Invest in a more Sustainable Pittsburgh. Become a 2016 member or donate today!

Events

Thinking Green

The Summer Issue of Pittsburgh Quarterly ran a story in which the Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge was highlighted as a program moving the Pittsburgh region along a more sustainable path. The story is the second in a four-part series examining efforts to make Pittsburgh a sustainable region.

Read the article

You're Invited! Attend the Kickoff Celebration of the 2016-2017:

Learn more and register today.

Connect with Sustainable Pittsburgh:

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING?

Your financial support allows Sustainable Pittsburgh to perform its role of accelerating the policy and practice of sustainability for the region through our policy efforts, performance programs, advocacy, convening, and partnerships. Become a contributing member today:

Resources

Stop and Shop: Cash Mob Verona!

Saturday, June 11
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
18 businesses in Verona Borough, PA
More information

Celebrate the “Sustainable Small Business” designation of 18 businesses in Verona Borough. Sustainable businesses take actions that simultaneously are good for their bottom line, the environment, and the social fabric of their communities. Come support Verona’s continuing sustainability efforts: shop at these Sustainable Small Businesses!

Gold Designation:
Acropolis Gyro House & Grille
Pawfectionate Pups
The Platinum Pooch, LLC
Verona Gun Safe

Silver Designation:
No Limits Sports Performance
Pinks Tiny Paws Daycare & Boutique
Ramello's Pizzeria

Bronze Designation:
Arbuckle's Coffee Company
E.N. Miller Antique Mall
Kier G. Ewing & Associates, Inc.
Gloria's Fixations
Jack's Barber Shop
Otto's Shoe Store
Print and Copy Center
Sophisticated Hair Design by Nikki
Verona Eye Care
Verona News Cigar

Striver:
Dirty Harrys

2016-2017 Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge Kickoff Celebration

Thursday, June 16
8:30 am - 11:00 am (Registration and Breakfast 8:00 am - 8:30 am)
August Wilson Center / African American Cultural Heritage Center, 980 Liberty Ave, Downtown Pittsburgh 15222
More information and registration

Commit to making the Pittsburgh region a better place to live, work, and play! Sign up for this year’s Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge (GWC) and attend the kickoff celebration on June 16. (Attendees need not be participating in the competition to attend.)

This year’s Green Workplace Challenge features new and expanded categories, a streamlined Master Playbook, and more ways to save money, improve resource efficiency, and gain positive pubic recognition. The Sustainable Pittsburgh team can help organizations get started with creating an account, and guide you through the top actions you can take to start saving.

Beginning with its first launch in September of 2011, the field of GWC leaders completed over 5,800 measurable actions and saved enough energy to power 9,700 average U.S. homes for a year (112,000,000 kWh of energy savings) at a value of over $8.9 million. Enough water was saved to fill Heinz Field with over 93 feet of water (over 67 million gallons saved) and in terms of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, participants saved over 25,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which translates to roughly 651 airline flights of 500 miles: 4.3 days’ worth of all flights leaving Pittsburgh International Airport on a given day.

Let's build off of this impressive record by doing even more in this fourth round of the competition! See how you can save money and have your organization's achievements recognized in the community by becoming more efficient with energy and water use, waste generation and other sustainable actions. Sign up to compete at gwcpgh.org.

Accompany Sustainable Pittsburgh - Climate and Clean Energy Lobby Day—June 14, Harrisburg

Tuesday, June 14
The Pittsburgh bus leaves at 6:30 am from the Edgewood Towne Centre back parking lot. (1763 S Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15218)
Lunch is included.
Reserve your ticket today.

Pennsylvania is currently developing a Clean Power Plan that could help build a stronger clean energy economy, cut energy cost and protect our environment. On June 14th, citizens, business leaders, health professionals and others will meet in Harrisburg to discuss these opportunities with decision-makers and how a strong Clean Power Plan can be a major boost to the local economy and our environment.

"I am attending to share Sustainable Pittsburgh's alignment with the growing chorus of business and community that sees great opportunity in the transition to the clean energy economy," said Court Gould, Sustainable Pittsburgh.

The Climate and Clean Energy Lobby Day is organized by a coalition including PennEnvironment, Sierra Club, Clean Air Council, PennFuture and other organizations to demonstrate that Pennsylvanians are ready to act on climate with a strong Clean Power Plan. PennEnvironment is coordinating the logistics of bus transportation around the state on behalf of the coalition, so please reserve your ticket on a bus: https://pennenvironment.webaction.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=359

A Sustainable Pennsylvania: Developing Strategies for Vibrant Communities

Tuesday, June 14
Registration: 8:30 am
Program: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Nittany Lion Inn, State College
Free to attend; Pre-registration required.
More information and registration

Join the dialogue on creating policies and strategies to sustain vibrant communities through the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification program, an online certification system that provides a structure and performance platform for recognition of municipalities as they embrace innovative sustainable policies and programs. Convene with municipal leaders and sustainability professionals to learn about the components and benefits of certification, how you can get involved, and hear some of the successes of Pennsylvania municipalities who have already achieved certification.

Topics include:
Why Sustainable PA
Livable Lebanon
Enviromental Stewardship
Healty Communities
Municipal Energy Use

4th Annual Corporate Equity & Inclusion Roundtable: "Creating Pebbles of Possibilities for Ladders to Opportunities"

Monday, June 20
7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Duquesne University Power Center Ballroom, 1105 Forbes, Ave, Pittsburgh 15219
Free to attend
RSVP at http://bit.ly/CEIR2016
For more information, please contact ceiroundtable@gmail.com

Join business, government, university, and non-profit leaders from the Southwestern Pennsylvania region to learn about initiatives targeted toward increasing diversity in employment and supplier opportunities for African Americans and people of color. See stories of success in the premiere of our CEIR video, featuring people and programs that are providing Ladders to Opportunities in our region.

Hear from energetic, inspiring leaders who have experience and ideas to share about how to move forward in three major areas of CEIR focus:
- Aiding those re-entering the workforce, including Ban the Box initiatives
- Providing opportunities for employment and advancement, including the Revised Rooney Rule
- Connecting suppliers with business opportunities, including the Hybrid Rooney Rule

Leave with inspiration for how you can implement proven ideas ... connections with those who are making a difference ... and energy to move from well-meaning to well-doing.

Featured speakers include Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, and Allegheny Conference on Community Development CEO Dennis Yablonsky. The conference also brings panelists together to share ideas and inspiration, including leaders from Highmark, Massaro Construction, UPMC, Duquesne University, Randall Industries, Rivers Casino, the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, and more.

Penn State Presentation - Status of Ecosystem Health via Birds as Indicators

Monday, June 20
6:00 pm
Penn State Center Pittsburgh, Energy Innovation Center (EIC), 1435 Bedford Avenue
RSVP to Mary Ann Farrell by Monday, June 13, 2016.

How to minimize impacts on ecosystem health? What strategies seem to be working?

As part of the Penn State Center's continuing effort to share the best in research based practice and community problem solving, you are invited you to a presentation and conversation on the status of ecosystem health via birds as indicators with Penn State Professor Margaret Brittingham. Dr. Brittingham is a Professor of Wildlife Resources in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, College of Agricultural Sciences. Her areas of expertise include human impacts on bird populations, avian ecology, the effects of shale gas development on forests and birds, wildlife habitat management on private land, and landscaping for birds and wildlife.

During her presentation, Dr. Brittingham will explore the status of human impact and ways to mitigate that impact on the environment thru the lens of avian ecology. She will focus on how birds can be used to understand changes in ecosystem health in terms of both response to disturbance and also response to restoration. Three to four different studies in forest habitat and the application of the results to urban and suburban environments will be presented.

Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available in the parking lot on the downhill side of the EIC building. The entrance to the EIC is off of this parking lot via the glass atrium. Take the elevator to Floor A.

