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Events

Resources

Smart Transportation for Focused Growth: Best Practices

The Urban Land Institute in partnership with the ULI-Pittsburgh District Council, PennFuture, Sustainable Pittsburgh, 10000 Friends of Pennsylvania, and the Local Government Academy is convening a panel of experts to discuss the importance of sound land use policy in setting transportation priorities.

Our region's economic competitiveness depends on smart choices for transportation and transit investments.
Monday, June 11, 2007
8 am until 11 am
The Rivers Club
Oxford Centre ~ 301 Grant Street, 4th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Program Presentations by Keynotes:
Douglas I. Foy, President, DIF Enterprises and former Secretary, Massachusetts Office of Commonwealth Development
Secretary Allen D. Biehler, PA Department of Transportation
Guest Panelists:
- Stephen G. Bland, CEO, Port Authority of Allegheny County
- Robert Dunphy, ULI Senior Resident Fellow, Transportation
- Jim Hassinger, President & CEO, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Sponsored by The Heinz Endowments

Registration

Resources Continued

Greening Your Life: Safeguarding Your Health and Protecting the Environment

Monday, June 11
7 - 8:45 pm
Room A - Lower Level, Mt. Lebanon Library
16 Castle Shannon Blvd
Pittsburgh
Free
Info: tibbettsc@einetwork.net

Hosted by Mount Lebanon Library and the Energy Forum of Western PA, Greening Your Life: Safeguarding Your Health and Protecting the Environment features guest speakers Marcia Barr from the Center for Environmental Oncology and Ginette Walker Vinski of PRC. The two will discuss the various health risks of common chemicals found in the home, environmental effects of using these chemicals, and ways to minimize the negative impact of these products. Participants will learn about the basic ingredients for making homemade non-toxic cleaners and receive tips on what they can do to safeguard their health and lessen their footprint on the environment. Participants will receive a free 28-page color booklet called Hazardous Waste in the Home: How to Safeguard Your Health & the Environment, “Healthy Choices Healthy Lives” newsletters, other handout materials and a customized spray bottle imprinted with non-toxic recipes.

Executive Breakfast: Leadership Under Pressure

Wednesday, June 13
8 am - 9:30 am
The Rivers Club
One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street
Pittsburgh (Downtown)
Cost: $25
Info: spehar@rmu.edu

The struggles of funding our public transportation system has been front page news for months. Yet in the midst of all the data and decisions, there is always the human element---Port Authority CEO Stephen Bland moved to Pittsburgh to face those challenges and unpleasant choices. Under the scrutiny of intense media attention, Bland has tried to listen to the stakeholders in the transit conundrum and make equitable decisions for all. How does someone lead in the face of incredible pressure? What makes someone try to see the human side of a situation, when the very existence of a essential system is in jeopardy? As an executive, what would you do? Bring thoughts and ideas to a breakfast, where Bland will be interviewed by Jerry Cozewith, Executive Director for the Greater Pittsburgh Office of The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

Energy Efficiency Workshop For Universities and K-12 School Districts

Tuesday, June 19
8:45 am - 2:30 pm
Regional Learning Alliance
850 Cranberry Woods Drive
Cranberry Township
Free
Register by June 14: gmcumber@state.pa.us or 814-332-6352

Learn how to save money while gaining energy efficiency for your college or school. Topics of discussion by speakers connected to the education system include: Pittsburgh School District’s Energy Efficiency Success Story; Northwest PA Collegiate Building Assessment; “Lighting Efficiencies and Energy Management”; “It’s Not Expensive Being Green: Lessons from Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School”; How Energy Conservation Will Save you Money; and Technology and Maintenance Opportunities Abound.

Are We Hedging Our Bets?

Wednesday, June 20
12 - 2 pm
Point Park University Ballroom
210 Wood St.
Pittsburgh (Downtown)
Cost: $12 (includes lunch)
RSVP by June 15: www.lpinc.org or 412-392-4505

Join panelists Jon Delano, Money & Politics Editor, KDKA TV; Dr. Rafael Engel, Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work; Reverend David Gleason, Chair, Social Impact Committee Gaming Task Force; and the Honorable William Peduto, Pittsburgh City Council; for lunch and a lively discussion regarding the social and economic impact of gaming on the region. Moderator: Bill Flanagan, Executive Vice President & Chief Public Affairs Officer, Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

Resources

Sustainable Dream Job: Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh Sustainable Design Coordinator

Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is seeking to promote sustainable and green building practices into not only the projects it supports but also its daily work practices throughout the agency. An individual with experience in the oversight of real estate development projects (including background in civil engineering, architecture or construction management), strong knowledge of emerging green building trends and technologies, and outstanding communication skills is sought to establish and implement agency-wide strategy to promote sustainable and green design practices and goals for all URA products and projects (including housing construction and rehabilitation, home ownership and home improvement financing, business development financing, brownfield redevelopment, large-scale commercial development/ redevelopment, and general construction procedures).

The Economist ranks Pittsburgh #26 global city

In an article entitled “The reinvention test,” The Economist explains that durable cities possess an ability to reinvent themselves through good government and a flourishiing economy. While a city may rise and fall in march of time, the quality of life may be maintained simply by being a pleasant place to live and work, with safe streets, affordable housing, and good sanitation operations.

Supreme letdown: The high court finds a way to accept discrimination

Ms. Ledbetter was a woman in a mostly man's world employed as a supervisor at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Ala., from 1979 until her retirement in 1998. She started off being paid pretty much the same as men in similar positions but ended up being paid much less. She charged discrimination the same year she retired. While Goodyear claimed that her pay was based on performance evaluations, a jury sided with her and awarded her damages and back pay. That award was overturned by a federal appeals court because she hadn't filed her claim within 180 days, as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While she was denied pay raises in 1997 and 1998, she couldn't prove that they were the result of discrimination at that time, even though her lower pay scale, compared with male workers, was the result of years of past discrimination -- discrimination, by the way, that she did not know about at the time because salaries of employees were kept confidential.

Our Green Bubble

Surely the most glaring contrast in American political life today is the amount of words, speeches and magazine covers devoted to the necessity of “going green,” “combating climate change” and gaining “energy security,” and the actual solutions being offered by our leaders to do any of these things. You could very comfortably drive a Hummer through the gap between our words and deeds. We are playing pretend — which, when you think about it, is really troubling. Here are the facts: Our worst enemies, like Iran, have been emboldened by all their petrodollars. The vast majority of scientists tell us that global warming caused by our burning of fossil fuels is a real danger. And with three billion new consumers from India, Russia and China joining the world economy, it is inevitable that manufacturing clean, green power systems, appliances, homes and cars will be the next great global industry. It has to be, or we will not survive as a species.

City approves tax break for new housing in 29 areas

City Council approved tax breaks yesterday designed to spur new housing Downtown even as it expressed misgivings about excluding some neighborhoods from the program. The measure, approved 8-0, will waive the first $2,700 in city property taxes for 10 years on new housing units built Downtown and in 28 other city neighborhoods.

Sports arena holds promise for Fayette

Regional, national and international cycling competitions that would draw athletes, sponsors and spectators from around the world. The feasibility study, which would take about six months, would determine whether the Snowden Square area in Brownsville's dilapidated Downtown or possibly other sites in the riverfront community will accommodate a publicly owned velodrome and related facilities for elite cyclists and events.

Coal big factor in state's rank as polluter

In their daily lives, many Americans unwittingly contribute far more to global warming than their neighbors purely because of where they live. The Associated Press analyzed state-by-state emissions of carbon dioxide from 2003, the latest U.S. Energy Department numbers available. The review shows startling differences in states' contribution to climate change. The biggest reason is the burning of high-carbon coal to produce cheap electricity. Pennsylvania remains one of the top polluters even if it is dwarfed by Texas. It ranked third in total carbon dioxide emissions in 2003, with 271 million metric tons. On a per capita basis, on the other hand, the state was about average in pollution per person.

Invisible Men: Many young black males are in crisis

In April, the National Urban League issued a dismal report on "The State of Black America: Portrait of the Black Male." The report cited data on incarceration, joblessness and educational attainment among young black males and called the issues they face the nation's most serious social crisis.

Study: Arts mean $341 million for economy

The arts provide more than pretty watercolors, booming orchestras and the fuzzy concept called quality of life -- they also pump $341.6 million into Allegheny County's economy every year and support the equivalent of 10,192 full-time jobs.

G8 leaders agree to climate deal

Leaders of the G8 nations have agreed to seek "substantial" cuts in emissions in an effort to tackle climate change. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G8 would negotiate within a UN framework to seek a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol by the end of 2009.

Maryland's state assessments have error rates below Pa. counties

In Maryland it's the state's responsibility to assess property, and the state assessors have an error rate that is four times lower than the average county in Pennsylvania. Maryland law now calls for each of the 33.2 million properties there to be reassessed every three years. The Department of Taxation and Assessments tends to assess about 700,000 a year, which is a third of all properties and any that have had construction or major changes that could affect the property value.

The Gund Foundation Climate Change Statement

The Foundation requires applicants, beginning with proposals submitted September 15, 2007, to provide a brief statement about what their organizations are doing or considering to reduce or eliminate their impact on climate change. The statement should address the organization's operations as well as its programming.

Macy's to Power 26 Stores with Solar

26 California Macy's stores will run on a total of 8 MW, announced the company. PowerLight has been selected to install the systems, and will also assist Macy's in energy efficiency improvements in the stores. The combination of efficiency and solar is expected to reduce Macy's energy use from utilities by 40%.

Flying on Air—and Hydrogen

European and American groups are racing to develop the world’s first fuel-cell-powered aircraft large enough to carry a person, a step designers hope will eventually help the aviation industry clean up its dirty legacy. Concerned about the contribution of aircraft to global warming, a team of private and public sector European engineers is hoping to build a prototype of an alternative-fueled airplane that can fly at 5,000 to 7,000 feet, at speeds up to 150 miles per hour, and cover 120 miles per trip.

Oregon Enacts 25% Renewables Law

Yesterday, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requiring that 25% of the power produced by the state's largest utilities come from renewable sources by 2025.

Eagles Announce Expansion Of 'Go Green' Campaign

Eagles owner Christina Lurie announced that the Eagles will reimburse their employees living in the Philadelphia region and New Jersey for purchasing wind energy, making it the first organization to pick up this type of cost for employees. The endeavor is part of the expansion of the organization's "Go Green" campaign, which was launched in 2003.

Pittsburgh violence rate outpaces U.S.

Pa. ranks 14th in energy efficiency, according to new report

The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for 2006 graded each state on what it's done to adopt energy efficiency policies, programs, and technologies that encourage more efficient energy usage..."The message that comes from the states' patchwork approach to energy efficiency standards and practices is that the time is long overdue for the federal government and the nation to get moving to close the gaps in our nation's energy policy through which our energy security and our efforts to curb global warming are undermined."

Mon Valley needs newcomers to revitalize, officials say

The Valley, they say, needs longtime residents or even newcomers who are willing to buy new and refurbished homes in downtrodden neighborhoods of communities like North Braddock and Braddock..."Braddock's Field will spur the revitalization of the neighborhood surrounding Library Street and Jones Avenue. Our goal is to help revive these once prosperous communities through affordable home ownership, elimination of blight, and an increased tax base," said Laura Zinski, executive director of the Mon Valley Initiative.

$125M referendums go to Maine voters (transit & water)

Maine residents will vote on two referendum questions next week, that, if approved, would authorize more than $125 million in bond issues for improvements to public transit and wastewater treatment facilities across the state. The two-year proposal is the largest work plan in state history and is the result of an unanticipated 35 percent hike in energy costs, according to Maine Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Greg Nadeau.

If you build it, they will come: Americans want smart growth alternatives to conventional transportation

Two-page fact sheet from NRDC that describes how smart growth land-use strategies (also known as location-efficient development, or ''new urbanism'') place a premium on what Americans value: shorter trips to and from the office and other destinations, opportunities to travel conveniently without having to drive, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, and amenities like restaurants, shops, and libraries within walking distance of their homes.

Unilever's CEO: Social innovation and sustainability the only game in town

Terminology aside, it’s what sustainable development - and what Unilever chief executive Patrick Cescau calls social innovation - represents - that is really interesting. To be clear: social innovation by business is a big part of what’s needed to get to sustainable development in general...According to Cescau, the "agenda of sustainability and corporate responsibility is not only central to business strategy but will increasingly become a critical driver of business growth... I believe that how well and how quickly businesses respond to this agenda will determine which companies succeed and which will fail in the next few decades."

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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 2007 from:

Dollar Bank
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
The Giant Eagle Foundation
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