Check out videos of a sample of certified sustainable municipalities: youtube.com/user/SustainablePGH

Events

Etna Borough highlights sustainability achievement through entrance signs

A growing number of communities in southwestern PA and throughout the Commonwealth are demonstrating their commitment to the good life for their residents and businesses. They are earning distinction through the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification.

Etna Borough is one of the nearly 50 certified municipalities. Recently the Borough worked with PennDOT to erect community entrance signs to showcase Etna's certification. Several signs are now installed throughout the Borough, as shown in the photo below.

The certification provides a venue for sharing ideas, tracking a municipality's initiatives, and comparing notes. It’s also a great way for residents to learn about sustainability and how their communities are progressing. View the growing library of best practices and good government.

Congrats also to municipalities that have earned certification this summer:
Cranberry Township – Platinum
Wilkes-Barre City – Gold
Churchill Borough – Silver

One Week Left to Register for Sept. 24 Local Food Workshop

You're invited to join us for the tenth and final workshop of the 2014-2015 Green Workplace Challenge, which will showcase opportunities to integrate local food sources and services into Pittsburgh's workplaces. The workshop will take place from 8:30 am to 11:00 am at the Pittsburgh Public Market. Registration begins at 8:00 am.

Featured Speakers:
- Rebecca Bykoski, Program Manager, Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant program, Sustainable Pittsburgh
- Alyssa Davis, Market Assistant Manager, Pittsburgh Public Market
- Erin Hart, Director, Farm to Table Pittsburgh
- Jeff Lackey, Implementation Engineer, Woods of Plenty
- Leah Lizarondo, 412 Food Rescue

More information and registration

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Resources

One Week Left to Register! Green Workplace Challenge Workshop #10: Local Food

Thursday, September 24
8:30 am – 11:00 am (8:00 am registration)
Pittsburgh Public Market, 2401 Penn Avenue, Strip District 15222
Learn more about the Green Workplace Challenge at www.gwcpgh.org
Register here

Join Sustainable Pittsburgh for the tenth and final workshop of the 2014-2015 Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge. This workshop will showcase opportunities to integrate local food sources and services into Pittsburgh’s workplaces.

Featured Speakers
- Rebecca Bykoski, Program Manager, Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant program, Sustainable Pittsburgh
- Alyssa Davis, Market Assistant Manager, Pittsburgh Public Market
- Erin Hart, Director, Farm to Table Pittsburgh
- Jeff Lackey, Implementation Engineer, Woods of Plenty
- Leah Lizarondo, 412 Food Rescue

Who should attend?
All Green Workplace Challenge participants, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) managers, sustainability managers, business leaders and community leaders who are interested to connect with our region's growing sources and services of local food.

In The Air: Visualizing what we breathe

Photography by Brian Cohen, Scott Goldsmith, Lynn Johnson and Annie O’Neill
Opening Reception:
Thursday, September 17
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Filmmakers Galleries, 477 Melwood Ave., Pittsburgh 15213
This event is free and open to the public
More information

Curated by Director of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Laura Domencic and photographer Brian Cohen, this exhibit features photography by Brian Cohen, Scott Goldsmith, Lynn Johnson and Annie O’Neill. These photographers have spent the last year recording people and places that illustrate the environmental, social and economic effects of air quality in Western Pennsylvania. An accompanying book designed by Brett Yasko with essays by Reid Frazier provide context to the visual work. This team has gathered materials that describe the variety of issues at the heart of the air quality subject, highlighting the relationship between the health of the community and that of its environment.

Exhibition is on view through February 2016.

PARK(ing) Day Pittsburgh!

Friday, September 18
Website
facebook.com/ParkingDayPGH
Questions? Need help? Email: parkingdaypgh@gmail.com

PARK(ing) Day is an annual, one-day, international event in which artists, designers, activists and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform parking spots into “PARK(ing)” spaces. The event is an opportunity to have people think about how important public spaces are and how parks improve our communities. These park installations aim to transform urban environments designed for vehicle use into a communal space for public use.

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

Mother Earth News Fair

September 18-20, 2015
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs 15622
Program
Website

With more than 150 Workshops, there is no shortage of informative demonstrations and lectures to educate and entertain you over the weekend. Sit in on dozens of practical workshops from the leading authorities on Modern Homesteading, Animal Husbandry, Organic Gardening, Green Building, Natural Health, Renewable Energy, Real Food and more. Get great deals from dozens of regional and national vendors that feature sustainable lifestyle products and services, including: books, tools, seeds, tractors, organic foods, clothes, solar gadgets, etc.

