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Events

Update: World Environment Day - Pittsburgh

The six-week period of Earth Day (April 22) to World Environment Day (June 5) is yours for the making. Be inspired; use the moment to hasten progress.

UPDATES:
- Last week's World Environment Day (WED) press event evidenced the community's embrace and opportunity at hand. View the press release.
- Over 75 events are now planned during the six-week period! Check out the growing calendar of events.
- Registration is now open for the Water Matters! Global Water Conference on June 3 at the David L. Convention Center, Pittsburgh. Visit the Conference Web page to learn about this remarkable event (and to exhibit, sponsor) and please register today.
- Plan your WED event or initiative. Tell the world by registering it at www.pittsburghwed.com (all event hosts are dually recognized as WED Community Leaders).
- Brand your initiative to World Environment Day by downloading the logos found on the WED Resources page.
- Have a new project or initiative to announce that fits with WED values? Send your press release, with the WED logo incorporated, to gvinski@sustainablepittsburgh.org and it will be posted on the WED website.

Resources

REGISTER NOW!
Water Matters! Global Water Conference

A World Environment Day key event serving to raise awareness of the importance of water and its interconnectedness with biodiversity.

Thursday, June 3
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
For sponsorship opportunities, email cgould@sustainablepittsburgh.org.
To be an exhibitor, email sue@mcmahon-cardillo.com.
Registration is now open. For more details visit the Conference Web site.

The United Nations Environment Programme appointed Pittsburgh as North America's Host City for World Environment Day 2010. Plan to attend this remarkable, milestone for the region, Water Matters! Global Water conference.

Partial list of presenters:
- David Ainsworth, United Nations Convention on Biodiversity
- Herb Buxton, US Geological Survey
- Marla Cone, Environmental Health News
- Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech
- Amy Fraenkel, UNEP Regional Office for North America
- Chip Giller, Grist
- Greg Koch, Global Water Stewardship Program, The Coca-Cola Company
- Mike Magee, healthy-waters.org
- Rich Meeusen, Badger Meter Co. and Milwaukee 7 Water Council
- James Rogers, Duke Energy
- Carl Safina, Blue Ocean Institute

Presented by the Pittsburgh World Environment Day Partnership
In Collaboration with: United Nations Environment Programme
Conference Sponsors:
Bayer Corporation
LANXESS

SIGN UP NOW! Paddle at the Point: Kayak and Canoe World Record Attempt

A World Environment Day key event serving to raise awareness of the importance of water and its interconnectedness with biodiversity.

Saturday, June 5
Email worldrecord@ventureoutdoors.org or visit www.paddleatthepoint.com for more information and updates.

Bring your boat down to Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Saturday, June 5th and help break the World Record for largest flotilla of kayaks and canoes. Venture Outdoors is organizing this event in celebration of World Environment Day on June 5th. Groups, individuals and clubs welcome! The record is currently held by the Inlet Area Businesses Association in upstate New York and it will take 1,105 kayaks and canoes for Pittsburgh to set the new world record.

A Green + Art + Technology Networking Event!

Friday, March 19
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Shadow Lounge/Club Ava, 5972 Baum Boulevard, East Liberty
$5 Cover charge at the door
More information

A must-do event for anyone in the green, art and technology industries! Mix, mingle and network with peers in your field! Plus a short presentation by Team GAGI (pronounced GAH-gee). Find out how Pittsburgh's premiere green, tech and arts event is all coming together; Hear about the exciting development updates on the Penn Avenue; Plus opt in for a special screening of "Of Engineered and Pioneered in Pittsburgh." ( Also available at the Senator John Heinz History Center.)

6th Year Launch Party for Green Drinks!

