Pittsburgh Innovates

Green energy savings starts with the smallest of consumers at Propel Schools

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Propel Charter Schools is bringing its creative thinking in education to the city of Pittsburgh this fall with the opening of the city's first charter school on the Northside.

Known for offering innovative educational opportunities, especially in art and technology, Propel is also partnering with Direct Energy for a Green Schools initiative through Alliance to Save Energy, teaching students how to save energy and electricity in the smallest but most effective of ways.

The Green Schools program got underway this month at Propel Braddock Hills Elementary and will expand to Propel's eight locations across greater Pittsburgh. The objective is a powerful one, educating and empowering students, administrators, teachers and custodial staff to work together to reduce the school's overall energy usage by five to 15 percent.

“The Green Schools program not only teaches young people about the importance of effective, efficient use of energy, but also demonstrates firsthand the significance that small, individual actions can have on their school, in their home and in the community,” said Cory Byzewski, vice president of U.S. North for Direct Energy.

The schools will become learning labs where students learn about energy efficiency, assess usage in their school and apply science, math and language arts to solve problems and make improvements. Simple awareness--like turning off lights that aren't needed--can save thousands of dollars says Byzewski.

Propel serves a diverse population of 2,500 children in eight schools including Homestead, Turtle Creek, Montour, McKeesport, Munhall, Braddock Hills (elementary and high school) as well as the Northside.

Check out more on Propel Schools and the Pittsburgh Hip Hop on LOCK Futuristicz Documentary on YouTube.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Cory Byzewski, Direct Energy

Envirobikes hit the streets humming

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

During a visit to China, Bill Statler saw an impressive display of sustainable ingenuity that got him thinking.

Electric-powered bicycles were everywhere. Smaller than scooters, and equipped with traditional bike pedals, the battery-powered vehicles came in fabulous colors and designs.

So when gasoline hit $4 a gallon in the U.S., Stalter decided to import the trend to Pittsburgh, opening Envirobikes on Peralta Street on the North Side (across from the Heinz Loft), the first shop in the region to offer a wide selection of electric bikes and service.

Envirobikes carries 10 electric models, all imported from Asia, complete with rechargeable batteries. Most of the models get 20-30 miles per charge, have several gears and can reach speeds up to 20 mph, he says. The battery recharges in a 110 outlet in six to eight hours, making it perfect for the workday (and adding only 5-cents to the electric bill, he claims).

But the best part is that you can choose to ride the traditional way or motor your way to work. Statler finds the bikes are especially popular among those with physical injuries or ailments and senior citizens.

"Or those who got a DUI," he laughs. "It cuts down your carbon footprint and gives you an opportunity to get a little exercise. It's a nice transition between a car and a bike." Statler should know since he commutes to work every day on his Prowler from his home in Reserve Township.

Envirobikes prices start at $499 and go up, depending on the extras such as a packing platform for a skateboard or briefcase. Statler also rents the bikes by-the-hour to anyone interested in trying one out.

Statler will the featured speaker at Pittsburgh Green Drinks this month at Penn Brewery, Aug. 25th, from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Come by and ride a bike. "It's a lot of fun," he says.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Bill Statler, Envirobikes

Image of Bill Statler and MTV's David Yugar in front of the River's Casino courtesy of Envirobikes

Building the greenest data center in the world? That's pair Networks on the South Side, HIRING!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

A visit to pair Networks' office on the South Side is like walking into the science fiction imagination.

Beyond the door, the temperature is kept at computer-cool. A soft humming sound resonates the from the walls. Tiny blinking lights illuminate the darkness beyond where the monster-sized machine lives and breathes.

Welcome to the industrially-chic world of the region's wildly successful data center, a web-hosting company that has sustainably sailed under the local radar for the last 16 years.

Beyond the offices and architecture are a lot of people--60 of them--working around the clock on a 35-hour European work week, many biking in from the nearby bike path.

pair offers web hosting services to businesses, bloggers, artists, musicians, educational institutions and non-profits both here and around the world. If you're an environmentalist, chances are they are already hosting your web site. The company's carbon-neutral policy has attracted clients from Bike Pittsburgh to Treehugger, GASP and Leilani Munter, aka Carbon Free Girl and one of the top female race car drivers in the world who has partnered with pair to help spread the word about environmental stewardship.

And there are celebrities: President Obama back in his senatorial days, singer Tori Amos, environmental bloggers.

"Our customers select us," explains Tim Gaichas, executive vice president of business development. "We tend to attract similar minds. We've never had to do any traditional advertising."

