3E Links readers are early adopters of sustainable policies, products, and practices, and agents of change who educate friends and colleagues about the triple bottom line. Please share your issue of 3E Links with others and encourage them to subscribe by e-mailing info@sustainablepittsburgh.org.

Events

Sustainable Pittsburgh launches newly designed web site

After more than a decade of compiling resources on sustainable development, Sustainable Pittsburgh continues to amass valuable information to serve leaders and stakeholders throughout southwestern Pennsylvania who are working to accelerate the policy and practice of sustainability.

SP's updated web site is designed for easier navigability of resources including: tools, publications, links, podcasts, checklists, etc. The clean layout facilitates learning about Sustainable Pittsburgh's ongoing projects and services, and the three primary networks: Champions for Sustainability (C4S), Sustainable Community Development Network (SCDN), and the Outdoor Recreation and Amenities Partnership.

To keep abreast of our work and sustainability issues in the Pittsburgh region, visit often for updates and event notices. Of course the highly acclaimed 3E Links Archive continues to be available as a go to for timely insights to news, events and resources. Check out the site at www.sustainablepittsburgh.org.

Resources

TONIGHT: The Summer's Hot Business Topic: A Discussion of Energy Policy and The American Clean Energy and Securities Act

Thursday, July 30
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Free
New Hazlett Theater, Allegheny Square E., North Side Pittsburgh
For more information and/or to register visit the C4S web site.

The American Clean Energy and Securities Act commands attention of all industries as it sets a new course for energy and climate policy. The stakes are high as the nation grapples with the transition to a new energy economy.

On July 30, 2009, a group of leaders from regional companies and organizations will discuss multiple facets of energy and climate policy in response to the recent passage of this Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. Moderated by Rob Jones, Sr. Manager, Public Affairs at Dominion Peoples and President & CEO at IngoodCompany LLC, the panel will include:

- Lee Ann Briggs, Regional Environmental Specialist, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center
- William O'Rourke, Vice President for Sustainability and Environment, Health and Safety, Alcoa
- Sharon Pillar, Global Warming Outreach Coordinator, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future
- Keith Schaefer, Founder, CEO, and President, BPL Global
- Steve Winberg, VP, Research and Development, Consol Energy

The event, entitled “The Summer's Hot Business Topic: A Discussion of Energy Policy and The American Clean Energy and Securities Act,” will be hosted by Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Champions for Sustainability network at the New Hazlett Theater from 6pm – 8:30pm and is free to attend.

Panelists will share thoughts following a screening of a taped debate on energy issues (from The Miller Center of Public Affairs National Discussion and Debate Series) featuring:

- Karen Harbert, President and CEO, Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- John Podesta, President, Center for American Progress; former White House Chief of Staff
- Christine Todd Whitman, Co-chair of CASEnergy Coalition; former EPA Administrator; former Governor of New Jersey
- James Woolsey, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners; former Director of Central Intelligence Agency

Companies and communities are working hard to reconcile challenging and difficult issues relating to energy policy, and Southwestern Pennsylvania has much at stake in this discussion. This event is intended to help businesses in our region assess the opportunities and challenges emerging from the debate over energy and climate policy.

Road to Sustainability

Tuesday, October 13
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Community College of Beaver County Dome
Cost: $35 per person (includes breakfast and lunch)

Hosted by the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), Congressman Jason Altmire, L. Robert Kimball & Associates, and Sustainable Pittsburgh, “The Road to Sustainability” Conference is aimed at providing information to businesses and organizations about what it really means to “go green” as well as what it will take to get the current workforce trained to do so. Scheduled topics include the following:
• Sustainable Development
• Green Building and LEED
• Energy Auditing
• Mechanical Systems
• Grant Writing
• Act 129 opportunities
• Act 167 and Future Storm Water Management
• Solid Waste Management

A Resources Room will also be available throughout the day, highlighting vendors displaying green products and services.