Friday, March 19
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mitchell's, 304 Ross St (at Third Avenue), Downtown Pittsburgh
Free
(complimentary food, beer and wine, courtesy of Senator Jim Ferlo)

Join host Senator Jim Ferlo in celebrating the 6th year anniversary of Green Drinks. This year, Senator Ferlo, the original host of Green Drinks in Pittsburgh, is bringing a special guest, County Executive Dan Onorato. Dan has established an impressive track record of Green initiatives and public policy changes over the last six years. The green legacy that Dan has built is two-fold – his support for a regional parks and recreation network that boasts an ever-increasing network of trails, parks and greenways and his signature Brownfield reclamation program that has identified and transformed thousands of acres from blighted, even toxic, former shuttered industrial sites to a range of clean, shovel-ready sites and emerging economic centers.

Green Projects and Proposals
- A solar hot water heating system at the Allegheny County Jail
- A geothermal cooling component at the Ross Township Kane Regional Center
- The County recently installed a rain garden in the courtyard of the County Courthouse
- The county will begin installing a green roof this Spring on the County Office Building
- Allegheny County hired its first Sustainability Manager in June

TOD Visioning Workshops in Carnegie and Sheraden

Sheraden, City of Pittsburgh
Tuesday, March 23
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Sheraden Senior Center, 720 Sherwood Avenue, Pittsburgh 15204

Carnegie Borough
Wednesday, March 24
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Carnegie Borough Building, Council Meeting Room, One Veterans Way, Carnegie 15106

For more information: www.spcregion.org/westbuswaystations.shtml. Or contact Ann Ogoreuc at URS Corporation at (412) 503-4583 or ann_ogoreuc@urscorp.com

Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), in cooperation with the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning and Carnegie Borough, are pleased to announce exciting opportunities to provide input in the development of transit-oriented community development plans in two West Busway communities – Carnegie Borough and the Sheraden neighborhood in the City of Pittsburgh.

The purpose of the meetings, open to the public, is to engage residents and transit users in the West Busway corridor in a process to develop a vision for revitalization and economic development in the area around these two West Busway stations (only the station at the meeting location will be addressed during each meeting). After a brief presentation about the project and an overview of transit-oriented community development, participants will break into small groups to discuss the types of amenities, improvements, and development that could enhance quality of life and provide work / live / play options in the station areas. The results of the visioning exercise will be shared at a future workshop.

Sustainability Networking Forum and Reception

Wednesday, March 24
3:00 pm — 5:45 pm
Power Center Ballroom, Duquesne University, Uptown
For more information visit www.duq.edu/careerservices
Contact: safferd@duq.edu
Flyer

Would you like to talk to executives about a career related to sustainability?
Would you like to talk to students & alumni who have “green skills?”
Network with Pittsburgh executives interested in recruiting people with green skills and a sustainability mindset!
The program will kick off with a brief presentation by Lou Astorino, CEO, Astorino, designer of green buildings. Open to all area students and alumni!

Sponsored by: Duquesne University’s Career Services Center and the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business

The Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative 2010 Annual Meeting Luncheon

Thursday, March 25
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
City-County Building: 414 Grant Street, Room 920 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Cost: Free to WPDI members and $30 for non-members.
To RSVP for the WPDI Annual Meeting Luncheon or other upcoming WPDI events, please contact Karen Hart-Collins at (412) 402-6706 or khartcollins@wpdiversity.org

The Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative (WPDI) would like to invite all companies and organizations dedicated to proactively addressing diversity and inclusion to join the WPDI Board of Directors, Community Advisory Committee members and our staff for our 2010 Annual Meeting Luncheon. We welcome everyone to join us to learn more about the history, growth and current initiatives of WPDI, and how we may be able to assist with your efforts to accelerate diversity and inclusion in Western Pennsylvania.

Farm to Table Conference

March 26-27, 2010
Times vary
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown Pittsburgh
Cost: $25.00 (Admission for both Friday and Saturday and Networking Breakfast on Saturday)
Kids under 12 are free. Group ticket sale discounts are available, please call Erin @ (412) 563-7807.
After Thursday, March 25, tickets can be purchased at the event.
More information

Conference Highlights:
- Farmers Market
- Cooking Demonstrations by Chefs and Dieticians
- Presentations by researchers and scientists about the benefits of eating local food
- Local Food Tasting on Friday night
- Saturday morning networking breakfast

Energy Engineers Job Fair

Tuesday, March 30
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Radisson Hotel, Greentree
Cost: $25 if pre-registered and free for college students.
For more information, contact Danelle Ardell at dardell@noresco.com
You may also attend the ASHRAE event that starts at 1:00pm with the same admission registration.
To register and for more details, visit http://aee.memberlodge.com, Future Events

The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers will be holding a job fair in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) first annual Casino Night. AEE is a nonprofit professional society whose mission is "to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for Sustainable Development." Local Energy Engineers will be sharing information as to the kinds of Energy Jobs that are available in the Pittsburgh region. Anyone interested in becoming an Energy Professional, whether they are just graduating or looking for a career change should attend.

Human Health and the Environment Workshop

Thursday, April 8
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
East End Food Co-Op
Cost: $20 per person/$25 per couple
RSVP by contacting Sarah Alessio at (412) 488-7490 ext. 236, by email at saraha@ccicenter.org or by registering online at www.prc.org.

In 2004 the Environmental Working Group tested the blood of 10 Americans and found over 287 chemicals present. What was even more troubling was that these 10 Americans were newborn babies, blood taken from their umbilical cords.

Everyone is exposed to a number of different chemicals, carcinogens, and toxins on a daily basis. These exposures can come from cell phones, ingredients in personal care products, cleaning products, plastics, and so on. While people may have no control over some exposures, there are many that they do, and steps they can take to reduce exposure and improve the health of the environment.

This program provides the public with practical solutions such as safe alternatives for cleaning products, personal care products and healthy lifestyle choices. In an effort to reduce one’s exposure to toxins and to reduce the amount of toxins in our environment, all workshop participants will receive a non-toxic green cleaning kit.

This program is presented by the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC), in partnership with the UPCI Center for Environmental Oncology.

Blue, Gold and Green Sustainability Festival

Thursday, April 8
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
University of Pittsburgh, Oakland
Visit www.bluegoldandgreen.pitt.edu for full details.

Explore "green" career opportunities — see the latest sustainable products — learn about innovative ideas for creating a more sustainable community — all at Pitt's second annual Blue, Gold & Green Sustainability Festival. The free public event is set for Thursday, April 8, and Friday, April 9, at the University's William Pitt Union and Schenley Quadrangle. Sponsored by Pitt's Office of the Provost, the festival will feature: A forum on "green" careers, along with the chance to network with Pitt alumni and students who are working on sustainability projects. A "Sustainability at Pitt" session will highlight initiatives at Pitt and UPMC as well as the University's environmental studies program. There will also be a showcase of "green" and sustainable products by Pitt-contracted suppliers.

The 2010 Heinz Distinguished Lecture by Cornell University's Stuart L. Hart, one of the world's top authorities on the implications of environment and poverty for business strategy, is scheduled in the afternoon as part of the celebration. The festival also will include an exhibition of recyclable art; a Sustain-a-Bowl featuring "green" games and booths constructed from salvaged and/or recyclable materials; and a Sustainable Street Fair, including crafts, food, and music.

2010 Heinz Distinguished Lecture: "Taking the Green Leap"

Thursday, April 8
4:00 pm Lecture, William Pitt Union Ballroom, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland
5:00 pm Cocktail Reception, William Pitt Union Lower Lounge
Register online

This lecture features Dr. Stuart L. Hart, Samuel C. Johnson Chair in Sustainable Global Enterprise at Cornell University in discussing "Taking the Green Leap." The 2010 Heinz Distinguished Lecture is sponsored by The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Pittsburgh.

This year’s lecture is taking place as part of the University’s Blue, Gold & Green Celebration. For more information on these events, please visit http://www.bluegoldandgreen.pitt.edu/index.html.

