Sustainable Pittsburgh

Tag Archive: green building

• Corporate Responsibility Frameworks 101

  March 3, 2020 5:00 pm Leave a Comment

  Join Green Building Alliance staff for an introduction to corporate social responsibility frameworks and rating systems, specifically relating to measuring equity in the workplace and operations.  GBA’s Leslie Montgomery will present on the JUST, GEN, BCorp, ISO 26000, and other growing trends in the industry and the role corporate responsibility plays in our sustainable future.  We will also hear from local organizations that have pursued these labels, including from 3R Sustainability’s Jana Lake.

   

  Agenda Overview:

  • What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
  • Introduction to Frameworks
  • Local Case Study
  • Q&A

• RGGI in Pennsylvania: Opportunities to Grow Pennsylvania’s Clean Energy Economy

  February 28, 2020 5:00 pm Leave a Comment

  In October, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania would begin the process of joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI (pronounced “Reggie”) is a market-based initiative among ten states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic that caps carbon pollution from the electric power sector while creating investment dollars for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and more. RGGI has been in operation for over ten years.

  Join us for a webinar on Friday, February 28th at 12:00 Eastern to learn what RGGI is and what it means for Pennsylvania businesses. Speakers will provide a historical context of the program, examine Pennsylvania’s process for joining RGGI, and discuss opportunities for investment of RGGI proceeds in ways that will help to grow Pennsylvania’s economy. Speakers include: – Hayley Book, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection – Jackson Morris, Natural Resources Defense Council – Dan Reilly, Director of Public Affairs, Efficiency Vermont

  Register here.

• Nature of Place Symposium

  February 19, 2020 5:00 am Leave a Comment

  A Symposium About Biophilia

  The implications of biophilia extend across a vast array of disciplines including design and engineering, nutrition, psychology, public health, education, biology and the humanities. Biophilia is expressed all over the world every day, through complex collaborations such as the design and construction of buildings and landscapes; and intimate, personal encounters including nature hikes and home gardening.

  Since 2013, Phipps has held a monthly Biophilia: Pittsburgh gathering to bring creative minds together for learning, exploring and strengthening the bonds between people and the natural world. At Phipps’ first Nature of Place Symposium, this concept finds a new expression as leaders across disciplines come together to discuss the influence and impact of biophilia on their work and the work of the future. The event will include an opening reception and keynote speaker on the evening of Wed., Feb. 19 and a day of presentations and panels on Thurs., Feb. 20.

• Missed Out on Energy Smart Operations? Check out invaluable speaker resources!

  February 4, 2020 10:12 am Leave a Comment

  

  Hosted by Sustainable Pittsburgh, “Energy Smart Operations: From Fleets to Facilities” was a sold-out forum tailored for businesses, nonprofits, universities, and municipal/community leaders who are seeking funding, financing, and procurement options for energy smart solutions.  Conversations on energy reduction, carbon emission reduction, and renewable energy were featured, as well as an optional tour of Mill 19, a former brownfield site revolutionized into a green facility.

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

   

  Speakers included (presentations linked):

  • Matt Mahoney, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, “PA C-PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy” 
  • Mike Carnahan, Scalo Solar, “Financial Mechanisms to Adopt Renewable Energy” 
  • Mike Cherock, AE Works, “Energy Conservation Initiatives” 
  • John McCabe, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, “Energy Conservation Initiatives” 
  • Sarah Olexsak, Duquesne Light, “Charging Up Your Energy Smart Operations” 
  • Aurora Sharrard, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, “University of Pittsburgh Sustainable Energy Efforts” 
  • Nick DeSalvo, Lafayette College, representing the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges, “Partnering to Buy Renewable Energy” 

  Many thanks to sponsors:

  

• Energy Smart Operations: From Fleets to Facilities

  January 30, 2020 1:00 pm Leave a Comment

  

  
  **THIS EVENT HAS REACHED CAPACITY. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.**

  Hosted by Sustainable Pittsburgh, “Energy Smart Operations: From Fleets to Facilities” is a forum tailored for businesses, nonprofits, universities, and municipal community leaders who are seeking funding, financing, and procurement options for their energy smart solutions.

  Speakers include:

  • Will Bernstein, City of Pittsburgh
  • Matt Mahoney, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance
  • Mike Carnahan, Scalo Solar
  • Mike Cherock, AE Works
  • John McCabe, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum
  • Sarah Olexsak, Duquesne Light
  • Aurora Sharrard, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
  • Nick DeSalvo, Lafayette College, representing the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges

  Conversations on energy reduction, carbon emission reduction, and renewable energy will be featured, as well as an optional tour of Mill 19, a former brownfield site revolutionized into a green facility.

