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Events

Resources

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5th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Equitable Development Summit

"The Employment Priority - Inclusion in the Workforce: Positioning Our Region to Prosper and Compete"
Thursday, December 11
8:30 am - 12:30 pm (8:00 am - Registration and Continental Breakfast)
Twentieth Century Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland
Fee: $10 Sustainable Pittsburgh members; $15 non-members
Register online
More information: info@sustainablepittsburgh.org or 412-258-6642
Keynote: Dr. Chris Benner, Associate Professor of Community and Regional Development and Chair of the Community Development Graduate Group at the University of California, Davis
Reaction by Dr. Larry Davis, Dean, School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh

Click here for more information.

Resources Continued

“LEED the way to Green Buildings”

Monday, December 8
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Regional Enterprise Tower, 23rd Floor - A.E. Hunt Room, Downtown
Cost: $15.00 Includes lunch and workshop materials
RSVP By: December 5 to 412-392-0610 or information@aaccwp.com

Featuring Robert Kobet, AIA, LEED AP - World Renowned leader & Green Building Pioneer and Stanley Salwocki/Architect - PA Housing and Finance Agency (an agency that provides financing to companies doing restoration in our region).

This workshop, the first of a four-part series, is designed to broaden your understanding about LEED & Green Building Projects. This workshop is developed for:
• Industry contractors
• Professionals services(accountants, attorneys)
• Business consultants & other professionals.

Presented by the African American Chamber of Commerce Business Institute in partnership with
• PA Department of General Services
• PA Housing and Finance Agency
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Minority and Women Educational Labor Agency

The Sustainable Workplace: Efficient, Healthier, Innovative and Cost-Effective

Wednesday, December 10
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Fee: $40
For information or to register call Ivana Spehar at 412-397-6009 or e-mail spehar@rmu.edu.
You may also register online here.

Learn how you can apply sustainability policies and practices in your day-to-day decision making and office to accelerate innovation.

Free Energy Savings Seminar

Thursday, December 11
Community College of Beaver County, Library Resource Center, 1 Campus Drive, Monaca
10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Free; lunch will be provided
Please RSVP by December 4, 2008 to Ryan Falcone at 412-391-5590 x348

Please join us at this free, informative seminar to learn how your municipality can conserve energy and save money through energy procurement and demand-side energy management. This seminar will include a presentation from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) and OnDemand Energy Solutions, as well as a panel discussion of local officials who will share their experiences with energy procurement and demand-side energy management. Energy Procurement
- Increased purchasing power
- Increased flexibility
- Access to the wholesale markets for lower costs
- Same purchasing power as the largest industrial users in PA
- AVOID utility rate adjustments every 3 to 6 months
- Save money
Demand-Side Energy Management
- Save money
- Energy conservation
- Improved lighting
- Equipment upgrades
- Energy management control systems

5th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Equitable Development Summit

"The Employment Priority - Inclusion in the Workforce: Positioning Our Region to Prosper and Compete"
Thursday, December 11
8:30 am - 12:30 pm (8:00 am - Registration and Continental Breakfast)
Twentieth Century Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland
Fee: $10 Sustainable Pittsburgh members; $15 non-members
Register online
More information: info@sustainablepittsburgh.org or 412-258-6642
Keynote: Dr. Chris Benner, Associate Professor of Community and Regional Development and Chair of the Community Development Graduate Group at the University of California, Davis
Reaction by Dr. Larry Davis, Dean, School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh

Deploying talents of all residents and unleashing the benefits and innovation that come from diversity in the workforce are essential for a region and businesses that strive to secure a competitive edge. Our region, with its stagnant population growth, can ill-afford to leave behind anyone not working to his or her potential.

This year's Summit builds on the momentum from last year's discussion from which a leadership group came together to identify actions to address our region's equitable development. Rising to the fore is the regional economic benefit derived from enabling all African-Americans and others of color to participate fully in the workforce and to live to their productive potential. As southwestern Pennsylvania comes together and more than ever acknowledges that prosperity is directly linked to ensuring all residents are contributing through good jobs and opportunity, it is apparent that ongoing disparities in employment in communities of color are incongruous.

During the Summit, Dr. Chris Benner will present a draft of a landmark framing paper, co-authored with PolicyLink, specific to southwestern PA, that substantiates this reality and economic imperative. This work will illustrate the bottom-line business benefit and productive role a fully employed diverse population stands to play in the economy. It will serve to catalyze much more than a lip service response concerning a targeted employment agenda.

By rotating through choice of two of four facilitated breakout groups, Summit participants will have the opportunity to help shape the paper and to advance partnerships and practical steps the region will take to remove barriers and to seize on inclusion in employment as a vital part of our economic development strategy and success among business and industry.

Breakout Groups and Facilitators:
- Human Resources: Surmounting Barriers
Randy Brockington, Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Candi Castleberry-Singleton, UPMC

- Business Case for Diversity
Victoria Chester, Highmark and Joe Massaro III, Massaro Corporation

- Workforce Training: Goals, Outcomes, Coordination
Josifani Moyo, Manchester Bidwell Corporation and Ron Painter, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board

- Outreach Strategy: Community, Media, Political
Allen Kukovich, Southwest Regional Office of the Governor and Bob Oltmanns, Skutski & Oltmanns

Presented by:

African American Chamber of Commerce
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership, University of Pittsburgh, Katz/CBA School of Business
Center on Race and Social Problems, University of Pittsburgh
Coro Center for Civic Leadership
Falk Foundation
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs: Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs: Public and Urban Affairs Program and Innovation Clinic
Heritage Health Foundation, Inc.
Local Government Academy
Mon Valley Initiative
POISE Foundation
Remaking Cities Institute
Sustainable Pittsburgh's Sustainable Community Development Network
The Black Political Empowerment Project and Coalition Against Violence
Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board
Urban League of Pittsburgh, Inc.
Welcome Center for Immigrants & Internationals
Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative
Women and Girls Foundation

Sponsored by:

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Richard King Mellon Foundation

A+ Schools' 2008 Report to the Community: A Closer Look

Lunch and Learn
Monday, December 15
11:30 am - Doors open; Presentation begins at Noon
Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group conference room, 1901 Centre Ave, Suite 200, Uptown
Fee: PCRG Members - FREE; Government and Bank Partners - $12; Non-members - $15
Flyer
RSVP by Thursday, December 11th: sstutts@pcrg.org or 412-391-6732 x210

Please join Carey Harris, Executive Director of A+ Schools, and PCRG for an in-depth look at the 2008 Report to the Community. The report examines student achievement as well as contextual indicators at 59 Pittsburgh Public Schools. The report also contains illustrative charts to compare district schools to each other. Come learn more about how community groups can use this report to engage with schools and develop strategies for helping students achieve greater academic success. Lunch will be provided.

Playground of the Future Lunchtime Lecture

Tuesday, December 16
Noon
Schenley Park Cafe and Visitor's Center, Oakland
Free
Contact: Kelsey Livingston at khliving@andrew.cmu.edu

This lunchtime lecture, hosted by the Playground of the Future team, will focus on developments in playground design around the world and their impact on the future of play. This lecture is free and open to the public, and is intended to begin a discussion about the future of playgrounds in Pittsburgh. The Playground of the Future team is a Master's student project at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, mentored by the staff of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. The team of four students spent the semester researching current developments in playground design and prototyping their own ideas for the future of playgrounds. During the course of their research, they have discovered many playground concepts which excite children to explore the world around them, to think creatively, and to be active in their play.

Corporate Workshops on Carbon Emissions and Life Cycle Assessment

Thursday, January 29 - "Corporate Carbon Emission Inventories"
Friday, January 30 - "Carbon Footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment for Corporate Decision-Making"
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business, Oakland
Cost: GDI Consortium Members can participate in both workshops free of charge. Cost for non-members is $1,000 per workshop, $1,600 for both.
More information

Business executives have noted that issues related to corporate and supply chain carbon emissions are a top priority for managers to address in the coming months. To assist managers in targeting issues related to carbon management, the Green Design Institute at Carnegie Mellon and the CMU Tepper School of Business Executive Education Center are offering two workshops in January 2009.

The workshop on Corporate Carbon Emissions Inventories will focus on challenges with estimating carbon emissions, including setting the boundary for different activities within a company and along its supply chain, examining options to register and disclose carbon emission reduction efforts and how these connect to potential future regulations.

The workshop on Carbon Footprinting and Life Cycle Assessment for Corporate Decision-Making will focus on the basics of life cycle assessment as a tool for estimating carbon footprints. We will discuss various software applications available for LCA projects, including the Green Design Institute's free on-line Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment tool.

Both workshops are designed as stand-alone seminars, but together provide an encompassing perspective of corporate carbon emissions issues.

Contemplating Governing: A Course for Potential Candidates for Local Office

January 2009
3 locations in SWPA: Green Tree Borough, Butler Township, Donohoe Center (Greensburg)
All sessions held at 6:00 pm
Program Fee: $45 per person
Pre-registration is required.
For more information call 412-237-3171 or visit www.localgovernmentacademy.org

Contemplating Governing is an introduction to serving in local government. These sessions will help individuals decide if local government service is right for them and encourage responsible campaigning. This program will provide citizens the opportunity to consider the challenges, requirements, opportunities, and reasons to serve in local elected office. The course seeks to inform the office seeker as they embark on the campaign process.

This 3-part program will include information on:
• Overcoming obstacles to running and meeting legal requirements
• Understanding the Pennsylvania local government environment including powers and duties of various boards and commissions such as City and Borough Councils, Township Commissioners or Supervisors, School Directors
• Measuring board effectiveness
• Determining what is a responsible campaign pledge
• Understanding local government taxation and services
• Local government’s important role in community sustainability

These sessions are being held prior to the first day to circulate and file nomination petitions on February 17, 2009. Upon successful election, the program fee will be credited towards the tuition of the 2009 - 2010 Newly Elected Officials Course.

Resources

The Sustainable Development Challenge: Creating new opportunities for business

“The world is faced with the seemingly conflicting imperatives of meeting the demands of rapid population growth – most of it in so-called developing countries – while at the same time reducing negative impacts on society and the environment. If we do not get this right, the results could be devastating,” says WBCSD President Bjorn Stigson in the newly published book Creating A Sustainable Economy: Investing in the Future.

Green power has environmental, public relations positives for local company

The chief executive officer of Knepper Press in Findlay Township said his printing company recently switched to wind-generated electricity and that it’s been a bonus just having the wind energy logo on its print products. . .Ford said Knepper’s purchase of wind-generated electricity in August is enough to offset 100 percent of its electrical power needs. Knepper projects that over the next two years it will use more than 5 million kilowatt-hours of wind energy. In terms of its environmental impact, that’s equivalent to planting 2,800 acres of trees or not driving 7.8 million miles, according to company estimates. Ford said the purchase essentially supports wind energy producers. “Basically the more people are willing to sign up and do it, the more wind turbines are built,” Ford said.

More

Cardboard recycling solar powered in Cranberry

Cranberry residents stuck with large amounts of cardboard packaging from televisions, washers or refrigerators now have another recycling option: A commercial-strength solar-powered compactor is open for business behind the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

Light displays brighten up the holiday season

The other new addition at Hartwood is the "green concept" being introduced this year to offset the amount of carbon dioxide generated by car emissions, diesel generators that operate the display and the lights themselves. . ."We want people to think about their lives and the footprint they leave," he says, adding that a future step at Hartwood will be to incorporate energy-saving LED lights into the display. The parks director says 38,990 cars and 237 buses drove through last year's Celebration of Lights.

Tell President-elect Barack Obama and Congress what they need to know to take action to improve transportation

President-Elect Obama's transition team is looking for input from the public on shaping the nation's transportation priorities. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation, is encouraging people to log on to itoldthepresident.org and have their voices heard.

Invest in Pa.'s transit future

The need to inject billions into our economy presents an opportunity to make dramatic, transformative investment in our transportation infrastructure. Let's not blow it by exhausting our financial resources on recurring road and bridge maintenance, ignoring the opportunity to improve intercity passenger rail and urban transit. The latter kind of investment could reduce our dependency on automobiles, decrease energy consumption, and lessen the need for repairs of the same roads and bridges in the years ahead. . .These projects have been described as pipe dreams for years on the grounds that they would require too much investment. But if we are about to spend billions of dollars to create jobs and jump-start the economy, let's spend the money transforming our transportation infrastructure - not simply maintaining it. Otherwise, in just a few years, another governor in another economy will be lamenting the deteriorated state of our roads and bridges. And we will have let pass this opportunity to modernize our obsolete transportation system.

Obama Embraces ‘Green Path’ in Economic Stimulus Plan

President-elect Barack Obama is considering a stimulus package that will include a heavy dose of spending on environmentally friendly projects aimed at creating “green-collar jobs” and saving energy. . .School repairs, for example, could be required to meet green building standards, including low-energy boilers and weatherization. Transportation spending could emphasize public transit, and support for new power sources such as wind and energy could go hand in hand with spending on an efficient electricity superhighway. Ideas include $2 billion in spending on public transit to reduce fares and expand service, $5 billion in renewable-energy bonds for consumer-owned utilities, $2.5 billion to buy and scrap old polluting cars, and $900 million to help weatherize 1 million homes.

Greening The Suburbs

What's more, Leinberger assured the audience, developers will flutter to new light-rail stops in droves, because there's colossal pent-up demand in this country for transit-oriented development. By his count, some 30 to 50 percent of residents in U.S. metropolitan areas want to live in a walkable urban environment — a trend fueled by the growing number of single and childless couples, who will constitute 88 percent of household growth through 2040. Trouble is, he estimates there are currently only enough walkable neighborhoods to satisfy about 5 to 10 percent of metro residents, which is why rents in transit-accessible areas are so exorbitant. (Incidentally, the boom in childless households is one reason why development in D.C. could start to expand beyond Montgomery County and toward the northeastern suburbs, which have long been hampered by relatively inferior schools.)

UN Climate Talks To Open, Praise For "Ambitious" Obama

De Boer said the economic slowdown was an opportunity to re-design the world economy but warned governments against making "cheap and dirty" choices of investing in high-polluting coal-fired power plants. "We must focus on the opportunities for green growth," he said.

Hydroelectric power — back in (the) black

A new generation of low-impact hydroelectric plants is expected to light up the Ohio River Valley. Along the Mississippi River, a city and a small startup firm have separate hopes of harnessing that artery’s energy potential either through a few big turbines or thousands of tiny, submerged ones.

Creating a City Where "Environment" and "Economy" Go Together: Environmental Measures in Kawasaki City

In 1997, Kawasaki created an environment-conscious town planning framework so-called Kawasaki Eco-Town; the project area was designated the first eco-town area by the national government. In 2002, a zero-emission industrial complex was established in the coastal zone; one of its aims is to recycle waste as resources. Other outstanding initiatives have also been promoted using the cutting-edge environmental technologies which characterize Kawasaki City's present-day industries.

Transition talk: A 391-page green gorilla in the room

It calls for the creation of jobs in the renewable energy sector, building weatherization, a retooled auto industry, investment in infrastructure like public transportation, and major improvements to the electrical grid.

Merrill Lynch: The Sixth Revolution: The Coming of Cleantech

In any case, if we are correct then cleantech has a long run ahead of it coming out of the current economic and financial malaise. Investors must pay attention because cleantech could revolutionize much of the economy, including the utility, oil and gas, and auto industries. The installation period is characterized by disruptive technologies erupting into new markets. . .Reasons to expect cleantech — the application of technology to optimize the use of natural resources — to take off include the needs to (1) moderate global warming, (2) secure energy independence, and (3) offset rising energy costs. In our view, practical peak oil is real, so oil prices eventually should move back up. Further US government support of renewables is likely with the election of Obama. . .We begin with this upbeat anecdote to capture the promise and excitement of applying new technologies to some of the world’s most important problems. Unfortunately, most of the news regarding the planet’s scarce resources is a downer: . . .

Rethinking Transportation

Federal transportation funds also continue to be distributed through the false assumption that more is better when it comes to roadways. States receive highway funds based on three outdated criteria: the previous year’s gasoline consumption, lane-miles of federal highways and the previous year’s vehicle-miles traveled. So more driving garners more federal dollars. States that do their part to reduce America’s oil dependence and global warming would lose out on federal dollars. . .Congress will have a golden opportunity when the current transportation authorization bill expires next year. Public leaders must recognize that our transportation problems stem from a lack of purpose. They must rewrite policy to address contemporary problems of rapidly aging infrastructure, urban congestion and economic decline. Instead of simply “reauthorizing” the transportation act with higher spending, Congress must reinvent how it funds transportation.

How Your Community Can Thrive-- Even in Tough Times

This represents a vast change that cities, towns and regions need to recognize. In the past, a vital local economy was based on attracting large companies by offering inexpensive locations and a cheap labor force. The qualities of a particular place mattered little, and people migrated to where the jobs were. Moreover, much of that economic growth was based on cheap oil, which encouraged people’s work, homes and shopping destinations to be spread far apart. That’s all changed, and now communities with lively destinations that are easily reached by walking and transit gain distinct advantages. . .Cities and regions that thrive in the 21st Century will be differentiated by their lively neighborhoods and business districts, cultural and recreational attractions, great sense of place, protected natural areas, and deep pride in local character, products and foods. They will achieve this through an open collaborative process with their citizens. In a down economy, it is tempting to cut back on these planning ideas, thinking that they are frivolous. But disregarding these principles in the name of saving money can create a downward spiral that causes a local economy to lose its competitive edge.

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 in 2008 from:

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Highmark
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