Many exhibitors have their own demonstrations and short workshops at their booths. With topics ranging from hands-on seed saving to building mud houses to heritage breed livestock, there is a lot to see!

Speaker Spotlight:
Jessi Bloom, N.W. Bloom EcoLogical Landscapes
Nan K. Chase, Storey Publishing
Lyle Estill, Piedmont Biofuels
Claudia Lucero, Urban Cheesecraft
Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm
Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing

ALCOSAN Open House

Saturday, September 19
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Rain or Shine
ALCOSAN, 3300 Preble Avenue, 1.5 miles from the West End Bridge via Chateau Street
Free admission, Free parking, Free hourly shuttle service (9am-3pm) from Port Authority's North Side T-station near PNC Park
More information
View the flyer

Be a part of the region's largest watershed and environmental festival, featuring hands-on environmental exhibits, treatment plant and laboratory tours, microbiology and watershed life demonstrations, and educational activities for all ages!

DEP to Hold 14 Listening Sessions on the Clean Power Plan

Monday, September 21
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Allegheny County - Carnegie Mellon University

Wednesday, September 22
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Greene County - Waynesburg Central High School

More information

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is announcing more than a dozen listening sessions and a 2-month comment period on the federal Clean Power Plan to hear from Pennsylvanians about the plan to cut carbon pollution. Fourteen listening sessions in locations across the state will take place between September and November.

In addition to the listening sessions, DEP will accept comments on Pennsylvania’s compliance with EPA’s Clean Power Plan through November 12, 2015. DEP is soliciting comments on the Clean Energy Incentive Program component of the CPP and on the EPA-proposed Federal Plan that serves as a model rule for states developing their state plans. DEP is also soliciting comments on specific compliance related questions which are available on the Department website.

Comment submissions can be made here: http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eComment/ or emailed to ecomment@pa.gov or mailed to 400 Market Street P.O. Box 2063 Harrisburg, PA 17105. Click here for the full schedule of listening sessions.

Google Hangout: The Role of Business in Advancing the Circular Economy

Tuesday, September 22
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Registration and more information

In this interactive Google Hangout, hosted by Joel Makower, sustainability leaders from Dow and BSR will discuss what business can do to embrace a circular economy. Register today to:
1. Learn how new technologies advance the principles of the circular economy.
2. Find out how Dow’s Energy Bag Program has potential to keep 4 million tons of plastic waste out of landfills and generate up to 1 billion gallons of fuel each year
3. Ask your questions and get live videochat answers! Tweet your questions using #EnergyBag!

Learn more about the #EnergyBag Initiative with Dow.

COP21 Climate Presentations

"Connecting Pittsburgh to International Climate Negotiations"
Tuesday, September 22
6:00 pm (limited seating)
The Thomas Merton Center - Potluck, 5129 Penn Ave, 15224
For more information call (412) 361-3022

"Pittsburgh to Paris: Connecting for the Climate"
Thursday, September 24
7:00 pm
Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave, 15217
Presentation followed by community reception

More information

This December nations around the world will send delegates to the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, France. This is quite possibly the most important climate-related event in all of human history. Mark Dixon will be bringing his eyes, ears, and voice (and audio/video/photography gear) to this gathering to raise awareness about this important issue and urge responsible action by lawmakers - particularly in the Pittsburgh region.

Already an accomplished environmental filmmaker (YERT - Your Environmental Road Trip, and The Power of One Voice: A 50-Year Perspective on the Life of Rachel Carson) and climate presenter, Mark Dixon further bolstered his awareness of the UN climate negotiations by formally representing Pittsburgh's Mayor Bill Peduto at an official UN COP21 precursor event: the World Summit Climate and Territories in Lyon, France. Based on this event and subsequent research, Mark has developed a detailed COP21 climate presentation to inform and entertain audiences with the drama and nuance around civilization's greatest attempt to address the climate crisis. Mark has pre-processed the complexities of the COP21 process and the collective global response so that attendees can leaving being well-informed without devoting days to work through all of the details.

Energy Innovation Center Showcase - get an inside look!

September 22 or September 23
Multiple times available to visit; see registration page for more information

Get an inside look at the New Energy Innovation Center during this first Showcase event, an opportunity to self-navigate through the center to learn more about the building and the projects and services available. Learn more by watching this video, where Energy Innovation Center President and CEO Dr. Bob Meeder discusses news and milestones, including new EIC tenants, a visit from the U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, an agreement with Covestro (formerly BayerMaterialScience), educational programs, beginning construction on a community kitchen, and the EIC's first ever Showcase.

Resources

Energy Innovation Newsletter

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.

Make My Trip Count: First commuter survey for Pittsburgh region will help planning for future

The two-part survey takes three to 10 minutes and is available online at makemytripcount.org through October 16, 2015. Information gathered from the respondents will create a valuable set of information about local commuters, enabling local decision-makers to have more complete data when making important strategic decisions regarding transportation, infrastructure and development.

More

U.S. and Chinese Climate Change Negotiators to Meet in Los Angeles

On Tuesday, the two nations announced an arrangement between government entities in China and California to begin working toward devising cap-and-trade programs in China. . . In addition, the leaders of 11 Chinese cities, including Beijing, announced plans to reach their emissions peak earlier than the national target of 2030. Combined, those cities have the same annual level of emissions as Brazil or Japan, according to White House officials. Ten cities from China will team with 10 from California in a separate initiative that aims to reduce air pollution and attract clean-technology industries.

How tech workers are turning to the Japanese practice of ‘forest bathing’ to unplug

And as research is beginning to show that “bathing” in the natural world is associated with lower stress levels, a boost to natural killer cells in the immune system, better mood, self-esteem, physical fitness, memory, attention, and creativity, among other benefits, some psychologists are beginning to offer “eco therapy.” Doctors, like Robert Zarr, a pediatrician at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C., and “physician champion” of DC Parks Rx, are even prescribing time outside rather than pills.

McDonald's Still a Long-Term Bet Despite Fat Problem

"In many ways, it's sort of a sad story because McDonald's of course has spent lots and lots of money, hundreds of millions if not more than a billion, in branding their image. And the problem is of course that the world has moved much further than McDonald's has relative to healthy food and organic food and menus in general," said John Harrington, president and CEO of Napa, California-based Harrington Investments Inc... In September 2014, the Gates Foundation Asset Trust, which manages the investments for the $43.6 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, liquidated its $1 billion position in McDonald’s, as well as its holdings in Coca-Cola Co. and Exxon Mobil Corp. The trust wouldn't comment on the decision but Harrington said he interpreted the move as a sign more investors are taking health issues into account as they allocate their dollars.

States step in to tell consumers about chemicals in products

These disclosure requirements are proving empowering to consumers by providing something they didn’t have before: knowledge. These laws are not only catalyzing a new awareness of what’s in products, but also driving some companies to reformulate their products, due at least in part to a concern about reputation, not wanting to have to tell consumers they are using potentially harmful chemicals. . . Roger McFadden, vice president and senior scientist at Staples, wrote, “When priority chemicals of concern in consumer products are identified and described in legislation, it often initiates supply chain dialogue followed by action within in the supply chain. Businesses want to be compliant. And progressive companies are looking for ways to get ahead of regulations.”

Uber's Stumble Into Urban Design

Uber, best known for its smartphone-based taxi service, is expanding rapidly with initiatives less about individual rides and more about mass mobility. So far, reactions to Uber’s plans for driverless vehicles, "smart routes," and shared rides seem pretty wary. Gizmodo’s Alissa Walker recently summarized concerns regarding equity, wages, and potential declines in public transit ridership.

While it is helpful to anticipate what can go wrong, it is even more important to get in front of trends to harness the benefits of tech-enabled mobility. Here is a short outline of what cities and suburbs need to do now to prepare for systems that are both public and private, driver and driverless, and solo and shared.

USDA and EPA Join with Private Sector, Charitable Organizations to Set Nation's First Food Waste Reduction Goals

"The United States enjoys the most productive and abundant food supply on earth, but too much of this food goes to waste," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "An average family of four leaves more than two million calories, worth nearly $1500, uneaten each year. Our new reduction goal demonstrates America's leadership on a global level in in getting wholesome food to people who need it, protecting our natural resources, cutting environmental pollution and promoting innovative approaches for reducing food loss and waste." ...Food loss and waste in the United States accounts for approximately 31 percent—or 133 billion pounds—of the overall food supply available to retailers and consumers and has far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation and climate change.

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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 ($1,000 and up) in 2015 from:

Alcoa Foundation
Bayer USA Foundation
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
BNY Mellon
FedEx Ground
The Heinz Endowments
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Henry L. Hillman Foundation
Levin Furniture
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Pashek Associates, LTD
PITT OHIO
The PNC Financial Services Group
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