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Events

The sixth annual Great Outdoors Week
May 18 – 28, 2007

Each year Sustainable Pittsburgh and partners hold Great Outdoors Week, a week full of outdoor recreation happenings and fun! Great Outdoors Week serves to introduce and engage citizens around the region in experiencing the wide range of outdoor activities offered year-round. Outdoor play links to many regional imperatives including: healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship, talent attraction and retention, and overall quality of life and economic development.

2007 Great Outdoors Week partners include: Bike Pittsburgh, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Rachael Carson Homestead, Rack ‘n Roll, REI, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Rowing Association, and Venture Outdoors. Please join us in promoting Great Outdoors Week to your constituents and networks. In doing so you contribute to branding the region the outdoor recreation destination it truly has become.

2007 Great Outdoors Week activities include bicycling for fun and commuting, lunch break kayaking, nature hikes and museum visits, learning to row days , attending one of the largest outdoor recreation festivals in the nation and celebrating the Rachel Carson Centennial!

Great Outdoors Week offers many easy ways for you, your family, work colleagues, club, etc. to try new outdoor activities and reap the benefits of healthier lifestyles all year-long, in one of America's top-notch outdoor adventure cities. National Geographic knows it in stating... "Pittsburgh has become a place where residents can be serious both about their careers and their outdoors".

To explore how to engage your constituents in taking part in Great Outdoors Week and reap year-long benefits, call (412) 258-6646 or kadams@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Resources

Regional Town Meeting Web Conference

Monday, February 12
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Click to View a List of Locations
Info: 412-391-5590 Ext. 315

You’re invited to the first ever Regional Town Meeting Web Conference for Southwestern Pennsylvania’s new long range plan. This plan, called Project Region: The Southwestern Pennsylvania Plan, will be a mechanism for connecting the region’s vision – to be recognized as one of the best places to live, work, play and invest - to an official, coordinated implementation program of projects and actions. Project Region is led by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) and is conducted in partnership with a wide range of other public, private and non-profit organizations. When we plan as a region, we create regionally significant opportunities – SPC encourages you to participate and offer ideas and feedback on alternative growth scenarios.

Symposium Focuses on Environmental Threats to Children's Brain Development

Wednesday, February 14
8:30 am - 3:45 pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Downtown Pittsburgh
Info: 412-341-1515 or www.ldaamerica.org

The number of children with learning disabilities, attentional disorders, Asperger's Syndrome, autism and related problems has drastically increased in recent years. This symposium explores several environmental "neurotoxicants" such as mercury, lead, pesticides and other chemicals, and how they affect brain development in the developing fetus and infants, resulting in learning and behavioral problems in childhood and into the adult years. The symposium is one of the events scheduled throughout the year in the Pittsburgh area to commemorate the centennial of Rachel Carson's birth. Carson, a native of Springdale, Pa., was a founder of the modern environmental movement whose groundbreaking book, "Silent Spring," focused public attention on the threats to environmental and human health caused by certain toxic chemicals. Medical professionals can receive continuing medical education credits for attending the symposium.

Live Web-Cast of the 2010 Imperative/2030 Challenge

Tuesday, February 20
11:15 am - 3 pm
Carnegie Mellon University
McConomy Auditorium (First Floor University Center)
Pittsburgh (Oakland)
RSVP: 412-434-2520 or schweiger@ppg.com

Participate in The 2010 Imperative Global Emergency Teach-In, a live, interactive web-cast addressing global warming, change and the challenge to architects for designing a “carbon-neutral”building by 2030. During this web-cast, originating from the New York Academy of Sciences, you’ll connect with Ed Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, and other leaders at the forefront of design and climate change -- as well as 500,000 students, deans and practicing architects – in a worldwide teach-in and discussion. The web-cast is sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, U.S.Green Building Council, New York Academy of Science, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the AIA Large Firm Roundtable. The program also qualifies for three AIA/HSW Co Education credits.

Green$ense 2007 Regional Conference

Thursday, March 15
7 am - 5:30 pm
Westin Convention Center Hotel - 1000 Penn Ave
Downtown Pittsburgh
Conference Website

GBA's annual mid-Atlantic & Ohio Valley regional conference on green building will feature keynote speaker Susan Eastridge, developer for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's riverfront project. As chief executive officer and founder of Concord Eastridge, Inc., Eastridge is one of many nationally recognized experts from the green development field who will share their secrets to financial success through green building. Afternoon tours of Pittsburgh-area green buildings will show green development in action.