Webinar - Business Strategies for Environmental Sustainability

Stanford Graduate School of Business
Tuesday, August 4
11:00 am - Noon
Cost: Complimentary
More information

With shifting values among consumers and a broader reexamination of rampant capitalism and its dark side, issues of sustainability are now viewed as pointing the way towards a more balanced and truly prosperous world.

In this upcoming webinar, "Sustainability Matters: Business Strategies for Environmental Sustainability," Professor William P. Barnett, the Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Business Leadership, Strategy, and Organizations here at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, will discuss the state of the environmental sustainability movement. He will provide new insights regarding the roles of business, non-profit organizations, and government.

Key takeaways from this webinar will include:
- Managing tradeoffs between business and environmental goals.
- Governmental strategies for harnessing markets to solve environmental problems.
- Pragmatic shifts NGOs should take to be more relevant and effective.

150 years of Pittsburgh transit

August 6 - 9, 2009
10:00 am - 5:00 pm daily
NOTE: “Birthday cake cutting” ceremony at the Museum’s horse car at 12:30pm, Thursday August 6th, with Museum officials and Steve Bland, CEO of the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
Admission fee: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors ages 62+, $5 for Children 3-15. Infants 2 and under are free. Family rate: $30 (covers up to two adults and four children)
More information

Inspired by the 150th anniversary of Pittsburgh’s first horse car line, which began operation along Penn Avenue on August 6, 1859 by the Citizens Passenger Railway, the Pittsburgh Trolley Museum will feature the only preserved Pittsburgh horse car in existence. For the event, the public will get a rare look inside the horse car, while learning about what life was like during that era. Other Pittsburgh streetcars will also be featured, culminating with a peek inside of Port Authority’s newest and most energy-efficient hybrid buses to show the progression of 150 years of technology.

Many other activities are available during this multi-day celebration. Admission includes a scenic four-mile trolley ride and guided tour of our original car house; a museum store, theater and picnic area. Parking is free.

2009 Wonderful World of Water Camp

August 11-12, 2009
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Regional Environmental Education Center (REEC), Upper St Clair
For more information and registration materials please contact Nancy at 412-431-4449, ext. 247 or nancym@ccicenter.org

Presented by Pennsylvania American Water, the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC), and the Regional Environmental Education Center, the 2009 Wonderful World of Water Camp offers young residents, ages 7-11, of Pittsburgh’s South Hills area, two fun-filled days of environmental learning.

Day campers attending this free camp will:
o Explore watershed basics
o Learn how human activity on the land affects the quality of water in rivers and streams
o Learn what we can do to help protect and preserve our watersheds
o Hike the park’s nature trails
o Conduct water experiments
o Make related crafts

Wind Energy in our Backyard: Friend or Foe?

Monthly Public Meeting of Allegheny Group Sierra Club
Wednesday, August 12
7:30 pm
Phipps Civic Garden Center, Fifth and Shady Aves, Squirrel Hill
Contact Donald L. Gibbon, dongibbon@earthlink.net, with questions.

What is the role of wind power in PA? Join the Allegheny Group Sierra Club for an informative evening featuring a representative of GAMESA, the large Spanish firm building wind turbines locally in Ebensburg, explaining this company's point of view. This will be followed by Patty DeMarco, PhD, formerly Executive Director of the Power Facilities Evaluation Council of Connecticut dealing with such issues as nuclear power plant safety, energy conservation, and clean fuels technology, also a Commissioner of the Alaska Regulatory Commission, with jurisdiction over all electric, gas, water, refuse utilities and oil and gas pipelines. She is presently head of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, and she will present a wide-ranging look at comparative impacts of wind and other energy sources. Refreshments provided.

Coro Fellows Social Innovation Fair

Friday, August 14
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Benedum Center, Studio A, 719 Liberty Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh
To learn more or RSVP, contact Kelsey Halling at khalling@coropittsburgh.org

Providing relevant, scalable ideas for all sectors to solve community problems.

