BCC EVENTS

Current Events

Check back here soon for more BCC events!

Past Events

Actions for Businesses: Learn How to Measure Your Energy Savings!

Presented by: The Business Climate Coalition (BCC) and C4S

EPA Portfolio Manager Training Session
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Time:    Session 1: 8:30am – 12:00pm; Session 2: 12:30pm – 4pm
Location: Point Park University
Registration Fee: Free to Registered Businesses

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn all of the details of how to begin to track your energy usage so that you can measure your progress in saving energy. This training will provide you with the knowledge and skills for an upcoming regional competition to reduce your energy usage. The training involves learning how to use Portfolio Manager, free software the US EPA offers businesses so that those businesses can securely and privately track their energy usage over time. It also gives businesses the means to compare the energy efficiency of their operations and buildings with other similar types across the country.

Southwestern Pennsylvania business are invited to come to participate in these traning sessions. Camdus, the EPA’s Contractor, will assist attendees with using and understanding the many functions of Portfolio Manager.  Computers will be available for use on-site. When the session is complete each company will walk away with a better understanding of their energy usage and the ability to continue tracking energy usage and reductions.

Improving energy performance in business operations and commercial buildings is a sound business strategy. Organizations that improve energy management reduce expenses, improve tenant satisfaction, increase the asset value of their portfolios and demonstrate their commitment to regional sustainability.

Agenda: Portfolio Manager Training Sessions
8:30 Session 1: Continental Breakfast and Sign-ins
9:00 Welcome; Training Lead by Camdus
12:00 Session 1 Adjourns

12:30 Session 2: Lunch and Sign-ins

1:00 Welcome; training lead by Camdus4:00 Session 2 Adjourns

Or contact:
Jake Baechle
BCC Coordinator
Sustainable Pittsburgh
412-258-6652
jbaechle@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Business Solutions Energy and Climate Focus Groups

Hosted by: The Business Climate Coalition (BCC) and C4S

Dates:
October 5, 19, and 26, 2009
11:30 AM– 2:30 pm
Regional Enterprise Tower
Click here for directions

The Business Climate Coalition (BCC) and C4S are hosting a series of focus group luncheons for businesses.  The goal of the luncheons is to gain insights from the expertise of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s business community on what action items participants believe are feasible, cost effective, and produce meaningful energy savings and climate impact reductions.  The results of the sessions will characterize which action items, both behavioral and technological, are the most effective for regional businesses in reducing their energy cost and climate impacts.  Your participation will help the BCC to provide useful recommendations for Pittsburgh’s businesses. 

Jillian Ryan jryan@sustainablepittsburgh.org 412.258.6652 or
Matthew Mehalik mmehalik@sustainablepittsburgh.org 412.258.6644.

Actions for Businesses: Resources to Reduce Energy Use, Costs, and Climate Impacts

Presented by: The Business Climate Coalition (BCC) and C4S

Thursday, October 29, 2009
4:30 – 7:30 pm
Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222    
Strip District
Click here for directions

Discover practical, “what to do” resources and perspectives for businesses to save money through smarter ways of using energy and reducing climate impacts. 

Energy conservation provides an ideal way to reduce costs and climate impacting emissions.   Businesses of all sizes are looking to seize the opportunities to advance both objectives.  This event is intended to help businesses by highlighting energy reduction programs in utility operators and distributors under PA ACT 129 and other conservation and demand response programs.   Other tools, such as Energy Star-affiliated Portfolio Manager and energy audits provide useful guidance and ways of measuring progress, both keys to successful business management.

Learn about other businesses who are leading in their achievements that have positively impacted their bottom lines.  This event builds off of this summer’s insightful energy and climate debates by providing practical, tangible steps for businesses that pay off.  The presented solutions remain robust despite pending legislative uncertainty regarding energy and climate policies.

Panel of Featured Business Case Studies:

• Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters and Evolve EA
  • Shawn Fertitta, Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Program Administrator/Facility Manager, Pittsburgh Opera
  • Dave Deal, LEED AP, evolve environment::architecture
    
• Regional Enterprise Tower and Constellation Energy
  • Jim Hassinger, President CEO, Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation
  • Greg Lok, Director of Project Development, Constellation Energy

Panel of Resources:

• Business opportunities through PA ACT 129: Dave Defide, Program Manager, Duquesne Light
• Energy Procurement and Demand Response Programs: Carolyn Pengidore, CEO, Clearchoice Energy
• Portfolio Manager: The Key to Measuring Progress: Eric Carlson, WV EPA Congressional/State Liaison, U.S. EPA Region III
• Return on Investment, Energy Efficiency, and Auditing:
  • Tim Carryer, Director, Diagnostic Energy Auditor’s Association of Western Pennsylvania
  • Chuck Watson, Director, EnergyChaser
  • Greg Wozniak, G. A. Wozniak & Associates
• State energy grants for businesses: Andrew Place, Special Assistant for Energy and Climate Change, PA Department of Environmental Protection

Moderated by Nagaraj Sivasubramaniam, Associate Professor, Palumbo*Donahue Schools of Business, Duquesne University

Agenda:
4:30 Reception, informal networking, and light snacks
5:00 Introductory remarks
5:10 Panel presentation on how leading companies saved money and reduced emissions through energy savings programs
5:45 Q & A
6:00 Panel presentation on resources and opportunities for reducing
energy costs and GHG’s
7:00 Q & A
7:25 Resources, networking

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

Cost: $25 per person (members $20)

Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided

Space is limited.

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.

For full report click here

For handouts see below:
5 Immediate Things Business Can Do