  DATE:             Thursday, January 30, 2020

  TIME:

  • 8:00 am – Registration and Breakfast
  • 8:30 am – Program
  • 11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Optional Tour

  LOCATION:   Mill 19 at Hazelwood Green

   

  Thanks to our sponsors:

  

• Building Operator Event: Growing and Retaining Your Facilities Workforce

  January 29, 2020 4:00 pm Leave a Comment

  Are you looking for ways to fill your workforce gap? This luncheon will provide strategies to grow your facilities operations & maintenance workforce and keep them engaged.

  Limited seats! This free lunch is open to all Pennsylvania facilities operations and maintenance staff, especially those that work in the following sectors in PA: K-12 school districts, local/municipal government, state government, and colleges and universities.

  Building Operator Certification (BOC) graduates: Please bring a facilities coworker with you to this event! (Must register separately.) Also, by attending this lunch, you will earn 1.5 continuing maintenance points.

  Agenda:

  11 a.m. – Sign in and networking

  11:30 a.m. – Lunch buffet

  12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Featured speakers will present insider strategies to “Growing and Retaining Your Facilities Workforce”

  Featured speakers:

  John Tooley, Senior Building Science Consultant with Advanced Energy — Attracting, Developing and Retaining Superior Employees

  Alison Diehl, Director of the National Sustainable Structures Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology — Upcoming grant-funded building operator training opportunities in PA

• C-PACE Seminar: Committee on the Environment

  January 16, 2020 4:30 pm Leave a Comment

  C-PACE is a financing tool for local governments to help facilitate energy efficiency and clean energy loans. This is the second session in a series and will focus on the technical aspects of the program – how loans are accessed and administered; the legal considerations for the program; and what role architects and developers have during the process. A case study will be presented by a developer who has used C-PACE on several projects.

   

  

• Launch Party for the PA Solar Center

  November 7, 2019 9:30 pm Leave a Comment

  Join us to celebrate the launch of the brand new Pennsylvania Solar Center. Our mission is to help the state become a national leader in solar energy. We’ll be discussing the goals and scope of the PSC, the launch of our website, and our first successful project helping a local non-profit go solar.

  Appetizers and refreshments will be provided. Come and take part in a silent auction raffle of gifts and products from exclusively solar-powered businesses from across the commonwealth.

• Deconstruction and Reuse 2019 Conference

  October 28, 2019 4:00 am Leave a Comment

  Deconstruction and Reuse 2019 is the only national conference focused on how construction and demolition waste can be turned into economic opportunities. With dozens of speakers ranging from community development, architecture, advocacy, reuse operations and deconstruction, there is a place for you!

• October Events Roundup

  November 5, 2018 4:03 pm Leave a Comment

  October was an exciting month for Sustainable Pittsburgh, full of opportunities to learn and connect with leaders, experts, and motivated community members! Below are highlights from some events in which SP engaged:

  

  PML Summit
  October 5-6, 2018

  The 119th annual summit of the Pennsylvania Municipal League (PML) was held in Cranberry Township. Elected and appointed officials from across the state gathered to connect and network with colleagues, attend informative and educational sessions, discuss issues facing the Commonwealth’s municipalities, share resources and best practices, establish legislative policy, and elect officers and members of the Board of Directors for the coming year. A new organizational logo and tagline, “Strength Through Engagement,” were announced; a new website will follow in early 2019. A summary video of the day can be found here.

  Additionally, Jim Price, Sustainable Community Manager at Sustainable Pittsburgh, held an open workshop in the morning to discuss the Sustainable PA Community Certification with interested attendees, and presented an educational session in the afternoon with planners from the City of Pittsburgh on how municipalities can use the EcoDistricts protocol for community development.

  

  North American Passive House Network Conference
  October 17-21, 2018

  The 2018 annual conference and expo for the North American Passive House Network was in Pittsburgh at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where sessions included topics such as policy and zoning, social equity, health and wellness, and technological innovations. Passive House principles can play a pivotal role in increasing sustainability for projects and communities by reducing energy demands and costs, increasing indoor air quality and occupant comfort, and providing safe, engaging spaces across a range of housing types and uses.

  

  Rail~Volution Conference
  October 21-24, 2018

  Rail~Volution’s theme, “Building Livable Communities with Transit,” was explored in depth during the annual conference, this year at the Wyndham Grand in Pittsburgh. The conference discussed the links between land use, transit, and development through four days of sessions and mobile workshops, highlighting the transit infrastructure and development that currently exists, the work being done to advance both technology and equity, and inspiring stories of successes across North America. Local leaders and employees told Pittsburgh’s story and hopes for a more equitable future, while experts from dozens of cities shared their knowledge and lessons learned.