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Events

Sustainable Pittsburgh Annual Retreat & Reading Library

The Sustainable Pittsburgh Board of Directors and office team are convening for the fourth annual strategic planning retreat.

We will be focused on our efforts to step up SP's role of creating regional connectedness and generating civic engagement through organizing for sustainability. Key to the strategy is development of SP's three networks: Champions for Sustainability, Sustainable Community Development Network, and Recreation Partners. Our aim is to enhance the presence of the sustainability framework (3E accountability) at regional decision making tables and continue SP's role as a convener and connector to inform policy and apply sustainability in business, community development and civic engagement.

To stay at the forefront of the many trends related to sustainability, we are reading a collection of articles that explore evolving issues including: the link between competitive advantage and corporate responsibility, protecting and promoting the long-term viability of a region’s assets and resources, reconnecting children with nature, and regional equitable development. Follow the link below to see what we are reading in preparation for retreat discussions and let us know what you are reading these days to advance your sustainable edge.

Click here for brief summaries of the articles and their associated links.

Events Continued

Resources

Energy Conservation Town Hall Meeting: Allegheny County

Friday, September 12
11:30 am - 1:30 pm (Lunch will be provided)
Dormont Borough Municipal Building
More Information

PennFuture is hosting a series of House Bill 2200 Spells Relief town meetings to get the word out on this vital legislation and urge the Senate to pass the bill. Learn how energy conservation will provide Pennsylvania families and businesses with important relief from high electricity costs. With presentations by representatives from local energy efficiency companies, organizations, and elected officials. An important bill before the State Senate, the Energy Savings Bill (House Bill 2200) would give families and businesses the tools and information they need to cut costs and their energy bills, fight global warming, and create Great Green Jobs in Pennsylvania. Come to this town hall meeting to find out how you can be part of the solution!

“Get to Know CommuteInfo Webinar”

Friday, September 12
Noon – 1:00 pm
To register, contact Lisa Kay Schweyer at lkschweyer@spcregion.org

With the increased interest in commuting alternatives, CommuteInfo is hosting its first ever webinar. Employers, commuters, etc. can log in from anywhere and view the presentation and then ask questions. The “formal” overview part of the program will last about 20 - 30 minutes. The rest of the time is reserved for answering questions from those in attendance. This webinar is tailored more for employers but is open to all. The webinar will be recorded and then posted on the CommuteInfo website.

Lecture by Cornell sustainable agriculture professor

Friday, September 19
4:00 pm
Chatham University, Eddy Theatre, Shadyside Campus, Woodland Road off Fifth Avenue
Contact: Nancy Gift, Ph.D., Asst. Professor & Acting Director of Rachel Carson Institute at 412-365-1637 or ngift@chatham.edu.

The Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University is pleased to host Cornell University's Dr. David Pimentel for a free environmental lecture. Dr. Pimentel will discuss the role of agriculture and agricultural knowledge within the United States increasingly urban population.

David Pimentel is a Professor of insect ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University. He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1951 and completed post-doctoral work at Oxford University and the University of Chicago. His research includes topics on Sustainable Agriculture, invasive species, energy, and natural resource management, and many others for which he has published over 600 scientific papers and 24 books. He has served on many government and national committees including the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Dept. of Energy, and The National Academy of Sciences. In a recent study, he has critiqued ethanol's large fossil fuel energy inputs and concluded that plant based ethanol is not a solution for oil independence.

Putting Intergovernmental Cooperation to Work: Employing Multi-municipal Planning to Link Communities and Conserve Costs

Friday, September 19
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Sheraton Station Square
Free, but pre-registration is required.
More information

Development patterns of the last 20 years have resulted in the spreading of residential, commercial, and office development over a wide auto-dependant area. A significant consequence of this trend is to largely separate where people live and where people work. In an era of rising fuel costs, this produces a dilemma for both employers and employees.

Local governments have a key role in responding to this situation. By moving from existing systems of intergovernmental cooperation to vital systems of intergovernmental coordination, local governments can help citizens save money, improve the quality of life and shore up their municipal budgets.

Sponsored by Comcast, and in partnership with the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, the 2008 Road to Excellence Conference will focus on access to employment, multi-municipal planning, developments of regional impact and tools currently available that expand intermunicipal coordination.

2008 National Park(ing) Day

Friday, September 19
For more information, visit http://pghparkingday.wordpress.com/.
Contact: Emily Craig at 412-258-6636 or emily@riverlifetaskforce.org

Join this annual celebration of transforming parking spaces into temporary public parks: Build your own park :: Help others build parks :: Visit Park(ing) Day parks near you. A collective of artists, activists, businesses and citizens, Park(ing) provides a unique opportunity for people to collaborate, not compete, to transform parking spaces around the city into temporary active or passive ‘green’ spaces. The goal is to showcase the possibilities for reducing pollution and land development impacts from automobile use. The Pittsburgh Park(ing) Day event is being organized by the following groups: Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Land Trust Alliance, Office of City Councilman Patrick Dowd, Office of Public Art, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Riverlife, The Trust for Public Land, and REBAR.

RAIN Lecture

Friday, September 19
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
River Forest Country Club, 1 River Landing, Freeport

Friday, October 10
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Riverside Center for Innovation, 700 River Ave., North Side
RSVP: ab@riversidecenterforinnovation.com or 412-322-3523 Refreshments will be served after a brief presentation.

The River Alert and Information Network (RAIN) is a network of 33 water utilities along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny rivers, and its partners, PA DEP, California University of PA and Riverside Center for Innovation. RAIN is holding these regional events to feature its plans for protection of these vital sources of drinking water through the development of an early warning detection system.

Green Chemistry: Solutions for a Healthy Economy

2008 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference
Saturday, September 20
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Powers Conference Center, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA
Registration: Adults $25.00; Students $10.00
Act 48 credit will be available for teachers.
Register online

The Rachel Carson Legacy Conference: “Green Chemistry: Solutions for a Healthy Economy” addresses the underlying need to design the toxicity and hazardous component out of consumer products and the processes that make them. The conference draws together 15 outstanding speakers including Dr. Paul Anastas, the founder of the principles of green chemistry, Dr. Terry Collins, Thomas Lord Professor of Green Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh recipients of the EPA Green Chemistry Awards, and entrepreneurial companies who are using green chemistry to solve problems. Dr. Ruth Etzel and Dr. Bruce Lanphear will address the epidemiology and the pediatric implications of significant environmental contaminants, with an emphasis on how designing them out of the system can improve the prognosis.

"Hard to Recycle” Collection

Saturday, September 20
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
North Park Pool Parking Lot
Fee: Varies
Contact: Sarah Alessio at 412-488-7490 ext. 236 or email at saraha@ccicenter.org.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) will be collecting freon and non-freon appliances, e-waste, televisions, tires without rims, ink and toner cartridges, CFLs, cell phones, mixed paper, and cardboard. All materials will be recycled and refurbished. There are fees involved for disposing of certain materials. Visit www.prc.org for details. The personalities of B94 radio will be on hand--everyone participating in the Hard to Recycle Collection is invited to step out of their vehicles and spin the B94 Prize wheel!

Cranberry Goes Green

Monday, September 22
9:00 am — 11:00 am
Cranberry Municipal Center, Council Chambers Room, Cranberry, PA
FREE to attend
Call the Chamber Office to reserve your seat: 724-776-4949

Sustainability is an awareness of the Environment, Economy, and social Equity (the three E’s). Decision-making processes that consider the positive or negative impacts to the three E’s produce successful results, the positive benefits of which are long-lasting. “Cranberry Goes Green!” will be a panel discussion about how individuals, organizations, communities, businesses and homeowners can make every-day decisions with sustainability in mind. Learn about this community’s efforts and what you can do!

Climate Change Update: Recent Federal and State Developments Affecting Business & Industry

A free webinar
Wednesday, September 24
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
RSVP by September 19 to Vicki Landa at vlanda@bccz.com or 412-394-6537. Please provide email address and phone number at time of registration.

Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, P.C. invites you to particiate in a free climate change webinar discussing recent U.S. EPA proposed rulemakings regarding the regulation of greenhouse gases, underground carbon sequestration wells, Pennsylvania legislative deveopments, and emerging litigation issues. This is an opportunity to receive a concise and timely update on climate change legal issues that may affect your business from experienced attorneys in BCCZ's Climate Change Group ahead of the upcoming rulemaking comment deadlines.

Reinhabiting Campus Neighborhoods: A Statewide Symposium

Wednesday, September 24
10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Crimson Event Center, Olive K. Folger Hall, Indiana, PA
Fee: $70 PA Chapter of APA Member; $75 PLCM or PSAB; $85 Non-Member
More information

This fall, two symposiums on the issues surrounding “campus neighborhoods” will be offered by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) in cooperation with the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM) and the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB).

The central focus of the symposium revolves around the conditions and future of campus neighborhoods in college towns. “Campus neighborhoods” are the ring of neighborhoods situated immediately adjacent to the college campus proper. These are typically neighborhoods of single family homes that have been converted to student housing. These “studentified” neighborhoods are often subject to conflict, blight, and displacement effects--effects that erode the fabric of the community and negatively impact the “bottom line” of the host municipality.

At the full-day symposium, a series of mini-lectures will introduce the issues surrounding campus neighborhood planning. Each of these mini-lectures will be followed by an interactive discussion anchored by panels from college towns across the region. In this discussion participants will square their experiences with other host communities through a series of question and answer sessions. Participants will return to their communities with a greater understanding of methods employed and lessons learned by other host communities.

Women’s Health & the Environment Conference

Thursday, September 25
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown
Free
Questions: 412-641-4059 or sue@mcmahon-cardillo.com

Join women – and men who care about the women in their lives – from around the region and beyond for the second conference on Women’s Health & the Environment: New Science, New Solutions. The conference will feature nationally renowned environmental scientists, writers and activists who will share the newest science in three areas essential to health in our everyday lives: air, water, and food. Experts also will address the health affects of personal care products that are supposed to enhance the quality of our lives. In addition to explaining scientific data that show how toxins in our environment negatively affect our health, presenters will share solutions that can create a healthier environment for you and your family. For more information visit www.womenshealthpittsburgh.org .

Pittsburgh Design Fair for House and Garden

Sunday, September 28
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Grand Hall at The Priory, North Side
Tickets: $5 in advance; $7 at the door.
The Deutschtown House Tour occurs on the same day in the same neighborhood. Combo tickets to both the Design Fair and House Tour are available for $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
To purchase tickets and for more information, visit pittsburghdesignfair.org or call 412-391-4144.

This year’s Design Fair features the theme of Green Living, and highlights a range of eco-friendly services and products such as flooring, windows, kitchens and baths, and landscaping for a healthier, more energy efficient home. The Pittsburgh Design Center—a sponsor and featured exhibitor at last year’s Design Fair—is expanding its presence at this year’s event by offering informal consultations with some of the region’s finest interior designers. Questions about furniture, accessories, lighting, kitchens and baths, fireplaces, architectural finishes, fabrics, and even garage floor coatings and finishes can be addressed to experts. Also new at the 2008 Pittsburgh Design Fair for House and Garden is an extended demonstration area at the outdoor Blumengarten, across the street from The Priory’s Grand Hall, showcasing the green practices of rain barrel water collection and composting. The Pittsburgh Design Fair for House and Garden is an event of the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP).

Get Energy Smarter Community Expo

Sunday, October 12
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
64 South 14th Street (at East Caroson), South Side
Free
Contact: 412-431-4449

Hosted by Conservation Consultants, this family friendly expo will feature numerous exhibitors, giveaways, and contests! Get energy saving tips for the home, register to win a free home insulation package and trade in 3 of your old bulbs for 3 new energy saving bulbs. For more information visit www.getenergysmarter.com. And don't worry - Sunday the 12th is a Steelers bye-week!

Energy from Biomass and Waste

October 14–16
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown
More information

"Energy from biomass and waste" can make a significant contribution to oil-independence and climate protection with clean power, heat, and vehicle fuels. The technology opens up new earning potentials and markets (domestic & international) for the waste management & power generation industry, as well as for new market players such as the agricultural sector. At this conference, more than 100 exhibitors will showcase the latest in sustainable energy production and safe waste handling. Over 1,000 delegates are expected to attend. The low entrance fee includes admission to the expo and all conference sessions.

Resources

A funding formula for failure at the Port Authority

The bottom line: The [Port] [A]uthority will receive a mere 0.8 percent more from the state this year than for the 2007-08 fiscal year -- an increase well below inflation, less than 36 other transit systems and less than all but one, rural Carbon County (0.5 percent). Meanwhile, some will get a maximum 20 percent increase.

$20M Center for Sustainable Landscapes to become one of world’s greenest buildings

The organization’s $20 million Center for Sustainable Landscapes, a living building that will house education, research and administration facilities, is part of Phipps’ multi-year expansion. . .To qualify as a living building—according to a 2006 challenge issued 2006 by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Cascadia Chapter —the center must be a zero net energy structure that generates its own energy with renewable resources and captures and treats all water on site. Phipps expects the structure to exceed LEED Platinum certification, the green building industry’s highest ranking.

More

Environmentalists, unions call for green-jobs plan

The report, released today by the Green Jobs for America Campaign, says a combination of tax credits, loan guarantees to small businesses and direct public investment spending could jump-start a clean energy transition that would produce good jobs in civil, environmental, electrical and chemical engineering fields, steel and metal working, heating and air conditioning, the construction trades, and contracting. . .The report says that thousands of Pennsylvanians already have the skills necessary to work in clean energy and building-retrofitting jobs.

New mines lag as coal booms

For the first time since "globalization" became an industry buzzword, U.S. coal companies clearly are beneficiaries of foreign trade. "It's a complete reversal of the manufacturing profile in the United States," Popovich said. Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said the boom isn't producing many new faces among operators, but it has brought in investors and companies wanting to be part of the boom. "There's a lot of interest in buying mines and reserves and consolidating the industry," he said. "Suddenly, coal mines have the attention of Wall Street."

PA Recycling Markets Center Launches Products, Commodities GIS Tool

The purpose of the Products and Commodities GIS Tool is to connect the demand and supply sides of secondary, recycled commodity chains. The Tool allows users to select and search facilities geographically and by material type. Through Google maps, the zoom feature illustrates markers while identifying facility locations and provides facility name, contact information, and driving directions.

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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 2008 from:

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
Richard King Mellon 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