Save the Date: Governor's Outdoor Conference

March 18-20
$275
State College
http://www.connectoutdoors.state.pa.us/

Our future quality of life depends on our ability to understand, appreciate and enjoy Pennsylvania's natural bounties. We simply cannot afford to lose our connection with the outdoors a connection that is part of our rich tradition and provides the balance vital for a prosperous future. Disturbingly, trends indicate that the bond between the citizens of the Commonwealth and our precious natural resources is weakening.

It is up to key stakeholders like you who are most concerned about maintaining and strengthening Pennsylvanians' connection with the outdoors to make sure that we work together to reverse these trends. During this first-of-its-kind conference, we anticipate a substantive and interactive dialogue that will encompass areas as diverse as public health, the economy, childhood and family development, and environmental conservation and stewardship.

Public Forum: Learning from London

Saturday, March 24
3 - 5 pm
Carnegie Museum of Art Theater
Free with museum admission, reception follows
Info

Curator Raymund Ryan introduces and presides over an afternoon forum with presentations by principals from architectural firms featured in Gritty Brits. The program invites audience participation and includes provocative observations from Pittsburgh cultural and civic leaders. Architects, planners, developers, politicos, gritty urban dwellers (and wannabes) are invited to share their ideas over drinks and a view of the exhibition following the program.

Engineering Sustainability 2007 Innovations that Span Boundaries

April 15–18
Sheraton Station Square Hotel
Pittsburgh
Info

Conference Topical Areas will include: green building design and construction; sustainable distributed power for the built environment; design of more sustainable transportation grids; Housing and water solutions for megacities; water solutions for the developing world; water intensity in industry; economics of sustainability; toward the "zero operating costs" building; and the intersection of technology and policy

Alliance Building Breakfast: Green Operations & Maintenance

Friday, April 27
7:30 - 9:30 am
Westin Convention Center Hotel - 1000 Penn Avenue
Downtown Pittsburgh
More Information

The first of five Alliance Building Breakfasts, Green Building Alliance is proud to partner with IFMA's Corporate Facilities Council on this breakfast program on green building operations and maintenance. Learn how to reduce energy costs, improve indoor air quality and occupant productivity with green operations.

Save the Date: 2007 Smart Growth Conference

Friday, May 18
Omni William Penn Hotel
Downtown Pittsburgh
For sponsorship opportunities, contact: info@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Among topics, the 2007 Smart Growth Conference will review and collect input on progress made on the three community challenges/solutions as voted on at the 2006 Smart Growth Conference. Visit: http://www.sustainablepittsburgh.org/2006_Conference/Overview.htm for more information on last year's conference.

Save the Date: Venture Outdoors & Natural Living Festival

Saturday, May 19
Pittsburgh's North Shore
http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/

The seventh annual Venture Outdoors Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2007. The festival is an all day event and is being held on Pittsburgh’s North Shore - right in front of Heinz Field. As always, the goal of Venture Outdoors is to introduce as many people as possible to the wide variety of outdoor recreational activities easily accessible right here in Western Pennsylvania. Together with the region’s abundant environmental assets – the rivers, the mountains, and numerous bike and walking trails - these activities demonstrate the terrific quality of life available to residents and visitors. We invite you to be a part of the excitement so please save the date!

Resources

Speak your mind on Smart Growth and earn $75

A nationally prominent research organization is conducting a study on attitudes toward smart growth and planning. If you are interested in participating in a focus group on Thursday evening, February 15, in the Pittsburgh area, call 412-788-4570 and tell them you want to participate in Thursday's discussion. If you are among those selected to participate, you will receive $75 for your time. Space is limited, so don't delay. (Your opinions will be used strictly for research purposes.)

Sustainable Dream Job: Community and Economic Development Educator

Penn State Cooperative Extension, Westmoreland County, is accepting applications for an individual to conduct educational programming in cooperation with the Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County (SGPWC) with program emphasis on relevant economic and community development issues. B.S. degree required. Deadline for applying is February 15, 2007.

Riders urge Port Authority to trim, not cut threatened North Hills routes

While about half of Downtown workers take public transportation, most garages are at 95 percent capacity, Pittsburgh Planning Director Patrick Ford said. He estimated that about $200 million in new parking facilities would be needed to meet increased demand if a substantial number of bus and rail routes were eliminated.