The Business of Brownfields Conference

April 19 - 21, 2010
Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA
Questions: Call 412-261-0710, ext. 11 or e-mail c.mcgarvey@eswp.com
More information
Program

Plans are underway for the 15th Annual Business of Brownfields Conference (BoB)! The 2010 event will highlight the technical, legal and financial aspects of brownfields reclamation and development, and will feature experience and research-based presentations from stakeholders who are involved with the assessment, cleanup and reuse of abandoned, idled or under-used commercial and industrial sites.

If you are associated with brownfields development, the "BoB" is the place to be!

The 2010 Technical program of the "BoB" will feature the five main actions of brownfields development:
* Public Health/Institutional Controls
* Marketing & Finance
* Site Characterization
* Site Remediation
* Working within Legal/Regulatory Framework

Resources

Update: World Environment Day - Pittsburgh

The six-week period of Earth Day (April 22) to World Environment Day (June 5) is yours for the making. Be inspired; use the moment to hasten progress.

UPDATES:
- Last week's World Environment Day (WED) press event evidenced the community's embrace and opportunity at hand. View the press release.
- Over 75 events are now planned during the six-week period! Check out the growing calendar of events.
- Registration is now open for the Water Matters! Global Water Conference on June 3 at the David L. Convention Center, Pittsburgh. Visit the Conference Web page to learn about this remarkable event (and to exhibit, sponsor) and please register today.
- Plan your WED event or initiative. Tell the world by registering it at www.pittsburghwed.com (all event hosts are dually recognized as WED Community Leaders).
- Brand your initiative to World Environment Day by downloading the logos found on the WED Resources page.
- Have a new project or initiative to announce that fits with WED values? Send your press release, with the WED logo incorporated, to gvinski@sustainablepittsburgh.org and it will be posted on the WED website.

Saving U.S. Water and Sewer Systems Would Be Costly

As city employees searched for underground valves, a growing crowd started asking angry questions. Pipes were breaking across town, and fire hydrants weren’t working, they complained. Why couldn’t the city deliver water, one man yelled at Mr. Hawkins. Such questions are becoming common across the nation as water and sewer systems break down. Today, a significant water line bursts on average every two minutes somewhere in the country, according to a New York Times analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data. . . “This is the fight of our lifetimes,” [Hawkins] added. “Water is tied into everything we should care about. . ."

More

DuPont Chemical Seeping into Drinking Water

DuPont's slogan in the 1950s was "Better Things for Better Living Through Chemistry." But today, many living near DuPont's plant outside Parkersburg West Virginia have found that chemistry has NOT made for better living. One man-made chemical C8 has seeped into their water systems and drinking it in high levels, says the US EPA, is "likely" to cause cancer. Recently the US EPA has lowered the amount they allow local water districts to have in their water.

Green Chemistry Becomes a Core Element of Industry

Chemistry flows through every industry, so any discussion about green chemistry is about changing some part of how every business operates. NewScientist looks at the many ways green chemistry is being used in seven areas in a recent feature, "Better living through green chemistry," explaining successes and challenges in the pharmaceutical, food and drink, packaging, cosmetics, clothing, electronics, and house and home sectors.

Cities have been embracing sustainability movement

And in a world where everybody's going green, how does a city or company set itself apart? "Perhaps we do so by taking the full view of what sustainability is about. It's about more than green," said Court Gould, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh. . . It's about growing the economy in a way that doesn't degrade the environment, or entire ecosystems, or entire countries. It's about ensuring prosperity as well as peace and social justice -- witness all the "fair trade" coffee shops and "sustainable" and "socially responsible" investment portfolios (known as SRI portfolios). It's about the global picture -- energy, nation-building and warming initiatives. And in the end, it makes good business sense, said Steve Schueth, president of First Affirmative Financial Network.

A Green checklist

The green movement has come far since Bette Midler joked in 1977 that she had gone organic: "Last week I ate an Earth Shoe." There are easier steps to take than that. With the help of some sustainability coordinators and Sustainable Pittsburgh, here is a list of things companies can do to become a little more "green" -- or a lot more.

Commentary: Sustainable thinking a proxy for good management

But going for the "green" is only part of the promise of sustainability. You're not sustainable without shoring up the social equity too. Isn't it a happy compensation that caring for people, as well as for nature, also pays! Our region's innovation-forward capacity is now put to the test in how completely we cement diversity and inclusion as the central regional strategy for prosperity. . .Sustainable thinking is a proxy for good management and is driving the sorting out of the industrial landscape now underway. Trying economic times highlight the best reasons to apply sustainable development principles because the payoffs are accentuated. Businesses that see sustainability as a top-management strategy, rather than just a compliance issue, will win.

Companies That Aggressively Pursue Sustainability Are Reaping Benefits

The report, entitled The Business of Sustainability, found that while a vast majority of respondents described their companies as addressing sustainability in some way, relatively few had as yet developed a business case for sustainability. Especially among respondents with less expertise on the subject, sustainability was most often viewed as an obligatory response to legislative or regulatory pressure. However, the report found, the few companies that are aggressively pursuing sustainability are finding significant opportunities for profitability and competitive advantage. . . "At GE, they developed the Ecomagination product line," he said. "Going deeper, Nike actually eliminated a lot of waste in its value chain and saved $700 million over the course of a year. At the next level, Walmart takes its supply chain and is actually driving sustainability savings in supply chains other than theirs."

EU guide to boost green goods and services

A European Commission handbook published on Friday (12 March) hopes to give businesses and politicians the right tools to assess the life cycle of all products and services in order to help boost the green economy. The handbook will provide "a much-needed reference to support decision-making and ensure better environmental choices when designing goods and services" as Europe strives to become more resource-efficient and less polluting, said Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik.

China Planning High-Speed Rail Link To London

China plans to extend its high-speed network all the way to London" by 2020, with a rail line that will fly through 17 countries at speeds reaching 200 miles per hour. In all, three lines are being planned. In addition to a link between London and Beijing, a second line will connect China with Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. The third line will link Germany and Russia, crossing Siberia to terminate, of course, in China. As an incentive to the 17 counties to agree to its proposal, China is offering to build the infrastructure in exchange for rights to natural resources in the nations that benefit from the high-speed links.

Pittsburgh ranks No. 8 on Green City list

Pittsburgh ranked eighth in the “Green City Index” created by the Cincinnati Business Courier, a sister publication of the Business Times. The index looked at such variables as commuting habits of residents, travel time and fuel use, and air and water quality. The list was topped by West Coast cities with the top spot going to the Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Oregon/Washington metropolitan statistical area.

Recycle cell phones for World Environment Day!

During the six week period between April 22nd and June 5th, eLoop will challenge the region to recycle cell phones. The program, called “Last Call,” will provide a great opportunity for schools and organizations to keep old used cell phones out of the trash. The goal of the program will be to recycle 1 million cell phones in 6 weeks.

Cell phone recycling was chosen for several reasons. National statistics indicate that only about 2% of all cell phones are recycled properly. Unfortunately, they end up in the trash. Cell phones contain lead, mercury and other toxins that should not end up in a PA landfill. Cell phones are small and can be easily transported, and there is no out of pocket cost to recycle them. The responsible recycling of cell phones and the recovery of the materials will be accompanied by a charitable gift to participating organizations.

The “Last Call” recycling campaign will be offered to schools, organizations, and other non-profit institutions as a way for them to participate in the World Environment Day Partnership with eLoop. If you are interested in participating with eLoop please contact info@eloopllc.com or (724) 212-3032 x101. There is no cost to your organization and each organization can identify who will be the recipient of their charitable gift.

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

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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 ($1,000 and up) in 2010 from:

Allegheny County - Dan Onorato, County Executive
Atkins Family Foundation
BNY Mellon
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
FedEx Ground
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Richard King Mellon Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
UPMC
Waste Management


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