2009 EVENTS

Road to Sustainability

The Summer's Hot Business Topic: A Discussion of Energy Policy and The American Clean Energy and Security Act

Corporate Sustainability Charrette

Road to Sustainability

Save the Date: Tuesday, October 13
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Community College of Beaver County Dome
Cost: $35 per person (includes breakfast and lunch)

Hosted by the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), Congressman Jason Altmire, L. Robert Kimball & Associates, and Sustainable Pittsburgh, “The Road to Sustainability” Conference is aimed at providing information to businesses and organizations about what it really means to “go green” as well as what it will take to get the current workforce trained to do so. Scheduled topics include the following:
• Sustainable Development
• Green Building and LEED
• Energy Auditing
• Mechanical Systems
• Grant Writing
• Act 129 opportunities
• Act 167 and Future Storm Water Management
• Solid Waste Management

A Resources Room will also be available throughout the day, highlighting vendors displaying green products and services.

For more information, including registration, click here.

The Summer's Hot Business Topic: A Discussion of Energy Policy and The American Clean Energy and Security Act

Thursday, July 30, 2009
6:00 - 8:30 pm
New Hazlett Theater
Allegheny Square E.
North Side Pittsburgh
Click here for directions

This event is free and open to the public.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act commands attention of all industries as it sets a new course for energy and climate policy.  The stakes are high as the nation grapples to the transition to a new energy economy.  This event is intended to help businesses in our region to assess the opportunities and challenges emerging from the debate over energy and climate policy.

This event commences with a viewing of a taped debate on energy issues (from The Miller Center of Public Affairs National Discussion and Debate Series) featuring:

• Karen Harbert, President and CEO, Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• John Podesta, President, Center for American Progress; former White House Chief of Staff
• Christine Todd Whitman, Co-chair of CASEnergy Coalition; former EPA Administrator; former Governor of New Jersey
• James Woolsey, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners; former Director of Central Intelligence

After the screening, a local panel of business and community leaders will share thoughts on issues described in the video and will discuss what actions businesses can take immediately in order to reduce their energy costs as well their emissions.

Panelists will include:

• Lee Ann Briggs, Regional Environmental Specialist, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center
• William O'Rourke, Vice President for Sustainability and Environment, Health and Safety, Alcoa
• Sharon Pillar, Global Warming Outreach Coordinator, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future
• Keith Schaefer, Founder, CEO, and President, BPL Global
• Steve Winberg, VP, Research and Development, Consol Energy

Moderated by Rob Jones, Sr. Manager, Public Affairs at Dominion Peoples and President & CEO at IngoodCompany LLC

Agenda:
6:00 Reception, informal networking, and light snacks
6:30 Film feature: "Miller Center of Public Affairs National Discussion and Debate Series: Energy"
7:30 Panel reactions and high stakes for Pittsburgh businesses
8:00 Q&A and discussion of opportunities for our region's businesses and entrepreneurs
8:30 Adjourn

Presented by: Champions for Sustainability (C4S) and the Business Climate Coalition of the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative.

Corporate Sustainability Charrette
Friday, January 23, 2009
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Urban Mountain Gathering Place on Mt. Washington
213 Bailey Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15211

$40/participant
Lunch will be provided.
Open to limited number of companies

Champions for Sustainability (C4S) is organizing its first Corporate Sustainability Charrette.  The purpose of this event is to bring together companies who have common interests in a particular sustainability issue and convene them with regional experts who can provide hands-on, charrette-style consultation to meet those challenges. 

How it works: Several companies have been invited to participate because of their interest in tackling a particular corporate sustainability challenge.  For this particular event, small groups are being invited in the areas of commuting and site-to-site transportation; composting; group purchasing of supplies; and obtaining capital to grow established sustainable business practices. Each group will have the opportunity to work with several regional experts in each of these areas in order to initiate projects that quickly deliver on benefits and value.   Companies are asked to bring with them materials that can help frame the way they are approaching their issue.  Experts will bring tools to help work with that information in order to provide a first cut analysis and solution for that particular issue.