Agenda:
11:30 - 2:00 - Browse table displays from organizations across the city
11:45 - Coro Fellows Presentation, "Social Innovation in Downtown Pittsburgh"
12:25 - Panel Discussion "Strategies for Social Innovation"

Learn from Social Innovators About:
- developing a new product or service that is socially innovative.
- changing internal operations to decrease expenses and provide social benefit.
- transforming your programs and services to achieve your mission.
- creating a new business model that is profitable and solves a social problem.

State Transportation Commission Public Hearing

Friday, August 21
8:00 am
Regional Enterprise Tower, 31st Floor, Downtown Pittsburgh
More information

The State Transportation Commission (STC) will hold a public hearing in anticipation of the 2011 Twelve Year Transportation Program. All individuals wishing to testify are required to submit an electronic abstract for each project or each issue upon which they will present testimony. Written testimony may be submitted in lieu of oral comments. Written testimony will be accepted between August 5, 2009 and September 30, 2009. Pennsylvania’s Twelve Year Transportation Program identifies the Commonwealth's improvement efforts in all major transportation modes: highways, bridges, aviation, rail and transit. The transportation program included in the first four years of the Twelve Year Program is referred to as the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP. The update of the Twelve Year Transportation Program provides a valuable opportunity for members of the general public to provide input to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the State Transportation Commission. This public input provides direction for maintaining and improving Pennsylvania’s bridges and highways, public transportation system, aviation, and rail freight infrastructure.

"It's Easy Being Green"

Golden Triangle Green Roof Breakfast
Friday, August 21
7:30 am - 10:00 am
Highmark, Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown Pittsburgh
Free to attend
RSVP by Friday, August 7
Contact: Janie French at 412-578-8376 or jfrench@3rww.org

Green roofs not only provide an oasis of color, but they also reduce storm water runoff, cut energy use and extend the life of a roof. Learn the dynamic benefits of green roofs at a breakfast presentation co-hosted by Dr. Ken Melani, Highmark President and CEO; Dan Onorato, Allegheny County County Executive; and Luke Ravenstahl, City of Pittsburgh Mayor. This event is especially targeted towards building managers and owners. Plans are in development to discuss more green roof opportunities in the region.

Guest presenters will include:
Rob Berghage, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University
Green Roof Representatives, Highmark Fifth Avenue Place and Heinz 57 - McKnight Property Management.

All guests will receive a green roof resource guide and have the opportunity to view Highmark's green roof. Upon arrival to event, go to the registration table at Fifth Avenue Place, first level. Guests will be escorted to the Fourth Floor Viewing Room.

Running For Public Office FALL 2009

Beginning September 24, 2009
12 consecutive Thursday sessions from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $150 upon acceptance into the program
For more information and to apply, click here.

Running for Public Office is an experiential learning program of the Coro Center for Civic Leadership. Standing for election to a public office is an important form of civic engagement and one of the highest forms of public service. The vision of Running for Public Office is to strengthen citizen participation in public elections and to increase the diversity and level of preparation of candidates running for office in Greater Pittsburgh.

Seminars include:
1. Getting prepared for Running for Public Office
2. Creating a Learning Environment for your Team
3. Building your campaign team: The “Kitchen Cabinet”
4. Research and Message Development
5. The Budget
6. Fundraising
7. Paid and Earned Media
8. Targeting
9. Direct Contact with Voters
10. Recruiting and Engaging Volunteers
11. Get-Out-The-Vote
12. Election Day

Third Annual Rachel Carson Legacy Conference
When Chemicals Disrupt: Managing Our Risks

Friday, September 25
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Bidwell Training Center, 1815 Metropolitan Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
Tickets: $90
Pre-registration and pre-payment is required.
More information

Featuring leaders of national and state government, academic institutions, environmental and social justice advocacy organizations and medical science, the conference will address the dichotomy between critical protection of the environment (and our bodies and those of the next generations) from endocrine disrupting contaminants and the unbridled economic interest of those who produce substances which directly or indirectly act as endocrine or developmental disruptors.

Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other such synthetic compounds known as endocrine disruptors are chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. They are used widely in agriculture, industry and consumer products. They fool the body into over-production or under-production of natural hormones. They have been linked to feminization of fish, hermophrodization in frogs, and there is a growing body of scientific evidence that links endocrine disruptors to obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes in humans. Other research has shown that male sperm count is dropping and that genital abnormalities in newborn boys are increasing.

