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Events

Sustainable Communities 500

For the past year, Sustainable Pittsburgh has worked steadily on an initiative called Sustainable Communities 500 (SC500). SC500 is a project for municipalities to catalogue and highlight examples of equitable/sustainable development in Southwestern Pennsylvania. So far, over 50 projects have been submitted. Here are some highlights:

The Township of Pine is building a 50kW Wind Turbine in Pine Community Park to conserve energy and save money. According to the township's Administrative Assistant, Jane Silvestri, "The Township of PIne has been very proactive in terms of energy conservation. We hope to be a model for other surrounding communities so that others will think about renewable energy as a cost saving device as well as a way to save the environment for future generations." Instead of increasing taxes to cover the operating costs of the new community center, the Township of Pine uses the wind turbine to keep costs down and save taxpayer money. Click here to read more.

Up in Buffalo Township, the Buffalo-Freeport trail "insures a sustainable green space, provides a quality living environment and also provides for a plethora of recreational opportunities and environmental considerations for those interested in bird watching, wild flower treks, and native shrub identfication." Click here to read more.

Indiana Township uses an onsite, grid-tied 5 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) power system to reduce municipal energy use at the township municipal building plaza. Click here to read more.

Youth of communities surrounding Leetsdale Borough can attend summer park program that provides a "safe and nurturing environment." Daily, 20-60 children learn fire safety, stranger danger awareness, and are provided free lunches through various partnerships. Click here to read more.

Feel free to visit SC500 on line - click here to search projects or view a complete list. If you have questions about any of these projects or you know of a project in the region that isn't on the list, contact Sustainable Pittsburgh at info@sustainablepittsburgh.org or 412-258-6642.

Resources

Free lecture about the Prospect Park Alliance’s partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment

Wednesday, February 21
6 pm
Gregg Hall, Carnegie Mellon University
www.pittsburghparks.org

At this free lecture, Tupper Thomas will be sharing her experiences with the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE), a public high school that uses the natural environment as a hands-on educational tool, drawing students out of the classroom and into the field. This lecture provides an excellent opportunity for those interested in environmental education to come together and learn about innovative new approaches.

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.

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

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

New PF Podcast: Greening of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a national and international treasure. Though it is a park, it's had some major "greening" up to do. Thanks in large part to Jim Evanoff, Yellowstone's Environmental Manager, this national park is leading the way on major green initiatives, and setting the bar higher and higher for innovative approaches to sustainability. Recently Evanoff visited Pittsburgh to give a presentation on the history of the park and the many environmental projects they've undertaken, thanks to sponsorship by southwestern Pennsylvania-based Concurrent Technologies and Steel City Biofuels, together with support from PennFuture and other area organizations and businesses including REI and the East End Brewing Company. PennFuture's Heather Sage was there to capture the presentation.

New rating system shifts focus to sustainable development in green urban neighborhoods

With the release of the LEED-Neighborhood Development pilot rating system this week, it is clearer than ever that green building design and community form shouldn't go it alone. The most powerful strategy for achieving environmental sustainability is incorporating high-performance buildings in compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that reduce driving by making walking and transit attractive options for commuting and other trips.

Building Green To Get Push -- But How?

The large number of environmentally friendly buildings in Pittsburgh has garnered the city plenty of national publicity. But the city Planning Commission remains locked in a debate on how to encourage even more "green" construction -- without simply throwing greenbacks at developers.

Canada Sets US$1.3-Billion Fund to Fight Warming

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, under pressure to do more on climate change, announced on Monday a C$1.5-billion (US$1.3 billion) fund to fight global warming and pollution.

Mining heat from the earth? New technology shows promise

Here's one vision for easing America's energy and emissions woes: Hundreds of drilling rigs are deployed throughout the country. But they're not prospecting for oil; they're looking for underground rock hot enough to produce steam-driven electricity. The potential? Enough power to provide 10 percent of US electricity by 2050 – with near-zero emissions of greenhouse gases.

Fix the Port Authority: Then we need to make sure it has reliable state and local funding

Allegheny County needs to consider allowing voters to approve a dedicated revenue source at the county level for public transit, as well. (One mill at the county level would raise about $54 million.) At present, the local subsidy of $25 million is substantially lower than in other parts of the country. I am willing to sponsor enabling legislation in the Pennsylvania Senate. The community as a whole needs to speak out and support revenue for a more efficient Port Authority if we are going to be able to continue to enjoy comprehensive regional service.

Indiana County residents get say on regional development

The compact/infill/transit oriented scenario is characterized by high-density development with a mix of uses; development targeted within or adjacent to core communities; opportunities for "infill" development, which means reinvestment in existing business districts and brownfield rehabilitation; an emphasis on open space preservation in rural areas; a strong reliance on public transportation and facilities for pedestrians; and minimal expansion of existing utilities to accommodate new growth. The corridor/cluster scenario is characterized by medium- to high-density development in centers, clusters and transportation corridors; a strong multi-modal focus including highways, transit, railways and waterways; excellent access to the urban core; improved transportation operations; and an expansion of water and sewer infrastructure at the corridor level. The feedback from participants about what they liked and didn't like in the different scenarios will be used by the members of the SPC to develop a "preferred scenario" for the region.

'Project Region' examines possible growth trends

James Hassinger, executive director of the SPC, said that regardless of which types of planning are eventually adopted for the region, its main priorities will be for revitalizing and redeveloping the region's existing communities; promoting business development with a focus on existing business retention and expansion; and maintaining the existing transportation system.

Pittsburgh signs on for climate protection agreement

Pittsburgh is already on its way to a greener future, having replaced incandescent traffic signals with LED lights, which saves the City $68,000 a year, while reducing global warming emissions. The City also plans to convert its diesel vehicles to cleaner-burning bio-diesel fuels beginning this spring.

Loftness appointed to world council for sustainable development

“The assurance group meets in Geneva in April to go over where we are today,” said Loftness. “It’s a three-year appointment. It will take this long to figure out what steps we should take. I’m hoping I can bring detail to the table and also recognize our region, while bringing the international wisdom, benchmarks, and goals back. With Riverlife Task Force and Sustainable Pittsburgh and corporate leaders like PNC and the Heinz Foundation, Pittsburgh is impressive. It’s great.”

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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