SSJID plans solar power farm

Expensive and unreliable PG&E power for the water treatment plant serving Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy is prompting the South San Joaquin Irrigation District to go solar. A seven-acre solar array farm — which will be among the largest in California — is being planned adjacent to the state-of-the-art surface water treatment plant that opened 18 months ago. It is located 15 miles northeast of Manteca on Dodds Road near the base of Woodward Reservoir.

NFL Promises Green Super Bowl

Super Bowl XLI, this weekend, will be the first National Football League championship game to run on 100 percent renewable energy. Sterling Planet Inc. is supplying renewable energy certificates to indirectly offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with both the Super Bowl and the NFL Experience Theme Park operating in conjunction the with the big game.

Rendell: energy plan will save $10 billion over a decade

New laws and regulatory policies and the creation of an $850 million Energy Independence Fund will reduce Pennsylvania's reliance on foreign fuels, increase the state's clean energy production capacity, expand in-state energy production and energy technology sectors creating more jobs, and save $10 billion in energy costs over 10 years, the governor predicted...The entire $850 million will be paid for by what's called a "systems benefits charge," equivalent to 5/100ths of a cent on every power user's monthly bill.

'Sunshine' to power rebates

About $200 million of the $850 million Energy Independence Fund proposed this week in Gov. Ed Rendell's Energy Independence Strategy is designated for a so-called Pennsylvania Sunshine program. It aims to jumpstart the state's commitment to have some 858 megawatts of electricity generated by the sun by 2021. One megawatt powers about 800 homes. Under the governor's plan, homes and small businesses could receive rebates of up to half the cost of a solar power system, including a rebate if the solar power panels are manufactured in Pennsylvania. That could amount to savings of $22,000.

Global Warming to Hit Poor Worst, Says UN Secretary General

The world's poor, who are the least responsible for global warming, will suffer the most from climate change, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told environment ministers from around the world on Monday.

For the first time, poverty shifts to the U.S. suburbs

Once prized as a leafy haven from the social ills of urban life, the suburbs are now grappling with a new outbreak of an old problem: poverty.

City Council's quest for taxing power falls short in Harrisburg

That might help turn the politically impossible -- a big state gift to Pittsburgh like assumption of more than $400 million in pension obligations -- into a more palatable statewide solution to cities' pension, debt and health insurance problems. "Now, instead of having 30 legislators supporting it, you have 120" with a stake in it, he said.

Whether for stadiums, high-rises, offices or factories, public subsidies play a role in almost every development deal

Pitting states and even nearby cities against each other -- or even against a city's own sense of vitality and self-image -- is an easy way to draw tax breaks, sweet financing deals and millions in construction grants, at the taxpayers' expense. "Once you get in the subsidy game, everybody else gets in line," said Edward Lotterman, a Minnesota economist. "And some of the people in line would be building that project anyway."..His conclusion after all those years of study is that many of the developers and businesses would have decided to build even without the tax breaks and cash. But when in Rome ...If anything, she said, more incentives -- including a much-debated but never-approved downtown historic-zone tax credit -- are needed to persuade developers to take a chance on building in an urban core. For years, the state Legislature has proposed bills that would encourage restoration of historic buildings, similar to a program already in use in Missouri..."It isn't a subsidy," Mr. Belloli argued. "It's balancing the cost [of development] so that it's competitive" with cheaper-to-develop land in, say, Butler County.

Governor Rendell offers solution to Pennsylvania's transportation funding crisis

“Our economic prosperity rises or falls on the state of transportation,” Governor Rendell said. “My plan builds a solid framework to keep us moving forward through the 21st Century.”

For information on becoming a Member of Sustainable Pittsburgh, please visit our website.

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Click here to access the 3E Links Archive. Use "Search" on SP's homepage for a great resource.

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

Please review SP's regional assessments and vision/policies for the future: SWPA Regional Indicators Report, Citizens' Vision for Smart Growth, and Regional Policy Guidance Document by clicking on the links to our website.

The Transportation for Livable Communities project is a partnership of Sustainable Pittsburgh and the national Surface Transportation Policy Project to advance a sustainable transportation system for Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2007 from:

Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Dollar Bank
The Heinz Endowments
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
University of Pittsburgh


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