The company was started by Kevin Martin, CEO, in 1996 with a partial T-1 line and a small family loan. Today pair boasts one of the biggest networks in the region, with multiple GigE connections to five diverse backbone providers. The firm also only uses open source software, which gives pair the ability to use high quality software at no cost, and make changes and improvements as the company grows.

The biggest news, however, is pair's expansion. pair is building the world's greenest web-hosting facility among the red rocks in the desert near Las Vegas, Nevada. The platinum-LEED center will provide the ultimate in energy efficiency through solar roof panels, radiant cooling and heating, a co-generation plant on-site, natural light and an interior space that is completely reconfigurable.

"As a data center, we're doing something that no one has ever done before," says Gaichas. "We're convincing people that data centers can run on very little energy."

Pittsburgh will remain the corporate headquarters. pair is hiring for the Pittsburgh office in the coming year; four to six will be hired for the Las Vegas center.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Tim Gaichas, pair Networks

The Pittsburgh perfect summer cocktail and eats at Slow Food

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Get Go Green? Giant Eagle opens CNG stations and other green news

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Compressed Natural Gas stations have arrived with the opening of the region's first two stations by Giant Eagle this month.

While CNG customers won't be cashing in "fuel perks" just yet, the station will be fueling businesses with fleets that have converted to CNG, which includes Giant Eagle's custom-equipped delivery trucks and passenger vehicles.

"Giant Eagle is proud to build on its long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability by introducing its first two compressed natural gas fueling stations in the Pittsburgh area," says John Lucot, CEO for Giant Eagle. "Our collective hope is that this first venture into compressed natural gas will serve as a regional catalyst for southwestern Pennsylvania in adopting and understanding alternative fuels and clean transportation technology."

Among the advantages of CNG: it's priced one-third below the cost of gasoline and diesel, it reduces particulate matter emissions by 94% and carbon dioxide emissions by 25% and CNG vehicles are 50% quieter than diesel trucks, says Giant Eagle. The gas sells for between $1.90 and $2 a gallon.

In other green news, Pittsburgh attorney Stacia Christman has opened two waterless car washes downtown, Easy Auto Wash, an operation that cleans the exterior of your car while you work. Customers pay online and park at either the Theater Square or Sixth & Penn garage. Two more sites will be added as demand increases.

And lastly, the Women and Girls Foundation annual gala this year will honor "Women Greening Pittsburgh" on Nov. 19th at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture.

The event will honor local women who are leading the way in the areas of green energy, green policy, green technology and conscious innovation.

Click here to view the list of accomplished women who have been nominated for the Women Greening Pittsburgh award.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Giant Eagle, Easy Auto Wash, Women and Girls Foundation

How green and clean is Pittsburgh? Brookings' clean economy report tells all

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Brookings has released the country's first detailed study on clean and green energy jobs and the economy, an in-depth analysis on how the country, states and cities measure up and might grow the sector.

"Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Green Jobs Assessment" includes a database that illustrates the size, growth and geography of clean economies in 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. The study is a signature project of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings with assistance from Battelle's Technology Partnership Practice.

The survey is the most detailed and extensive overview of its kind to date, says Jonathan Rothwell, senior research analyst and co-author. Here's a glimpse of the findings as they pertain to the Pittsburgh region. (Check out the full report.)

Relative to its overall size, Pittsburgh's clean economy ranks 24th among the largest 100 metro areas in the country. Our region is also the 7th most "clustered" in the country, which has a significant impact on job creation for the region, says Rothwell. The clusters include pollution reduction, professional environmental, wind energy, solar and thermal and recycled-content products.

Statistically, from 2003 and 2010, Pittsburgh added 4,938 clean jobs and the sector grew by 3.7% annually for a total of 21,963 clean energy jobs today. That's 1.9% of all jobs in the region. The estimated median wage in Pittsburgh's clean energy economy is $37,906.

The fastest growing segments in Pittsburgh are professional energy services, lighting, wind, solar photovoltaic, and biofuels and biomass. The largest segments are public mass transit, waste management and treatment and conservation.

Regionally, the South has the largest number of clean economy jobs while the West posted the largest share relative to its population. Pennsylvania's clean economy ranks 4th in the country, boosted by Philadelphia's ranking as the 5th largest clean energy economy of the 100 metros. California has the highest number of clean jobs.

The clean energy economy in the U.S. employs some 2.7 million people across a diverse group of industries. Interestingly, the clean economy employs more workers than the fossil fuel industry.

With smart national policy support, and armed with an understanding of how regions might leverage their respective strengths, the country will be in a better position to create more jobs and grow the overall economy, the study says.

Brookings is rolling out the study today with a full agenda and Twitter feed.

By: Deb Smit
Source: Brookings

Photo of Somerset Windmills courtesy of Curtis McCormick, Flickr.com

PublicSource, a ProPublica for Pittsburgh, makes key hires

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A new website for in-depth, investigative journalism is getting underway in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

PublicSource.org would like to be the ProPublica for the region as an independent, nonprofit news source. The venture is being launched with a $253,000 grant from the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and $325,000 from The Pittsburgh Foundation (TPF).

To ensure complete independence and impartiality, the site will be managed by Pittsburgh Filmmakers in Oakland. News will focus on issues surrounding air and water quality and the environment, government and politics, health and business. A soft launch is planned for Aug. 1, says Charlie Humphrey, executive director of Filmmakers.

The decision to launch the new media source came about through a series of discussions with TPF revolving around concerns about the future of journalism in an era when newspapers are getting smaller and smaller, Humphrey explains.

"This is not to say that newspapers aren't doing a good job. They're doing a very good job, but there's only so much they can do with the shrinking space," he says. "Like Filmmakers, this news initiative will be entirely independent, and not beholden to any particular interests, political or otherwise."

Three key people have been hired to develop PublicSource. Sharon Walsh of The Lexington Herald-Leader will take the helm as editor. An award-winning investigative reporter and editor, Walsh previously worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Post; she was nominated four times by The Post for a Pulitzer Prize.

Sandy St. Louis will serve as communications director and Alexandra Kanik is developing the website. St. Louis formerly worked for Frontline in Boston. Kanik, a graphic designer, works with non-profit organizations and Filmmakers, designing and developing websites.

A distinguishing feature of PublicSource will be its ability to leverage other news sources in the region and generate plenty of content, Humphrey says. To that extent, PublicSource will partner with Pop City, Essential Media's new 90.5 FM and the Post-Gazette.

"We are part of a bold and innovative movement across the United States to safeguard investigative community-oriented news," said Grant Oliphant, TPF President and CEO, in a issued statement. "Independence and impartiality are critical requirements for the successful and credible operation of our online news service and Pittsburgh Filmmakers is an ideal partner, providing a resourceful base from which this initiative will continue to develop and grow."

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Charlie Humphrey, Pittsburgh Filmmakers

Check out the beautiful chicks-in-the-hood, baaawk!

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

City birds take the stage for the first ever Chicks-in-the-Hood Urban Chicken Coop Tour on June 12th from 9:30 to 2 p.m.

Chicken keepers are organizing the event to give the public a bird's eye view of what it takes to raise chickens in accordance with the city's new farming ordinance, which was passed last year. The self-guided tour will take the public to backyards in the East End and on the North Side, including a coop with-a-view, offering a chance to chat with chicken owners and poultry enthusiasts about sustainability, rain barrels, composting and more.

"This is a group that genuinely cares about the environment, food and their animals," explains Jody Noble-Choder,
who is raising five chickens in Highland Park. "It's a great for day for kids. We get so separated from where our food comes from."

The passage of the city ordinance helped to bring together the poultry-raising community, she adds. The day will help educate everyone on the city's devotion to poultry farming.

"It's neat to see everybody's set up. Chickens are not running amok in the city," she adds.

Tickets are $5 and kids are free. A map and directions is provided; all proceeds will be donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank's Urban Agriculture Programs, including The Farm Stand Project and the Plant-A-Row Project.

Tickets may be purchased the morning of the tour at The Quiet Storm on Penn Avenue in Friendship, Tazza D'Oro in North Highland, Crazy Mocha in Highland Park or Lock Way West in Pittsburgh or by emailing Jody at noblechoder@aol.com.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Jody Noble-Choder for the chickens

The Brazen Kitchen's vegan (and omnivore) guide to good eating

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Lentil chile with chocolate. Miso noodle soup with seaweed. Garlicky linguine with maple tempeh.

Sound delish? Then The Brazen Kitchen is for you, a new blog by writer and cook Leah Lizarondo Shannon that's packed with recipes and lifestyle tidbits so bold that the staunchest of omnivores might consider vegan cuisine.

Perhaps it's her Philippine heritage, but Shannon is passionate not only about food but life. A mother of two-- and roboticist by day as the chief marketing officer for Disruptive Robotics-- she believes sustainability and personal health start with fresh, real food.

"I found that a cultural barrier existed about what a vegan diet really is," says Shannon. (You may recall her husband Bill Shannon, the extreme skateboarder featured in Pop City.) "My goal is to show that eating plant-based foods is fun, rich and flavorful. It's not all tofu and rice."

While the couple has roots in the region, they moved from NYC to Pittsburgh to be close to the family farm. Bill's mothers own of one of the last zoned farms in the city, Mildred's Daughters' Urban Farm in Stanton Heights. Living in Pittsburgh gives us the best of all worlds, Shannon says: family togetherness, fresh, local food, community and a job working with cool technologies.

"We wanted to give our kids the space to run around," says Shannon. "This allows us to live as city folk with a great balance."

She is also active with Grow Pittsburgh and The Cancer Project, teaches cooking classes and is managing editor of Biz Chicks.

"I love being a mom, working with technology and food and making a difference in people's lives. This is for people who love pleasure. Greens are the new black. It's a trend that's here to stay."

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Leah Shannon, The Brazen Kitchen

Photo credit: Neal Rosenblat

Cellone's celebrates 100 years with expansion, hiring and a greener fleet

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Pittsburgh largest and oldest family bakery is celebrating 100 years in the business with a big new bakery, new lines of specialty breads and rolls and 30+ hires this year.

Cellone's Bakery has grown from its humble, bread-baking beginnings in Bridgeville to Chartiers Avenue and now Windgap. The expansion will double the size of the Cellone operation and will feature the latest in Italian baking technology, says Dean Cellone, vice president of operations and a third-generation family member.

Cellone is moving into a 120,000 square-foot space on Napor Boulevard in Windgap, the site of the former Armour meat packing plant and a film production company. The family hopes to expand into a variety of Italian artisian breads, which are in greater demand, including focaccia, ciabatti and flatbread as well as a line of frozen breads. The frozen bread business alone as grown by 23% in the last three years.

Another initiative includes upgrading its diesel delivery trucks to a more efficient and greener diesel-propone fuel mix. The company has operated propone-powered trucks since the 1980s.

"We were green before there was green," says Cellone.

Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Cellone employs 115, including 15 family members, and runs 41 truck routes throughout Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Dean Cellone, Cellones

It's National Bike to Work Day Friday! Calculate your car-free miles with a cool tool

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Calculate the car-free miles you are logging with a new tool created by Bike PGH, just in time for National Bike to Work Day this Friday, May 20.

The whole idea of the Car-Free Calculator is to incentivize the region to work as a team and boost the mileage, says Lou Fineberg, program manager for Bike PGH. Simply log in and begin tracking how many miles you bike or walk every day. If you can recall mileage back to December, all the better. So far, Pittsburgh has logged in about 12,500 car-free miles.

"The calculator is a form of civic engagement," says Fineberg. "It's really about reducing the number of single occupant trips. The numbers will become more and more stunning as more people participate."

National Bike to Work Day is part of Pittsburgh's GreatOutdoors Week. It also kicks off Car-Free Fridays, which are held throughout the summer. Those who use the calculator on a regular basis will be eligible for prizes along the way.

Other events will include the CEO Bikepool Challenge, a light breakfast at participating Hydration Stations and an after work party ride with Flock of Cycles.

"More than anything else, Bike PGH has grown in its identity as a regional initiative," Fineberg adds. "It's not just a biking initiative, we are championing all alternative options."

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Lou Fineberg, Bike PGH

Alcoa creates the world's first smog-eating structure

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Imagine a new building material that has the cleansing power of 80 trees, enough clout to offset the pollution from four cars.

Pittsburgh's Alcoa Technical Center has unveiled a new architectural product called Reynobond with EcoClean, a proprietary process whereby a titanium dioxide coating (EcoClean) is applied to a pre-painted aluminum surface (Reynobond). The result is the world's first coil-coated aluminum architectural panel that not only washes itself but cleans the air around it. Now that's what we call green building!

The process works as a photocatalyst, according to Alcoa. Titanium dioxide interacts with sunlight to break down organic matter both on and floating around the surface of the building panels. The organic matter that builds up on the surface of the panel is subsequently washed away by the rain, which pushes the dirt to run down the building.

The key to the process is the titanium dioxide, long known for its benefits in products such as quick-setting concrete and suntan lotion. The compound acts as a catalyst to break down organic matter while creating a water-friendly surface.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Judy Smyto, Alcoa

Riverlife and artist Scott Benson debut an animated series on our rivers

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Local memories surrounding the ebb and flow of Pittsburgh's rivers are the inspiration for a wonderfully animated video project being debuted by Pop City this week.

"Living in a River City" features the work of talented (and soon to be famous) independent animator Scott Benson, who combined the voices of the storytellers with his own Roald Dahl-like images of Pittsburgh to create several videos that will be released the next few weeks by Riverlife.

The river stories were recorded last year during the "Water Matters" Conference in Pittsburgh by Saturday Light Brigade producer Jeff Baron, who circulated the conference, talking to many people in attendence who were eager to share their personal stories surrounding our waterways.

"The project is a celebration of not only how far we've come, but how much further we have to go," explains Stephan Bontrager of Riverlife. "This is a continuation of an active conversation about water quality."

The videos are the culmination of Riverlife's 10-year anniversary celebration as a steward of the region's rivers. Four videos will be shown beginning this spring, starting with "Emily's Story," a reminiscence of the joys of dangling feet in the water while the Fourth of July fireworks burst over The Point in Pittsburgh.

It's not too late to be a part of the project. Additional stories will be added (and animated) through the online option to upload a one-minute YouTube video.

Benson, an independent animator from New Jersey who lives with his wife and cat in their studio home on the South Side, was thrilled at the opportunity to work with a non-profit on what he considers his favorite feature of the region.

"I didn't grow up here but this (the rivers) is definitely something we've glommed onto," says Benson, who walks and bikes frequently on the paths. "It's what we like most about our neighborhood."

The project was made possible through funding from The Heinz Endowments.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife

HIRING! Pittsburgh-based Montauk Energy expands trash to power operations

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Pittsburgh-based Montauk Energy is expanding its landfill gas-to-energy operations with the acquisition of seven landfill gas-fueled electric generation projects in Texas and California.

Montauk specializes in the recovery, management and utilization of landfill methane, an industry that has continued to grow, albeit slowly, nationwide. Landfill gas projects, which turns methane gas given off by decomposing garbage into power, have increased from 399 in 2005 to 519 in 2010 nationwide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The beauty of the business is it's not only entrepreneurial but sustainable, says Marty Ryan, vice president. As garbage decomposes, it creates a gas that is half methane, a greenhouse gas deemed worse for the environment than either carbon dioxide or coal. Instead of escaping into the atmosphere, landfill operations collect the gas and treat it so it can be used to power homes and vehicles.

The acquisition means Montauk owns and operates 12 projects in nine states, enough to meet the energy needs of about 60,000 homes, and is in the process of developing another five that will provide for the annual energy needs of 26,000 additional homes, says Dave Herrman, president and CEO.

The company has local operations in Monroeville and Irwin; the remaining sites are in Texas, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, California, Oklahoma and Georgia. Montauk primarily focuses on the production of renewable high BTU pipeline quality gas and electricity as well as carbon capture projects.

The company employs 60 nationwide including 18 corporate staff in the Greentree office and seven in field operations staff in the region. Montauk anticipates a staff expansion of 10% in 2011 to accommodate growth.

"Our vision of the future is to really take the next step and use it as transportation fuel," explains Marty Ryan, vice president. "We're trying to get landfill owners to convert their trucks to natural gas. The end product we sell now is cleaner than the natural gas found in the ground."

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Dave Herrman, Marty Ryan, Montauk Energy

Image courtesy of Montauk Energy

CCAC offers the first alternative fuel training center in the state

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The state's first Alternative Fuel Training Center is revving up for a fall opening on the West Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).

Thanks to a partnership between CCAC and Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities (PRCC), the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) will offer alternative fuel classes on servicing and operating hybrids. Mechanics interested in the training previously had to drive to West Virginia, the headquarters for NAFTC, the center for alternative fuel vehicle and advanced technology vehicle training in the U.S.

The initiative is just the beginning of Clean Cities' push to put infrastructure in place to support the growth of alternative fuel transportation in the region, says Jan Lauer, president. Local companies-- Giant Eagle, Cellone Bakery, Schwan's--are preparing to switch their fleets to alternative fuels. Providing service centers and mechanics to maintain these fleets is the logical next step, expanding the industry and creating jobs in the region.

In addition, PPRC is working with several area companies to establish slow-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. EQT and Giant Eagle both have plans to open public stations. A Propane Powered Vehicle Expo was held at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Regional Office in New Stanton this week. PPRC has also partnered with Eaton on electric vehicle demonstrations.

"The region is going to see a big charge forward in CNG and electric this year, especially if the EPA changes the conversion laws," says Rick Price, executive director of PPRC. "A lot of things are going to start happening."

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Jan Lauer, Rick Price; PPRC

Sustainability : Pittsburgh Innovates