This Rachel Carson Legacy Conference will look at the serious and urgent topic of endocrine disruptors in three parts: Policy, Science and Remedies.

Resources

Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheets available online

Toward cultivating greater capacity for sustainable practice around Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Sustainable Community Development Network of Sustainable Pittsburgh partnered with leading organizations to produce a new series of Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheets and a Rapid Assessment for communities. These resource sheets identify 14 essentials of a sustainable community - from Air Quality to Food Security to Governance - and provide an explanation of each topic and case studies – a perfect tool for community leaders to use as they work to improve their neighborhoods.

Think you know what Smart Growth is?

Take this short ten-question quiz on the Ten Tenets of Smart Growth.

More

Help Wanted: Power of 32 Project Manager

Incumbent will assist Executive Director with all programmatic aspects of Power of 32, a two-year, grant-funded, regional visioning project to engage the citizens. 32 Counties. 4 States. 1 Vision. Power of 32 is a two-year, grant funded, regional visioning project to engage the citizens of the economic region comprised of southwestern PA, Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia and Western Maryland to establish a consensus vision and action agenda for the region's prosperity and quality of life for decades to come. Project Manager will primarily have responsibility for the oversight of multiple regional communication and outreach projects in this multi-state, 32 county regional activity.

Help Wanted: Institute of Politics Policy Strategist

Professional position responsible for assisting Senior Policy Strategist with program development, administration and oversight. Will work with Senior Policy Strategist on the development and implementation of public policy committee civic engagement activities including but not limited to educational seminars/forums/publications addressing critical policy issues affecting southwestern PA. Will have responsibility for researching public policy issues at the direction of the Senior Policy Strategist and developing an understanding of all committee policy agendas. More included in full job description; search position number 0113717.

The El Paso miracle - The safest cities are those with the most immigrants

"If you want to find a safe city, first determine the size of the immigrant population," says Jack Levin, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Massachusetts. "If the immigrant community represents a large proportion of the population, you're likely in one of the country's safer cities. San Diego, Laredo, El Paso -- these cities are teeming with immigrants, and they're some of the safest places in the country."

Low Impact Development Saves Money and Expedites Approvals

An example of saving construction costs using low-impact development techniques can be found at Black Walnut Estates in South Fayette Township, Pa. Rather than designing the roadway as a typical residential street having a cross slope to both sides of the road, the road at Black Walnut Estates was sloped to only one side, and vegetated swales were chosen over traditional curbing, inlets and piping. The cost of materials and labor for the channel installation was much less expensive than constructing an inlet conveyance system.

Company Decreases Cost, Complexity Of Its Solar Thermal Technology

Stirling Energy Systems (SES), based in Phoenix, has decreased the complexity and cost of its technology for converting the heat in sunlight into electricity, allowing for high-volume production," and "will begin building very large solar-power plants using its equipment as soon as next year." The company's technology "uses 12-meter-wide mirrors in the shape of a parabolic dish to concentrate sunlight onto a Stirling engine," and the new production design "cuts about two metric tons from the weight of each dish and reduces the number of mirrors in each from 80 to 40. The simplified design can be built in large quantities using equipment in existing factories for automobiles.

Obama officials come to applaud more Phila. supermarkets

"This community had been redlined by banks and supermarkets," Hudson said. She said that working with the Fresh Food Financing Initiative to build the ShopRite helped improve the community. "The thing we were looking for was a better quality of life for the community," Hudson said. "This has helped.". . .Lehmann said the initiative started after the food trust developed a map showing which neighborhoods did not have supermarkets. A 2001 study showed that neighborhoods that lacked supermarkets had "incredibly high rates of diet-related death and disease," Lehmann said.

'Redemption' in an Era of Widespread Criminal Background Checks

We believe that our preliminary findings and ongoing research offer an opportunity to think about when an ex-offender might be "redeemed" for employment purposes — that is, when his or her criminal record empirically may be shown to be irrelevant as a factor in a hiring decision. People performing criminal background checks would find it valuable to know when an ex-offender has been clean long enough that he presents the same risk as other people in the general population. Employers also might be more likely to use this type of analysis if there were state statutes protecting them against due diligence liability claims when they adhered to reasonable risk-analysis findings. We also believe that our findings could play an important role in policy discussions about the maintenance of and access to criminal record databases.

Walking and biking is better: It's time for the federal government to promote healthier transportation

Their case is strong. We've had a near-century of overwhelming federal funding preference for the automobile. Rails to Trails calculates that a nationwide promotion of biking and walking for short trips could cut from 70 billion to 200 billion miles off what Americans drive yearly. We'd reduce our oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by at least 3 percent, and perhaps as much as 8 percent. Our air would be cleaner and we would be more fit.

UK pins climate race hopes on carbon capture pilot

CCS captures CO2 from power stations and stores it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. It should help European countries meet their joint target of a 20-percent cut in CO2 emissions by 2020 while safeguarding continued operations of coal-to-power industries...Britain wants to take the lead on the technology to create green jobs and profit from global business potentially worth 2 billion to 4 billion pounds by 2030. It could also make up ground lost to its European neighbours in renewable energy deployment.

World's species into one centralised digital library

ARKive is the Noah's Ark for the Internet era - a unique global initiative, gathering together films and photographs of the world's species into one centralised digital library. Using these films and photographs, ARKive is creating a valuable record of the world's biodiversity; accessible to all via its award-winning website.

Saigon Project To Turn Waste Into Compost

A Minnesota company with Vietnamese roots will open in several weeks about 35 miles northwest of the former Saigon." The project, from Minneapolis-based Lemna, "evolved from an international development study that found that what is now Ho Chi Minh City must divert garbage from open sewers and two huge, fly-invested landfills to a facility that could turn the problem into rich organic fertilizer." The project has suffered several delays, but by 2011 is projected to "process 1,200 tons of garbage daily into compost for sale to farmers," and "is expected to cut Vietnam's imported-fertilizer bill by tens of millions of dollars annually." Lemna "has built 300-plus pond-based municipal and industrial treatment facilities that rely largely on biological, low-cost systems for treating wastewater pollutants.

Researchers Make Biodiesel From Chicken Feathers

Researchers in the department of chemical and materials engineering at the University of Nevada in Reno are at it again. Last year they showed the world that it was possible to make biodiesel fuel from coffee grounds. This time, it's chicken feathers." In a paper in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the researchers "describe how they extracted fat from chicken feather meal and converted it into good-quality biodiesel." They "extracted the fat by boiling the meal in water and converting it to biodiesel by a process called transesterification." According to researchers, "there is enough feather meal produced in the United States alone to create about 150 million gallons of biodiesel a year.

Bamboo: Pitt team building school in India from the material

Dr. Harries offers bamboo as a solution. It can be grown where it's used. Lighter bamboo structures place less stress on hillsides, Dr. Harries said, equating its strength with fiberglass. . ."We're looking at ways to improve residential housing stock in a sustainable manner," Dr. Harries said, noting that the Pitt research is done in affiliation with Pitt's Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. The center studies and promotes green technologies.

Green's a good idea for baby's home

Dr. Harries offers bamboo as a solution. It can be grown where it's used. Lighter bamboo structures place less stress on hillsides, Dr. Harries said, equating its strength with fiberglass. . ."We're looking at ways to improve residential housing stock in a sustainable manner," Dr. Harries said, noting that the Pitt research is done in affiliation with Pitt's Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. The center studies and promotes green technologies.

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

3E Links is sent as a service to Sustainable Pittsburgh Members and interested parties and is being distributed for informational purposes. The information above was provided by or obtained from the organizing institution or one of its representatives. Our distribution does not imply endorsement. To unsubscribe, reply to this e-mail and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

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 to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2009 from:

Bayer Corporation
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
Falk Foundation
FedEx Ground
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Dylan Todd Simonds Foundation
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC


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