar-a-barrel crude -- but so are coal, a massive contributor to global warming, and nuclear power, which remains shadowed by safety concerns.

Small Businesses to Get Energy Efficiency Help

Small businesses, which make up over 99 percent of businesses domestically and are responsible for half the country's economic output, are poised to take advantage of the same energy efficiency projects that Fortune 500 companies have adopted in recent years. Under a pilot program included in the energy bill signed into law last month, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer low-cost loans for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that want to improve their energy and fuel use.

More

Beaver-based company hopes to revitalize business district

"The beauty of a small, affluent town such as Sewickley is that it is able to offer upscale, trendy shops with outstanding customer service. When any store in an area such as Sewickley closes, it is bad news for the community and bad news for Western Pennsylvania," Guskey said. "It means more big-box retailers are succeeding and bumping out the little guys."

On the Legislative Agenda for the Environment in 2008

Much work on environmental issues was left undone in 2007 and will be on the agenda again in 2008, chief among them will be putting together enough votes in the House and Senate to pass an Energy Independence Plan.

What’s Your Consumption Factor?

The average rates at which people consume resources like oil and metals, and produce wastes like plastics and greenhouse gases, are about 32 times higher in North America, Western Europe, Japan and Australia than they are in the developing world. That factor of 32 has big consequences.

Companies 'Green Up' management

On the other hand, eco-friendly management can not only enable companies to overcome new trade barriers more easily but allow them to see enormous effects such as the creation of new sources of profits and the improvement of brand images. Recent consumer tastes shifting to environment-friendly products are another reason for the change of management. A growing number of "smart" consumers are checking this aspect when they choose goods.

Planners bask in the green glow of First Night

"The Future of Pittsburgh" is made of environmentally friendly materials that were incorporated into its design by architects from Burt Hill, lighting specialists from Hilbish McGee and engineers from Atlantic Engineering Services. The ball's inner aluminium framing, steel-roof platform and outer shell are composed of recycled materials, and the 1,100 LED bulbs affixed to the outside last longer than traditional lights and emit less pollution.

Transportation funds may be diverted for Beltway construction

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission plans to use money from a multibillion-dollar state transportation funding bill to help pay for a $659 million segment of the Southern Beltway along the Washington-Allegheny County line. Its intent is laid out in a proposed amendment to a Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission program that the federal government requires to establish transportation spending priorities. The commission says Act 44, which authorizes turnpike toll increases and tolling Interstate 80 to raise record revenues for roads, bridges and transit, does not prohibit using the money to finance toll road expansion projects. . ."We had to wait for the Legislature to give us the money," he said last week. "Act 44 gives us the means [and] now we have a financial plan to get us on the Transportation Improvement Program.". . .Information about the turnpike's request to amend the region's 2007-2010 TIP and the 2035 Transportation and Development Plan is available at the SPC's Web site at www.spcregion.org. Go to "Proposed TIP & LRP Amendments."

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Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2008 from:

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Dollar Bank

The Heinz Endowments

Elsie H. Hillman Foundation

Roy A. Hunt Foundation

Richard King Mellon Foundation



Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP