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Events

Resources

Input to Project Region

Sustainable Pittsburgh gives kudos to SPC’s Project Region and urges project prioritization criteria. "With Project Region's strong footing for moving the region in a more sustainable direction, Sustainable Pittsburgh contends that SPC's critical role is to now ensure that all planning, programming, and investments adhere to the policies and principles made concrete by Project Region."

View Input Letter

Project Region

Resources Continued

Celebrate Chartiers Creek Day

Sunday, June 24
1 - 5 pm
Wingfield Pines - 1550 Mayview Road across from Boyce Mayview Park
Upper St. Clair
Learn More

The Regional Environmental Education Center and Allegheny Land Trust are excited to co-host the 2nd Annual Celebrate Chartiers Creek Day, a celebration of the successful efforts and organizations working to improve the Chartiers Creek Watershed. Wingfield Pines is an 80-acre stream side conservation area owned and managed by Allegheny Land Trust, located at 1550 Mayview Road across from Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair. A perfect setting to learn from local community groups, professional organizations and universities about the ecology and conservation of our local landscape and waterways. Participants will see displays, presentations and have the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities. Bring your hiking boots, binoculars, fishing pole and bait for a fun-filled day of stimulating outdoor activities, interactive education, kids crafts, story hour and more!

Climate Project: Energy, Global Warming and the Future

Monday, June 25
7 - 8:45 pm
Mt. Lebanon Public Library
No registration required; Info:412-531-1912 or tibbettsc@einetwork.net

Energy and Environment Series: Join Sharon Pillar, Global Warming Outreach Coordinator for PennFuture (Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future) for a presentation on energy, global warming, and the future. Sharon will present a portion of the slide show used in the Academy-Award-winning documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth. She will also discuss potential impacts of global warming in Pennsylvania and provide suggestions about the individual and legislative actions that will help address the climate crisis.

YERT Pre-Launch Party

Saturday, June 30
Union Project -- 801 North Negley Ave
Pittsburgh
Contact: 415-672-5537 or mark@yert.com
YERT Info: http://www.yert.com. Event Info: Click Here

YERT (Your Environmental Road Trip) is driving America to a new state of green with a groundbreaking year-long eco-adventure departing from Pittsburgh on the Fourth of July - America's Energy Independence Day. With video camera in hand and tongue in cheek, Mark, Ben, and Julie will examine the landscape of environmental sustainability in America! They're celebrating the launch of this video road trip with a big bash on June 30th. Come hang out with the team, meet new friends and neighbors, and enjoy eco-friendly food, games, films, and music - then say "Bon Voyage" as only Pittsburgh can. The Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club is co-sponsoring this event. Also, Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto will be a guest speaker.

BikeFest 07

June 29 - July 8
www.bike-pgh.org

BikeFest is Bike Pittsburgh’s annual celebration of two wheeled madness, showcasing Pittsburgh in all of its uniqueness and beauty. It is not an organized event, but a framework for organizing bicycle-themed events. Whether you ride everyday, the weekends, or always wanted to try, BikeFest! has an event for you.

Resources

China envisions environmentally friendly 'eco-city'

The state-run developer behind the $1.3 billion project envisions three modern villages on Chongming Island, which is about three-quarters the size of Manhattan. The communities will be powered by energy captured from sun, wind, biofuels and recycled organic material. A quarter of the island will be untouched ecological buffer. Grasses will grow on rooftops for natural insulation. Rainwater will be purified for use. Vehicles will operate on clean fuels.

Poway's new solar-powered apartments celebrated

Residents at Solara, Poway's newest affordable housing complex, joined a host of city, state and building officials in celebrating its energy efficiency Tuesday at the facility's Opening Celebration. Solara's rooftop solar panels and energy-conscious construction allow the project's manager, Escondido-based Community Housing Works, to eliminate residents' electricity bills.

Roads not taken in funding SEPTA?

The state leaves it little leeway for a local, dedicated source of revenue. Thirty-three states have authorized local or regional sales taxes specifically for transportation. Not Pennsylvania. In 15 states, gas taxes are used for mass transit. In Pennsylvania, a constitutional amendment requires that gas taxes be used for highways. In eight states, fees on auto registrations, titles and licenses are used for mass transit. In Pennsylvania, the constitutional amendment forbids that. In three states, local income taxes are used for mass transit. Not in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the reins of power - and money - are controlled from Harrisburg. Local governments and regional transit authorities such as SEPTA are limited to the few options the legislature provides.