Managing Marcellus: Land Use and Impact Regulations after Act 13 Supreme Court Case, Where are we now?

Wednesday, June 22
6:30 pm
Cost: $50
To participate, sign up for the online course of which this panel discussion is a part. Add “Managing Marcellus: Land Use and Impact Regulations after Act 13 Supreme Court Case, Where are we Now?” to your shopping cart.
Scholarships and discounts are available, contact Justin Philman at jphilman@localgovernmentacademy.org or (412) 586-5659 for the coupon code to use during checkout.

Attorneys John Smith of Smith Butz, Patricia McGrail, of McGrail & Associates, and Andrea Geraghty, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, will conduct the discussion during this live webinar. In addition to taking questions from the online audience, the panel will discuss:
- What can municipalities regulate when it comes to oil and gas?
- Who might bring legal challenges to oil and natural gas ordinances? Citizens, industry, the Commonwealth?
- What is "standing" when it comes to legal challenges of ordinances?
- What is a conflict of interest for individuals on governing boards when it comes to oil and natural gas exploration?

Resources

Energy Innovation

Energy Innovation (EI) is a biweekly newsletter of the Energy for the Power of 32 initiative. It features news and events that are accelerating sustainable development for the power of 32. View the latest edition of EI using the link below.

Subscribe to Energy Innovation.

Read the latest issue.

Solarize Allegheny - Request for Proposals from Communities

Is your community interested in participating in Solarize Allegheny?

Solarize Allegheny will be selecting another four communities to host the campaign as part of Phase 4. Municipalities in Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods, or School Districts are eligible to apply. Up to three communities can apply as a coalition.

More

Inside Interface's bold new mission to achieve 'Climate Take Back'

Moreover, added Meezan: “Our thinking had shifted a lot over the last five years in terms of what it means to be a sustainable business. We certainly had undergone an intellectual transformation, from ‘It's not just about having a zero footprint or doing less harm’ to ‘It really is about how can the business have a positive impact. How can we be more of an instrument for change?’” . . . “If you talk to the 25-year-olds now in the job marketplace and ask, ‘Would you like to come work for a carpet-tile company?’ I don't imagine many would say yes,” says Nigel Stansfield. “But, ‘Do you want to come work for one of the world's most sustainable manufacturing businesses?’ It's a very different conversation to have.”

Fannie Mae’s Financing for Solar: A Game Changer for the Solar Industry

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae just unlocked the lowest cost of capital for new solar installations to date. This follows the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) recent decision to finance new solar installations within a first mortgage transaction, a potential game changer for the solar industry with the ability to bring about the next order of magnitude increase in solar installations.

The state of the sustainability profession, 2016

Our research isn’t conducted to move the profession forward, but over time we hope it chronicles forward movement. We have begun asking where organizations are embedding sustainability resources in functions across the business. . . I have often railed against the sentiment that the job of a sustainability professional is to work him or herself out of a job. I believe most companies still need that senior leader paying attention to how the goal posts move and what challenges and opportunities are around the corner. Perhaps the better exercise is to ask yourself what would happen if you and your team were eliminated tomorrow: What would your legacy be? Could your organization still experience the best of times?

Empowering cities to shape their urban mobility future, a Q&A with T4America’s James Corless and Russell Brooks

In addition to yesterday’s big announcement, we sat down with Eric Jaffe of Sidewalk Labs for a Q&A about the role cities can play in building connected streets, and T4America’s plan to make it happen. Read an excerpt below featuring James Corless, Director of Transportation for America, and Russell Brooks, Director of T4A’s Smart Cities initiative. The full Q&A is available on Sidewalk Talk.

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.

Access the 3E Links Archive.

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 ($1,000 and up) in 2016 from:

Alcoa Foundation
ALCOSAN
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Henry L. Hillman Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Pashek Associates, LTD
UPMC



Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
307 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1500
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP