The following resources serve as an accompaniment to the Leading Forward Roadmap.
Have a resource to add? Contact info@sustainablepittsburgh.org. Non-commercial resources only, please!
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Carbon Reduction Resources
Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Renewables
Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Renewables: Custom Consulting & Services
- Rebates and Incentives
- People’s Gas: Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free energy assessment and installation of free energy-saving products.
- Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency Audits
- PennState Technical Assistance Program (TAP): A P2/E2 assessment typically takes just a few hours on-site, and shortly thereafter PennTAP staff will provide you with a technical report summarizing conservation opportunities, project costs, available funding sources, and the corresponding payback periods. Such assessments can be company-wide in scope or focused on specific equipment, depending on the size and needs of your site.
- Energy Management Systems
- PennState Technical Assistance Program (TAP): PennTAP technical advisors can assist with the design and implementation of an energy management system (EnMS) tailored to the size of a given company. In particular, PennTAP specializes in creating an EnMS for small to medium-sized companies. PennTAP can also train an organization’s employees on the ISO 50001 standard and fully prepare them for certification.
- E3 Assessment
- PennState Technical Assistance Program (TAP): PennTAP E3 assessments help Pennsylvania manufacturers define and implement strategies designed to reduce energy use, minimize carbon footprints, prevent pollution, and promote productivity and innovation. An E3 assessment features activities in which lean manufacturing techniques are applied to focus on energy and environmental issues. The E3 assessments identify strategies and implementation recommendations for better efficiencies in pollution prevention and energy usage.
- Energy Efficiency and Lighting Project Assistance
- The Efficiency Network (TEN): Consulting assistance available for business energy efficiency and lighting projects
- Event Services
- ZeroFossil Energy Outfitters: ZeroFossil is an event production company that employs sustainable equipment and practices to provide professional event services with minimal impact to the environment. We provide full-scale production including power distribution, sound, lighting, staging, and educational interactives…all powered by our renewable energy generators.
- Energy Modeling, Audits, and Data Access
- 3R Sustainability: 3R Sustainability offers custom consulting services to assist with energy conservation and efficiency projects, as well as other sustainability projects. 3R Sustainability also shares suggestions here on how organizations can access their energy bills for use in conducting an energy use baseline assessment or greenhouse gas assessment.
- Energy Efficiency Services
- Huckestein Mechanical: Huckstein Mechanical can assist organizations of all sectors with all aspects of energy efficiency projects, including Energy and Project Services, Control System Commissioning, Energy Audits, HVAC Equipment Upgrades and Retrofit, and HVAC System Engineering and Design.
- The National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF)
- The National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) is the nation’s only Certified B Corp™ lender for home and commercial energy improvements. NEIF offers simple, transparent, expert and trusted financing programs for HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, controls, renewable and other energy improvements for work performed by NEIF-Approved Contractors. In Pennsylvania, NEIF’s EnergyPlus Loan is a low payment, fixed rate, no-contractor-fee financing program for most energy home improvements up to $35,000. NEIF’s PA Small Business Energy Financing program offers special terms for energy improvements to Pennsylvania commercial properties and non-profits to $100,000. NEIF also provides a full suite of commercial lending services for larger projects (no maximum), as well as contractor advance funding programs for rebates. Contractors can sign up as a NEIF-Approved Contractor by visiting neifund.org/become-approved-contractor. For questions about commercial financing, contact Jensen Handwork, Director, Commercial Programs & Training, (720) 689-2288, Email Jensen
Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Renewables: Programs & Tools
- Pittsburgh 2030 District
- Green Building Alliance: The Pittsburgh 2030 District sets national standards for high performance building by committing landmark properties to 50% reductions in energy use, water use, and transportation emissions while improving indoor air quality by 2030.
- Combined heat and power on-site energy generation
- Duquesne Light: Combined heat and power (CHP) is a clean and efficient approach to generate power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. CHP places power production at or near the customer’s site, so the heat released from power production can be used to meet the customer’s thermal requirements, while the generated power meets all or a portion of the site’s electricity needs. Applications with steady demand for electricity and thermal energy are potentially good economic targets for CHP deployment.
- Study Program
- People’s Gas: Get engineering services to identify opportunities that provide significant natural gas savings with low implementation costs. Customers that use at least 500,000 therms annually for steam plants and/or process heating qualify. This offering is available to customers with buildings 75,000 square feet or larger seeking to optimize central heating plants and/or air handling systems equipped with building automation systems (direct digital controls systems preferred).
- Power Switch
- PA Public Utility Commission: Use this tool to explore and select electricity providers
- Gas Switch
- PA Public Utility Commission: Use this tool to explore and select natural gas providers
- Allbird’s Carbon Footprint Calculator (For Apparel Companies)
- Allbird’s has made their lifecycle assessment tool, carbon calculator tool, carbon labeling too, and guide to using these resources freely available for use by other organizations and companies.
Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Renewables: Tracking & Assessment
- Small and midsized business online energy assessment
- People’s Gas: This free online assessment provides a custom report on your energy use, with tips and ways to improve your business energy costs.
- Energy Asset Score
- US Department of Energy: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Energy Asset Score (Asset Score) is a national standardized tool for assessing the physical and structural energy efficiency of commercial and multifamily residential buildings. The Asset Score generates a simple energy efficiency rating that enables comparison among buildings, and identifies opportunities to invest in energy efficiency upgrades. It is available for voluntary use and is 100% free to use.
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Portfolio Manager is a free program that can be used to track and analyze energy, water, and waste performance
Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Renewables: Certifications & Assessment
- ENERGY STAR Building Certification
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Resources and incentives for pursuing ENERGY STAR certification for your building
- LEED Buildings
- US Green Building Council: Resources for pursuing LEED certification on your building
- Building Operator Certification and Building re-tuning training
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Building Operator Certification (BOC) is a national workforce training and credential program offering job skills in energy efficient building and operational maintenance practices covering energy efficient building operation and maintenance practices, energy management, sustainability, water efficiency, general and electrical safety, and building performance measures. For larger facilities or individuals who have already instituted energy efficiency measures, there is a training offered for Building Re-Tuning (BRT). BRT is a systematic process to identify and correct building operational problems that lead to energy waste.
Transportation
Transportation: Financial Assistance & Incentives
- Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Through the program, DEP solicits applications for innovative, advanced fuel and vehicle technology projects resulting in cleaner advanced alternative transportation within the Commonwealth.
- Electric Vehicle Time of Use Rate (EV-TOU)
- Duquesne Light: The EV-TOU rate is a voluntary pilot program geared towards residential and small and medium commercial customers. Customers who own or lease an electric vehicle or commercial customers who own charging stations can elect to patriciate in this program that is designed to promote overnight vehicle charging with lower rates in off-peak hours. This allows participants to charge when there is lower demand on the grid, offering lower costs to customers as well as environmental benefits. The EV-TOU rate will be applied to all load associated with the applicable meter, not just the electricity used by the vehicle.
- Electric Vehicle Bill Credit
- Duquesne Light: Duquesne Light residential and commercial customers are eligible for a one-time $60 bill credit for the purchase or lease of a plug-in electric vehicle.
Transportation: Programs & Tools
- Fuel economy comparisons
- US Department of Energy: Comparison tools to assess fuel economy and other variables for fleet management
- CommuteInfo
- Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission: Commute tool that provides maps of transit options available for individual commuting needs and provides associated resources
- Bike share
- Healthy Ride: Bike-share program
- Trip Planner
- Port Authority: Commuter planning resource
- Oakland Smart Commute
- Oakland Transportation Management Association: Commute options for small businesses and employees in Oakland
Materials Management
Materials Management: Financial Assistance & Incentives
- Recycled Paper Cooperative
- Pennsylvania Resources Council: Pennsylvania Resources Council’s Recycled Paper Cooperative makes 100% recycled content paper more affordable to its members. Join the circular economy by joining the Paper Coop today!
Materials Management: Custom Consulting & Services
- Printing services
- GreenerPrinter: Materials printed with soy and other vegetable-based inks (brochures, posters, business cards, banners, calendars, etc.)
- Zero Waste services
- Pennsylvania Resources Council: Waste audits/analysis, zero waste consulting services, and zero waste event resources
Materials Management: Programs & Tools
- Electronic and Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Program
- City of Pittsburgh Dept. of Public Works: E-waste recycling
- Collection events
- Pennsylvania Resources Council: Collection events for hard-to-recycle items, household hazardous waste, glass, and pharmaceuticals
- E-Recycling
- ELoop, LLC: Cell phone and electronics recycling for businesses
- E-Recycling location finder
- E-Stewards: Will point to a location near you that is certified e-steward to recycle e-waste responsibly (Most likely a Staples)
- Recycled materials and donations
- Construction Junction: Building material and furniture donation and reuse
- Donations
- Goodwill: Donate unneeded materials, items, cars
- Donations
- Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse: Donation of goods for craft projects
- Medical Surplus Recovery Program
- GlobalLinks: Health care facilities, senior care facilities, universities, and businesses can donate surplus items such as medical supplies and equipment, beds, and office furniture to Global Links, who will re-distribute these supplies to under-served facilities in communities locally and around the world. Global Links will pick-up surplus supplies through their Medical Surplus Recovery Program. Global Links keeps track of donations by either weight or count and can provide this information to donating organizations for their records. To learn more, contact medicalsurplus@globallinks.org or call 412.361.3424 x213.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources
Custom Consulting & Services
- Corporate Membership
- Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council: Membership in the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) enables you to leverage the knowledge of other corporate supplier management and diversity professionals. We provide educational sessions to enhance your skills, peer-to-peer mentoring to share best practices, and industry-specific benchmarking. You’ll stay abreast of common supplier metrics so that you can accurately track your performance.
- Free legal, business consulting, and assessment tools
- (Available to minority, women, veteran, and other disadvantaged business owners)
- Diversity Business Resource Center: A single point of contact for minority, women, veterans, and other disadvantaged business owners seeking information to start, sustain and grow their business.
- Employment solutions
- Partner4Work: Partner4Work offers a wide variety of cost-free services to help regional businesses attract the talent they need to succeed and grow. From customized labor market data, finding and recruiting diverse talent, and finding access to capital, Partner4Work is the resource to deliver customized employment solutions for any size or type of business.
Programs & Tools
- EDGE Women
- Pittsburgh Technology Council: This program is a women’s professional development program for mid-career women. There is a 9-month cohort and a 2-day summer retreat format. 9-month cohort runs from January-September 2021. is $7,000-$10,000. 2-day retreat is in August, price TBA. There is a scholarship program for underrepresented communities to help advance racial equity at businesses.
- Events and workshops
- Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council: Gain visibility and build potential partnerships and relationships that can help you build your business/brand. Attendance gives you access to corporate procurement professionals with sourcing needs and certified MBEs with solutions.
- Vibrant Index Diagnostic
- Vibrant Pittsburgh: The 2019 Vibrant Index Diagnostic was designed to provide a snapshot of the best practices being utilized by employers in the Pittsburgh region, and captured how 50 of the regions’ organizations are addressing DE&I through their policies and workplace practices. The Vibrant Index Diagnostic evaluates companies in nine impact areas, identifying areas of responsibility, DE&I strengths, and opportunities to make change within an organization.The current Vibrant Index Diagnostic period runs from January 18, 2021 to March 19th, 2021
- MBE2MBE Marketplace
- Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council: The MBE2MBE Marketplace connects you with sourcing solutions. Now more than ever is the time to look beyond your usual sourcing outlets and reach out to support each other. Check out the minority businesses listed here for your business supply chain and help drive success for yourself and fellow entrepreneurs.
- Business Directory
- African American Chamber of Commerce: A platform/resource for collaboration between African American business owners and professionals, and those who wish to support minority-owned businesses
- Black MBA Network
- University of Pittsburgh MBA: Scholarship, professional development, and recruitment program for black Pitt MBA alumni
- Resource Guide for Diverse and Small Businesses
- University of Pittsburgh Center for Sustainable Business: Compilation of resources available to diverse and small businesses through The University of Pittsburgh. Includes contacts at Pitt Purchasing, other Pitt centers, and regional resources. Created following the 2020 University of Pittsburgh Diversity Forum session “Black-Owned Businesses at Pitt: Opportunity & Commitment”
- Vendor Contracting Diversity Dashboard
- University of Pittsburgh: The University of Pittsburgh provides all Pitt responsibility centers with tools to increase their diversity spending.
Certifications & Reporting
- MBE Certification
- Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council: The EMSDC conducts an extensive business review of new and existing MBEs. This review, the Certification Process, is designed to ensure compliance with the NMSDC member standards for certified minority business status. Certification by the EMSDC is a nationally recognized NMSDC certification and is honored nationwide.
- Global Diversity & Inclusion Benchmarks
- The Centre for Global Inclusion: Benchmarks and practices for workplace D&I
Additional Tools
Custom Consulting & Services
- MBA Sustainable Business Practices Capstone Course
- Duquesne University: Teams of 4-6 graduate MBA students will consult on a project related to sustainable business practices for the length of a semester (about ten weeks). Participating companies and organizations benefit from the program in a variety of ways. First, having a thorough analysis of the organization or specific area of interest conducted by a team of graduate business students provides a fresh and unbiased perspective. This approach generates conclusions and ideas often not previously considered. Upon completion of the project, the client receives a comprehensive written report and a professional presentation from the students. Non-disclosure agreements are utilized to help ensure all information shared by the client is held in strict confidence. Partnerships are available for small or large businesses. The scope of work needs to be achievable in about ten weeks.
- Project topics and parameters need to be developed in advance of the semester (Fall semesters begin in August, Spring semesters begin in January, and Summer projects begin in May). It is best to reach out 8-12 weeks in advance of the semester beginning. A clear problem statement that identifies the end goal of the project and a short paragraph regarding your organization’s mission/vision are requested to develop a student project. Contact Project Manager Christine Hughes (hughesc@duq.edu) to arrange projects in advance.
- Sustainable Behavior Change Capstone course
- Chatham University: Teams of 2-4 students enrolled in the MBA and/or Sustainability MA programs engage with a local company to advance a specific sustainability-oriented initiative of interest within that company. Project lasts for one semester (about 14 weeks). Participating organizations receive a final report that includes in-depth research on the selected topic, including background information, best practices, situation assessment, strategy, and tactical plan. Organizations will also receive a formal presentation of the report.
- Project topics and parameters need to be developed in advance of the semester. Contact Dr. Debbie DeLong, Associate Professor of Marketing (ddelong@chatham.edu; 412.365.1192) to develop a project. Organizational partners must: 1) assign a primary contact; 2)meet with students at the beginning of the semester; 3) facilitate primary data collection; 4) answer student emails (no more than 5 over course of semester); and 5) attend final presentation.
- Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
- University of Pittsburgh: Through capstone design courses and undergraduate summer research, MCSI offers various mechanisms in which students can help to address industry challenges and needs. In each case, a faculty mentor is assigned to work with the corporate partner and the student/student team to develop a scope of work. Timelines and cost is based on the program and needs. Contact MCSI at mcsi@pitt.edu with your needs.
- Office of Sustainability
- University of Pittsburgh: Looking for a faculty partner and/or behind the scenes details about making carbon-based decisions at a large institution?. Contact Pitt’s Office of Sustainability at sustainability@pitt.edu .
Events
- Business as Usual: A Daily Interactive Web Call
- Pittsburgh Technology Council: Informational and interactive daily web call with local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and government officials in the areas of manufacturing, life sciences, and technology. Varied speakers and topics can help businesses learn about carbon reduction, workplace equity, and ways to support local economies.
Programs & Tools
- Best Practices in Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Management
- Science Based Targets: This report outlines best practices for reducing scope three emissions. This includes how to gather data on scope three emissions, innovate business model, engage suppliers, and procure materials in ways that reduce carbon emissions.
- Science-Based Target-Setting Tool
- Science-Based Targets: Tools designed to help set science-based carbon emission reduction targets that are in line with limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees. Different versions of these tools are available for general organizations, electric utilities, ICT companies, transport companies, apparel companies, and financial institutions.