Calling It `Smart Growth' Doesn't Make It So

In a way, the exploitation of the term is an indication of the movement's success, Goldberg said. On the other hand, if the term is being misused to attract interest and investment to projects that increase sprawl and otherwise defeat the purposes of smart growth, as Zahniser suggests is happening in California, that is not a good thing.

Global warming moves universities, agencies, businesses to fight for the planet

While the economic impact of federal carbon legislation in the United States will depend on the details yet to be worked out in Congress, it has the potential to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars from emitters of greenhouse gases to environmentally beneficial projects...So, want more jobs in the Pittsburgh region? Look to the clean energy business. Global warming will result in entire new industries, creating new jobs in research, manufacturing, construction, technology and financial and professional services. It's time to get on board this fast-moving train.

Poll shows renewable energy support

Voters want the state to invest in renewable energy, even if it means they would have to pay a little more on their electric bills.

"Energy from Biomass and Waste" Expo & Conference: Call for Papers

America's first international exhibition and conference on "energy from biomass and waste" (EBW) will be held on September 25 – 27, 2007 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On behalf of the organizer we are pleased to invite abstracts of original work on issues related to BIOMASS POWER, BIOGAS, BIOFUELS and WASTE-TO-ENERGY. A draft program can be viewed on: www.ebw-expo.com

The number of speaking opportunities is limited. Therefore, preference will be given to submissions from exhibitors and sponsors of the EBW Expo & Conference.

The DEADLINE for submissions is: JULY 6, 2007

IMPORTANT! - Required information:
-- Title of presentation
-- Name of speaker, affiliation
-- Full contact details incl. postal address, phone no., email
-- Brief description of max. 250 words

Please understand that complete manuscripts or power point presentations CANNOT be accepted for consideration.

Please submit your abstract no later than July 6, 2007 to: info@ebw-expo.com

Road map to a cleaner Pennsylvania

Climate change will affect the crops we raise, the storms we get, the kinds of forests and wildlife we see, the amount and kind of energy we use and how we develop our land. Because Pennsylvania contributes to the problem in a major way, we must take responsibility for finding solutions.

Ride to wisdom: The Legislature needs to fund transport to jobs

Across the state, public transportation suffers from the want of a dependable, dedicated stream of funding approved by the Legislature. In Allegheny County, the Port Authority was forced on Sunday to start its controversial plan of reducing service by 15 percent. But that is not the only service being threatened. Some Port Authority patrons may be able to adjust; not so these riders.

Stretch limo: Prom-goers ride the bus to a better tomorrow

The slogan "think globally, act locally" has been expressed many ways, but perhaps never as stylishly as it was by students at City Charter High School, Downtown, on Friday night. All dressed in their finery, they took a Port Authority bus to their prom in Oakland. No limo for them when the 61D was available. As Post-Gazette reporter Laura Yao wrote in Saturday's paper, 13 students took public transportation to conserve fuel and show their commitment to a better environment.

Google to offset all CO2 emissions by end of year

Google Inc. will offset all of its carbon dioxide emissions by the end of this year, the company announced yesterday.

EU and business launch research initiative for cleaner planes

The EU has launched a 1.6 billion Euros public-private research partnership to help the air- transport industry develop environmentally friendly technology for planes.

Van service to public housing folks threatened

The WorkLink Community Van Service is the only form of public transportation that goes near the Prospect Terrace public housing community in East Pittsburgh. But without legislative action to approve $3.5 million in matching funds by June 30, $4 million in federal funding for van service to the region's poorest workers will go away.

Summer fun: There's no lack of outdoor things to do in and around the city

If you're the wilderness type, Western Pennsylvania is home to a plethora of outdoor recreation.

Poverty persists in Pittsburgh

Over the past few years the number of people in Pittsburgh living below the government defined poverty level has nearly doubled. Out of the 50 states, Pennsylvania is ranked 30th for it percentage of the poor. In Pittsburgh, poverty outpaces the state level by two-fold. According to 2005 census data, Pennsylvania is tied with Washington State with 11.9 percent of its population in poverty. The national percentage is still higher at 13.3 percent, but Pittsburgh overshadows both numbers with 23.2 percent of its residents living at poverty’s door.

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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